The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-01-14
JOSEPH BRISTOW TOOK Of
EENSE AIT POS STIAAlS TER GENERAL
IYIINlNE'S ORDER AND RESIGNED
HIS ACTION CREATED GREAT
suRPRlsE WHEN 1T BECAME
GENERALLY KNOWN.
PosTMAsTER GENERAL wYNNE
REFusEs TO DISCUSS
THE MATTER.
lpy Pnblishers, Press.l

WASHINGTON. ID. c., Jan. H.
Ihe resignation of Joseph L. Bristow,
of Kansas. as Fourth Assistant Post
master General, constitutes one of
+ the most remarkable incidents in the
recent history of the Postofice De
pertinent. Mr.. Bristow saw fit to
take as a personal slight the transfer
by Postmaster General Wynne, of the
division of inspection from the Fourth
3 Assistants bureau to the Office of
the departmental head, despite the
fact that as fourth assistant to the
Postmaster General, Mr.. Bristow has
for many months had the major por-
tion of the executive work of the de-
partments passing through his hands,
and for most purposes has been of
more actual Importance to the de-
parfment than it's head.
When Mr.. Bristow decided that he
4 had been affronted, his action was
soon taken. With Senator Long, of
Kansas, he visited the White House
late yesterday afternoon and hand
sod his resignation to the President.
He declared that unfair means were
employed by Mr.. Wynne in obtaining
the Presidents approval of the trans
fer OF the inspectors, and that when
ne (Bristow1 left his Office to lay
his side Of the question before the
President Wynne railroaded the or
der to Chief Vickery and consummat-
ed the new arrangement. Mr.. Bris-
tow was SO worked up that he refus-
ed to stay a minute longer, and an
nounced his intention of not signing
another paper as an official Of the
Postoffice Department. ~
Secretary Taft was hastily called,
ana after further reference the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Bristow to the
Panama rate investigation was ar
ranged, and on his side Mr.. Bristow
consented to keep on signing post
pffice papers until next Friday, when
it is believed his work will be con-
cl,Ided SO that the Postofffec Depart
ment can get along without him.
Mr. Bristow's sudden resentment
about the transfer is considered the
more remarkable in light of the fact
that it had been contemplated for
several months. and had come to his
notice frequently during that time.
The presence of the divisions in his
bureau was considered temporary
from the time the division was sug-
gested to Mr.. Bristow for the single
purpose of assisting him, which was
concluded nearly year ago 1t was
admittedly a bunglesome system
which included such an important
Z body as the postofice inspectors in
the lowest subordinate bureau of the
department, when, according to the
original of the Postoffice Department,
they reported direct to the postmast-
-er general.
.'Mr. Bristow's action calls for, no
explanation or apology from me" !"
aid Postmaster General Wynne to-
day
II have considered him nunusu-
alIy capable executive officer. and a
man Of perfect honor and intgrity.
The transfer of inspectors was sim
ply for the hetterment of the SER
vice, and ordered after mature delib-
eration. AS for froction between Mr..
Bristow and me there was none.
There could be no friction between
me as head of the department and a
subordinate officer"
The vacancy caused by the resigna-
ion viii probably remain SO until the
fourth of March, when Mr.. Corte1you
assumes control of the postmaster
seneralship.
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