Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-31
AT THE White HOUSE
Curious Practice of Southern
PostmasterS.
Mr.. WYNNE'S LETTER
DISMISSAL THE PENALTY FOR
FUTURE VIOLATIONS OF Law.
Delegation Of Sioux Indians Presented
to the President-Some Of
Today's Callers.
MR.. WYNNE'S LETTER

The cabinet was at work an hour and a
half today upon departmental and general
matters, many of them Of interest. The
President approved the action of Postmaster
General Wynne in notifying Capt. John G.
Capers, republican national committeeman
of South Carolina, that postmasters in that
state will be dismissed from the service in
the future who pay the expenses of dele
gates to state, congressional and county
conventions, who assess-other postmas-
ters for that purpose.
The case is most interesting one, and the
principle will apply in number Of southern
states complaint was made to the Post
Office Department that 1t was quite custom
airy for postmasters in South Carolina to be
practically forced to pay the railroad and
other expenses of delegates to political con-
ventions, the plea being that the party
workers. mostly negroes did not have the
money to meet the expenses. The COM
plant named two poStmaSterS-C. j. MILKY,
at Westminster, s. c., and ]. NJ. Stewart, at
Lancaster. Mulky gave what money he
could afford to defray the expenses of the
delegates of his county to the last state con-
other postmasters asking them to help him.
Stewart gave his check for 500 to the coun-
ty chairman to aid in paying expenses.
Sentence Of Dismissal Imposed.
An investigation by inspectors showed the
facts as mentioned. 1t was decided to dis
miss both pOstmasters
The publication of this intention created
such stir among the republican office
holders of the state, practically all Of whom
were likely to lose their positions because
of the same offense. that Capt. Capers came
here and made plea for the postmasters
at the same time agreeing that the policy of
be appreciated by postmasters and others
He thought that it would do much toward
building up the republican party in the
state and the south. The department de-
office, but wrote Capt Capers a letter, say
ing that future violations of the rule of
the department would result in dismissal.
The letter is as follows:
please say to them, however, and to the
other postmaSterS of the state that this
department will not permit postmasters to
pay the railroad fares and expenses of dele
gates, white or colored, to party conven-
tons, or to solicit funds for that or similar
purposes.
Such conduct has been definitely placed in
the class of delnquincies which will here
after bring about dismissal from the serv-
Ice. l am glad to know that in the future
application Of this rule 1 am to have the
cordial cooperation of yourself and the
other republicans in the state who are
working with YOU"
New Orleans Postmaster Selected.
At the cabinet meeting today the nomi-
nation Of Capt. Thomas J. Woodward as
postmaster at New Orleans was agreed
upon. Capt. Woodward will succeed the
present postmaster, who was denied a
second term because he was not a citizen
of New Orleans. The new postmaster had
the Endorsement of the republican referees
of the state
Walter l.. Cohen, colored has also been
decided upon for reappointment as register
of the land office at New Orleans. There
was no serious fight upon him for the
place.
The Beef Trust Decision.
Although President Roosevelt and At
torney General Moody talked for some
time at the cabinet meeting today as to
the decision of the United States Supreme
Court in the beef trust case no definite de-
cision was reached. The administration,
however, was not backward in allowing 1t
to be understood that further action upon
the part of the government will depend
entirely upon the actions and procedure of
the beef trust Everything, so far as the
government is concerned, will depend upon
the packers themselves.
If they obey the law, as laid down by the
courts of the country, including the deci-
ciSion of the highest tribunal, they VIII not
again be molested, but If they disregard
this decision and break any of it's provl-
sions the President will unhesitatingiy d.
rect criminal proceedings against the men
composing the packing combine. These pro-
ceedingS would probably be in the nature
OF contempt cases against the packers, and
such action would permit the imprisonment
of the men al the will of the courts
The course of the combine will be watch
ed closely by representativ of the govern
ment, and the least indication of defiance
of the law will result in quick work by the
government.
The President and the members of the
cabinet regard the decision of the Supreme
Court as a signal triumph of law as they
have viewed it and are prepared to carry 1t
Into effect absolutely. What the next move
of the government may be will depend, II
Is said, on the action of those constituting
the beef trust.
The Presidents Return.
President Roosevelt got back to WASH
ington early this morning, having left Phil
adelphia after midnight. The special train
bringing him and those with him travelled
slowly reaching here about daylight, and
the President was driven to mis- home
about 100 o'clock. He was congratulated
by number of his callers and by members
of his cabinet on his speech at Philadel-
phia which is considered a strong presen-
tation of the two questions that are most
absorbing 10 the people Of the country at
this time. The President congratulated
Attorney General Moody on the outcome of
the beef trust case In the Supreme Court.
1t was by direction of the President to
Attorney General Knox that the proceed
ings were begun. and the action of the
court in unanimously sustaining the gov
ernments contentious is looked upon as
splendid vindieation of the wisdom of the
President In authorizing proceedings.
Delegation Of Indians Presented.
Seven choking Yankton Sioux Indians
| of South Dakota were introduced to the
President by Senator Kittredge. They
were splendid specimens of their race