The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-01-14
JOSEPH L, BRISTOW TOOK OF
TENSE AT POS STER GENERAL
lNlNE'S ORDER AND RESIGNED
his ACTON CREATED GREAT
SURPRISE WREN 1T BECAME
GENERALLY KNOWN.
POSTMASTER GENERAL WYNNE
REFUSES TO DISCUSS
THE MATTER.
I by Publishers Press

WASHINGTON, d. C., Jan IA
The 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
lartment, Mr.. Bristow saw fit to
take asa personal slight the transfer
by Postmaster General Wynne, of the
Siivision of inspection from the Fourth
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-
ton of the executive work of the de-
partment passing through his hands,
ana for most purposes has been of
more actual Importance to the de-
parfment than its head.
When Mr.. Bristow decided that he
had been affronted. his action was
soon taken. With Senator Long, of
Kansas, he visited the White House
late yesterday afternoon and hand
cd 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 Bristow) left his Office to lay
diis side of the question before the
President Wynne railroaded the or.
der to Chief yickery 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
smother paper as am official Of the
Postoffice Department. ~
Secretary Taft was hastily called.
md after further reference the APP
pointment of Mr.. Bristow to the
Panama rate investigation was ar
ranged, and on his side Mr.. Bristow
consented to keep on signing post
office papers until next Friday, When
1t is believed his work will be con-
cl,Ided SO that the Postofiec Depart
ment can get along without him.
Mr.. Brfstow'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.
T he presence of the divisions in his
bureau was :, considered temporary
from the time the division was sug-
EestedS to Mr.. Bristow for the single
purpose of assisting him, which was
concluded nearly year ago. 1t was
admittedly bunglesome system
which Included such an important
3 body as the postoffice inspectors in
the lowest subordinate bureau of the
department. when, according 20 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- y
aid Postmaster General Wynne to-
day
81 have considered him a nunusu-
ally capable executive officer, and a
man of perfect honor and integrity.
The transfer of inspectors was sim
ply for the betterment of the ser
vice and ordered after mature DELHI
Grafton 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-
zion will probably remain so until the
fourth OF March, when Mr. Cortelyou
assumes control of the postmaster
seneralship.
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