The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-03
Scarcely Department Of
Government Not I'm
der Suspicion
f7YDECOMING BACK a
TO FACE THE JURY
Sensational Disclosures Promise
!. to Enliven Winter Season in
National Capital Weather
Bureau and Summer
Annex in Mountains
Of Virginia.
From Our Regular Corrcspondcnt.)

q (From Our Regular Corrcspondcnt.)
.a aNNAsHINGTON,,a d. C.,a$Aug. 2.-The
prospects are good for sensational win
ter in Washington. Many things point
to q Wholesale Investigation of all de-
partments Of, the government and the
results are bound to prove startling
to every section OF the country. without
regard to political bias. There Is scarce,
" q department Of the, government which
has not come Under suspicion within the
past few months, and charges growing
out OF discoveries of the few weeks last
past, have been as serious and promise
to develop as sensationally as any made
In a long time.
It is interesting. If not entirely profit
able to speculate as to how greatly the
country-the average citizen-has been
affected by the recent unearthing OF so
much corruption In the government. The
leaders of the Republican party would
very much llkeato know. and 1t may be
readily imagined that the Democratic
helmsmen would like to know also. 1t
is by no means improbable that general,
national dissatisfaction, growing out Of
the development OF governmental crook
edness, may result in change Of gov
erning parties. This was predicted when
the postal frauds were unearthed two
years ago, and in the next fall election
the Republicans were returned to power
by an unprecedented majority. But this
could not be regarded as an Endorsement
OF graft by the American people. but
rather the result OF errors and inexcus-
able plumbers on the part of the oppo-
sition; these and lack of united action.
There are thousands of sensible men IN
this country who believe that an abso-
lutely united Democratic party would
elect a President and q House OF Repre-
#sentatives.
u. The clamor OF the Democrats for q
general Investigation Of all the depart
ments last winter was unsuccessi VI
There was not Republican who backed
up the minority in the fight for the ap-
,plication of the probe. Indeed, the cover.
up and the hush-up policy OF the Re
publican majority obtained without dis
sent in the ranks Of that party. Repre-
sentative Hay, Of Virginia. did succeed
in getting through the house resolu-
ton which brought about partial In
yestigatlon Of the affairs of the postonlce
department. but this was all. NO reso'
luton looking to anything like thor
ough or general investigation ever had
the slightest chance In Congress.
The Trail of the Crater.
Conditions will be different this winter.
Last winter the postoffice department
was the only one under suspicion. This
winter, there will be several. If deyel-
opments are as rapid during the next
three months as in the three Just gone,
every department will be believed to be
ripe for an Investigation. Inc post
office department Is reasonably clean
now. and approximately, at least, free
from graft
The department Of agriculture Is the
one which appears to need the probe
the most Everywhere an investigation
Is begun in that department, the sug-
gestion Of graft Is found and suspicious
are aroused. Some Of these have beeen
confirmed \beyond cavil, and officials
to whom the finger Of guilt pointed have
put themselves beyond the pale Of the
courts Of the country.
Holmes. the man In the crop estimate
bureau Of the department OF agriculture.
and John Hyde, the chief statistician,
have left the country. Hyde was allow
cd to resign and Holmes was kicked
out of the government service. He has
gone to Canada, He says he will come
back If his testimony Is desired.
Ono Of the most prominent Of the men
figuring in the investigation now being
conducted into tho affairs of the de-
partment by the grand jury, remarked
to me to-day: VI
Don't be too hard on Holmes, He was
not the only crook In the department.
and l very much doubt whether he was
the greatest one, Plainly speaking, l do
not believe that everybody connected
with the department wants Holmes to
come back and tell MI he knows. And
that is no idle talk.
The man whom have quoted would
not allow tho use of his name In this
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