The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-04-14
NJ AOOEN WRITES
BOOK, FLAY|NG
CORTE[Y0U
SAYS LATTER AS POSTMASTER
GENERAL PROSECUTED ST.
LOUIS PU6LIsHER-cALLs HIS
FORMER CHIEF A NoNENITY.

Edwin c. Madden. OF Detroit, who
was for nearly eight years third assist
ant postmaster general. has published
a book which is most caustic and
bitter attack on George b. Cortelyou,
secretary OF the treasury and formerly
postmaster general. He accuses Cor
telyou OF wilfully and maliciously con-
spring to destroy the business and
reputation OF E. G. Lewis. a st. Louis
publisher and one-time banker; OF
running his bank and wrongfully bar
ring his publications from the mails;
of employing spies to injure Lewis
business and OF misusing mis- absolute
power over the postal department to
accomplish Lewis undoing.
The book was written by Mr.. Mad
den In the past few months while re-
siding in Detroit, his Office during
that time being with another former
postal official, who Is also publisher.
Its reason Is TO clear himself OF the
charges made against him at the time
that he resigned from the postal SER
vice, by request OF Cortelyou, March
4, 1907.
THE u. s. Governments Shames.
The History of the Great Lewis Case
Is thetitle of this book, which Is pub
lished here.
The book Is a remarkable one In It's
revelations OF bureaucratic methods In
the administration OF the national gov
eminent. II shows in the strongest
colors the great power possessed by
the postoffice officials over the bush
ness and happiness of every citizen
and the possibility OF the use OF this
power for evil purposes at any time.
The whole Is favored by bitterness
which detracts somewhat from the eff
feet
Motive Not Clear.
In presenting his side OF the Lewis
case, Madden has, however. neglected
to bring out with sufficient strength
the original motives that inspired the
postal officials TO ruin Lewis. He
hints, however. that IL was "The Sys-
tenn" which feared that Lewis would
build up banking power which would
be great.
AS Madden tells the story. e. G..
Lewis, OF st. Louis, had started with a
capital OF sl.25 and founded two mag
azines, The Woman's Magazine" and
THE Woman's Farm Jornal," for
which a nominal subscription price OF
10 cents or less per year, was charg-
ed He had built up an immense cir
culation, erected fine buildings, found
ed a suburb outside st. Louis called
University City, and finally decided
to start bank with a capital or WI
100000, advertising this through his
magazines.
Then began the prosecution-or per-
secut!on-as Madden put II, by the
postoffice officials. THE Lewis bank
was a new Idea. The certified check
system would revolutionize the condi-
tons of RENTING money. Perhaps
this circumstance as much as any
other is responsible for what hap
pened."
Madden intlmates that the campaign
was undertaken to protect the ex-
press companies and others who profit
by the forwarding OF money.
1T is never dishonorable 10 cheat
the people; and the easiest way is un-
der the guise OF serving them" he
says.
Bank Declared Fraudulent.
A corps OF inspectors was sent to
investigate the bank and make
secret report to the postal department.
They declared Lewis to be bad and
dangerous man and his scheme
fraudulent one. A fraud order was
issued forbidding the use of the mails
to the bank The $1,000 stockholders
were cut of at once and the bank had
to liquidate Madden asserts that the
deposits were returned In full and the
paid 81 cents on the dol
lar. Indictments were sought against
Lewis for alleged fraud.
II Is asserted that Lewis had no OPP
porunity to see the charges against
him or to answer them fully. He
attacked the postal OFF,
Gals in his publication. To quote
from letter of the postmaster at st.
Louis, Frank Wyman:
Since the fraud order was made
effective, Lewis has villfied and NAL
igned every officer in any way con-
nected with the issuance OF the fraud
order against him."
Madden charges that other investi-
cations were constantly under way.
aimed at Lewis publications. Finally
reports were made recommending that
the publications be barred from the
mails. Madden investigated and
found no reason for SUCH an order.
but his report was ignored. He