The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-04-02
. BY RALPH M. wHlTEsIpE

WASHINGTON. April 2.-After
searching through the records of the
postoffice department of the confeder-
ate states OF America, evidence was
found on which allowance OF an an
cient claim was recommended. The
claim was based ON the carriage OF
mails ON a Mississippi star route
from January / 10 April 10, 1861. On'
the latter day, the state seeded and
the contractor was never paid for MS
work and was never able TO collect
from the federal government because
he could not show that he had not
been paid by the confederate govern
ment
This matter. OF itself, is unimport'
ant, but 1t serves 10 evidence the I'M
portance of the records OF the con-
federate states to this day. IL Is
fact that the number of persons who
are aware that the records OF the con
federate states are preserved with
care is comparatively small.
The extent TO which the records, ac-
counts, books, papers, etc, OF the con-
fede.ate states are employed in GER
tain departments OF the government
today, as IL they were part or the
everyday business OF the government,
is remarkable.
There are a number OF instances o.
where these papers were necessary To
settle disputes and claims against the
United States. Without these papers,
the claims never would have been set
tied.
The government has nothing like the
cntfr--- collection of -eeafedeFat9 docu-
ments In it's possession, but those that
are aow in Washington are being
added TO yearly. Persons possessing
these records as relics, when they
realize the Importance OF them, ar
range that they shall be returned 70
the government by decree OF Will, and
In this manner many are being re-
covered.
All the records OF the COME 1erate
government were taken possession OF
by the United States government at
the close OF the war. A vast number
had accumulated during the war.
Many OF these concerned matters
which, for three and half years. were
cut Of the control of the United States,
This fact alone evidences the i'm
portance OF the document.
o.
ment officials enters the department
where these records are kept on file
and carefully searches for some paper
which has bearing on recently de-
veloped case.
THAT man La Toilette" is occupying
the center OF the stage in Washington
these days. He has not been in the
49, I'm IN ri m A
In the senate two years ago, and II is
not likely that he figures on obscurity
for the four years he has yet to serve.
After that-well, that's a long ways
into the future. He Is strong man
in his state and the people may want
him to return TO Washington.
Senator La Toilette is unique man.
There are no others like him In con-
gress. He is a partisan Republican,
who generally votes with the Demo-
Gratis, after bitterly harranguing his
own party. To many he is radical,
but, according to his own views. he is
conservative-more so than the ma
lority OF men In congress. Senator
La Toilette has confidence In himself,
which probably accounts for his fear
lessness.
with the government employees,
there is no more popular man In
Washington than La Toilette. With
the senator's. there Is no more unpopu-
lar. There Is no luke-warm opinion OF
La Toilette. Everyone is either for
him or against him, and both crowds
ere In dead earnest about their senti-
ments.
Trust is placed in him to the very
limb; then, on the other hand, he Is
distrusted. II depends which faction
one speaks Of, In giving praise or
criticising. One side has IL that he is
patriot, untarnished. unselfsh. with
the good OF the country only at heart.
The other side says he is demagogue
and argues loud In support OF their
contentious.
One thing is certain-La Toilette Is
always interesting. Even his enem-
les regard him as a picturesque figufe
a peculiar mind, and personality that
must be reckoned with. not ignored
lie always gets an audience in the
| galleries. and he never speaks unless
he drives some of tho members OF his
own party from the chamber. He 10