The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-18
JOSEPH BRIsTow.

The return of J. l. BriStoW to Kan
sas after seven years absence in the
public service at Washington is an event
worthy of more than passing notice.
In 1898 Mr.. Bristow was called to wash
ington by President Mckinley to be-
come fourth assistant postmaster gem
eral, a place involving a vast amount
of work. Before he retired from the
office Mr.. Bristow had become ma
tionaI figure by reason of his unearth-
ing the Cuban postal frauds and later
by ferreting out the graft in the entire
postoffice department. More recently
he was detailed by President Roosevelt
to inquire into the conduct of the Pan
anna railroad. which the government
owns. He has just finished that work.
His complete report, a volume of about
500 pages, has just been issued, and
this week Mr.. Bristow comes home to
Kansas to take up his private work as
editor of the Salina Journal.
The return of Mr.. Bristow to active
work in Kansas is a matter of congrat-
ulation to the state. The Kansas City
Star, in speaking of it, publishes the
following appreciation of his public ser
vices:
1.-The retirement of Joseph L. Bristow
to private life ends an official career as
brilliant as it mas been honorable. The
fourth assistant postmaster general
might have been content to remain a
mere dispenser of patronage and man
ager of routine work. Had he been so
disposed he could have served out his
time in peace and without distinction.
'Bristow is not that sort of a man.
His honesty is of that aggressive type
fob i~
So President Mckinley. with that keen
judgment of men which so often char
acterized his important appointments,
selected him to investigate the postal
frauds in Cuba. His success in this i'm
portant work led to his assignment by
President Roosevelt to uncover dishon-
esty in the postoffice department at
Washington. His successful efforts in
this work, which he carried on in utter
fearlessness of political influence, are
familiar to all newspaper readers.
"Then followed his recent investiga-
ton of transportation conditions at
Panama, which resulted in ending the
Pacific mail monopoly-another triumph
of efficiency and justice over pull
'As has been said, Mr.. Bristow might
have remained comfortably quiescent In
Ills O6pdE IIl6Ill Ills refusal TO 90 SO
has made his eight years service of re-
markabIe value to the nation and
source of pride to the state of his adop-
ton"
There has been some talk that Mr..
Bristow may be a candidate for United
States senator next year. Whether he
will or not the State Journal does not
know-possibly Mr.. Bristow himself
does not yet know. The Review of Re-
views, a magazine which stands close to
the administration at Washington. stat
ed editorially recently that the state of
Kansas owes Bristow some substantial
recognition for the distinguished work
he has done.
But Kansas rather owes it to herself
to send a man of Mr.. Bristow's sterling
character and recognized ability 20
Washington to take the place disgraced
by ]. r. Burton. Kansas owes it to
herself to undo as fully as possible the
disgrace she brought upon herself and
the nation by e1ecting ]. R. Burton
United States senator. She can do that
best by electing a man the opposite of
Burton as his successor, whether it is
Mr.. Bristow or some one else.