Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-29
The Muck Brush.
Take her up tenderly.
Lift her with care,

mates. Now it would seem to be In order, in
the interest of fair play and the Square
Deal. for somebody to show up the iniqui-
ties of the wielders Of the muck brush
Take. for instance the case of Mrs. Minor
Morris, now coming to the front again In
connection with pending action upon the
nomination OF b. F. Barnes to be city post
master. Mrs. Morris was respectable, cul-
tured. ladylike woman, whose husband
through the congressional pull of her sweet
brother, Representative Hull of Iowa.
had been turned out or petty office and
the family deprived of a livelihood He was
removed without the slightest charge of in
capacity or i'll conduct and solely at the de-
mand of the high-mnded Hull. Headed off
in all her efforts to get redress In other
quarters by her dear brother. she naturally
went to the White House to appeal for JUS
tiee to that grand champion of the Square
Deal. Theodore Roosevelt. Could she mag
Inc that the man who poses as the chival-
rous knight, standing alert for the protec-
t'on and Glorifcation of womankind and
who wants every woman-b heater to be pun
ished at the whipping post would refuse to
listen to the story of her wrongs?
Was II credible that the President who Is
always so easily accessible to the throng
OF cub-bear eyploiters. Rough Riders, al
legged fathers Of big filters of children dom
ors of dime museum monstrosities in the
shape of seven-toed cats and every office
seeking Tom, Dick and Harry bearing a
tribute Of complimentary gush, and strug-
Cling to be first to name him as the newt
able successor 20 himself in the presidency
could it be possible that he would not give
her few moments of his time to enable
her TO present her most urgent case?
And when Secretary Barnes declared that
she could not see the President was 1t not
natural that she should discredit his au-
thorlty to speak for Mr.. Roosevelt and in
her dire distress should be somewhat per-
sistent in her appeals and should declare
her purpose TO remain there until she could
see the President? If Barnes had shown
any of the tact and discretion displayed by
his predecessors in office he could easily
have disposed of the case by allowing her
10 seat herself and stay until she was tired
But Barnes is not built that way and her
persistent opportunities SO Jared upon his
exquisite sensibilities that he was really
quite annoyed, don't you know. With a.
lofty wave of his shapely, lly-white hand he
summoned the big policemen on guard and
ordered them to remove the troublesome
woman from the imperial precincts And
they did remove her with a vengeance. The
public is familiar with the whole Disgrace
ful story. 1t was told truthfully by The
Star and other reliable papers, but it placed
the White House officials in such an I'M
favorable light that they found 1t necessary
tG make counter statement In what is
known as the White House version of the
afalr This version, 1t need not be said
was very much at variance with the estab-
Ished facts in the case
An engaging trait of Theodore Roosevelt,s
Character Is his readiness to stand by his
friends when under fire. He not only gave
prompt approval to the action OF Barnes
and the rest In the affair, but In his usual
imperious and impetuous way he undertook
TO make everybody else approve It, He at
tempted to coerce the press into accepting
the cooked-up White House version In lieu
of the careful, unbiased statements of their
own reliable and trusted reporters In the
same strenuous fashion he went on to en-
ploy the whole powers of government in
behalf of his White House favorites and to
crush all opposition. The police depart
meut and all the detective machinery OF the
government was set to work to scour the
city and country for evidence damaging to
Mrs. Morris and calculated to vindicate
Barnes and the police. The manner in
which the drag-net search was engineered
from the White House is shown by the fol-
lowing confidential and PERSONAL corre-
spondence:
CONFIDENTIAL and personally
Headquarters OF THE METRoPOLI-
TAN POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
Washington. January 49, 1906.
Hon. William Loeb, jr.. Secretary to the
President. White House, Washington
M, D.ar Cir. l,a,-. ,.,,,- -.sa-o,,o, - 80,
18th instant respecting inquiries you desired
, should be made of certain persons TO whom
you refer concerning Mrs. Minor Morris,
and ! beg leave to respectfully inform yosl
that DR.. J. Wesley BOvee has for num-
Der or years been Intimately acquainted
with Mrs. Morris relatives. and he stated
that from the history OF her case and Judg-
Ing from reports he was OF the opinion trat
her mind is not right and that he would tf,
pleased 10 confer with you on the subject
II you desire.
As directed by you. through Assistant
Secretary Barnes. | have written the Hon,
Thomas Rollins. at Asheviile, n c. In
regard To information given you concerning
the deposition OF the physician ia that city
As 70 Mr.. Stokes. that gentleman was not
seen, as | was Informed he had made a
statement 10 you.
Mr.. Jacobs OF Woodward & Iothrop's
was not disposed to give a written state
msnt with respect 20 that firms experience
WITH Mrs Morris. which was her excite
ment over delay IN passing upon her check
and certain matters in trade
Mr.. Boxer, at Kahns. stated there was
nothing in the case there. that there was
nothing 20 be said
Mrs Danlap stated that Mrs. Norris had
uphFaide.1 her for having placed her own
name as chairman Of the COMMITTEES On a
letter bead and emitting the names of other
members Of the committee a work wbt.n
she had done at personal expense ana that
the experience was very unpleasant
lnciose herewith report OF females taken
mp at the White House by the service there
since l'tS. as requested by you
Very truly.
RICHARD SYLVESTER
Major and superintendent
ASHENILLE. n. c.. January 20 lao6
Hon. William Loeb Washington. ID. g
Mr.. Dear Sr-I have this day mailed to
Mai sylvester a statement from DIR. III
Weaver In regard 10 Mrs Minor Morris
which | trust VIII be OF some service ana
information. DR.. Weaver is ex-president
of the North Carolina Medical Associatien
and Is one OF the leading physicians in this
state, II can be OF any further service
TO you IN regard to this or any other mat
ter, don't hesitate to call on me With
kindest regards and best wishes. I am
very trpiS, THOMAS S. ROLLINS
p. ST. inciose copy of Dr. Weayer.s