The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-01-23
Herrin Men Confident That Any
investigation of Fisk Will
EKonerate Him
GreeIy, Swinburne and Ford
Fail TO Secure Probing
of POsf0ffice
Horrible Example of Machine
Methods Shown in Case
of SeIvage

Neither the publicity given the
charges against Postmaster Arthur
c. Fisk, made by Superintendent of
Mails Ford, nor the new charges made
by the San Francisco republican
committee and supported by exhibits
and sf6dsvits have served to shake the
confidence Of Fisk or the members
Of the Herrin organization in their
belief that Fisk is to be the bene6-
CARY OF a neat coat Of departmental
whitewssh.
Viewed In the light of the known
friendship OF First Assistant Post
master General Hitchcock for Fisk;
the manner IN which charges against
Fisk have been pigeonholed; Fisk's
nomination pending the investigation
of charges. and the manner IN which
postotIce inspectors have been en-
ployed 10 pull other chestnuts for the
Herrin machine. the confidence Of
Fisk and his sponsors seems not AT all
unreasonable.
Fisk and his friends evidently be-
liere that II any investigation OF the
charges against the San Francisco post
master is made IL viii be conducted
with the utmost secrecy by q discreet
and friendly inspector prepared in ad-
vance TO give Fisk a certificate OF
model behavior That portion OF the
public acquainted with the personnel
Of the inspection stah assigned TO Cali
fornia and with the manner In which
inspectors have played machine politics
for Perkins and Herrin with other post
masters are quite prepared TO share
risks confidence in his anticipated
vindication-
OTHERS FILED CHARGES ALSO
The charges preferred by Ford were
fled with the department in May. 1907.
Prior 70 the fling OF the Ford charges
Major General GreeIy and Admiral
swinburne had fled vigorous charges
alleging incompetency on the part of
Fisk and supported their allegations
with documentary evidence Major Gen
ersI Greely declines TO discuss the
charges made by him on the ground
that they were submitted through mill
tsry channels. but frankly admits that
he did prefer charges, based on com
plants so numerous that he was com
PEELED 10 take cognizsnce OF them. and
that his charges were supported By
documentary evidence Of the strongest
character
The republican county committee
protested sgaikst the reappointment OF
Fisk on the ground that he was notori-
ously Herrin's man in politics Perkins
advised the committee that he deeply
regretted that it had not spoken ear
lier, TIE matter had gone TO the presi-
dent and, OF course. the San Francisco
committee would be satisfied with
whatever action was taken by the de-
partment
COMMITTEE STARTS AFRESH
The committee was not satisfied with
the action taken by Perkins II pre-
fsrred new charges. alleging pernIcious
political activity on the part OF Fisk
and his notorious Identification with
the Herrin machine. The charges dealt
with specific instances and were accom-
panied by smdavits and exhibits. The
charges were not confined 10 Ffsk's
participation IN the primary campaign
OF 1907 They dealt. also. with the fu-
sion campaign OF 1905, when the fusion
campaign committee was forced 20 ae-
cept Fisk ss Herrin's personal repre-
sentative IN its councils.
Fisk did not dare permit his name 70
appear on the stationery OF the com
mittee. but he did have a place on the
committee. fun voice and a vote there
and he was put there by W F. Herrin.
Fssk's relations with the fusion com
nnittee and the manner Of his appoint
ment to the committee and his secret
services thereon we're treated in detail
IN the committees argos which were
fled with Postmaster General Meyer.
The republican committee's latest
charges were fled last week and could
not be returned TO California as the
basis OF an Investigation for several
days IN any event. there has been nc
Indication Of intense zeal TO probe the
charges that have been pigeonhoIed IN
Hitchcock's Office for many months An
Investigation has been promised. and
what may pass for an investigation
viii undoubtedly be made II the in
Yesugafion is conducted by some of the
rnen assigned 10 the san Francisco di-
vision II is Tar more likely 10 develop
into an EFFORT TO discredit the charges
and the persons preferrIng them than q
probing OF Fisk's administration OF the
affairs or the poetofice-
The employment Of Postofiice In