The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22
President Puts Quietus on Petty
Revenge by Reinstate-
ment of Ford
Friends of Suspended Mail
Superintendent Garry Fight
TO Washington
Attempt of Postmaster to Gust
Official Who Accused Him
Proves a Failure

President Roosevelt has spoiled a
dirty job planned and very nearly ex-
ecuted by Postmaster Arthur G. Fisk.
Superintendent of Mails Thomas ].
Ford. whom Fisk suspended on the
ground that he had made false
charges" against the postmaster, has
been reinstated by order of the post
Office department. Fisk's scheme to
drive out of the department a man
honest enough to perform his sworn
duty has been nipped in the bud by
President Roosevelt himself. As was
70 have been expseted, President
Roosevelt interviewed to prevent injus-
tice 20 faithful public servant. taking
vigorous action Immediately upon being
epprised Of the situation in San Fran
cisco and OF the conditions that OBJ
tain IN the local postoface.
FoRD's CHARGES BURIED
Ford fled charges against Postmas-
ter Arthur c. Fisk in May. 1907. Fisk
has powerful friends in Washington.
The charges were buried in the files
of the department. where it was hoped
they would be forgotten. For more
than seven months the charges were
concealed 10 attempt was made to
repudiste them or 20 rid lie depart
ment Of the man who made them.
Fisk had some reason to fear an hon
est investigation OF the charges would
snd his hope OF reappointment. When
Senator's Perkins and Flint renominat-
ed Fisk a demand for an Investigation
of the charges preferred by Ford re-
auction OF unimportant accusations
Brought by other persons connected
with the San Francisco postoffice.
risks powerful friends in Washington
were not ready with explanations for
the failure to investigate the serious
charges made by Ford.
WHITEwASH BY MACHINE
II was a departmental matter and
one that In its details could not be
brought TO the president easily Ex-
ecutive probing Of the charges was
averted by an order for an investiga-
tion. The alleged Investigation was
intrusted TO q legatee OF the railroad
machine in California friend OF
Postmaster Fisk and the servant OF
risks powerful friends in Washing
ton. The manner in which the Ford
charges were investigated may be
gathered from the manner in which
charges filed by the local republican
county committee were probed. The
inspector tricked the county commit
.teemen into failure TO testify by sug-
gesting that Fisk had admitted THEN
charges to be true. Ford was inves-
tigated-but not on the charges which
II fairly probed could and would have
been substantiated. Fisk was beauti-
fully whitewashed and his reappoint-
ment was confirmed.
Decent citizens generally. and decent
republicans especially. were disgustet
with what a majority of them had
recognized as a foregone conclusion
when 1t became known that the inves
legation had been intrusted to the. in.
spectors connected with the local Office
who owed their positions to the ma
chine, Of which Fisk is one of the mos
abject servitors.
BEYOND POWERFUL FRIENDS
Their disgust was turned into activ'
resentment when Postmaster Fisk
snug in his reappointment, announces
the suspension Of Ford. pending re
moval. for preferring false charge
against the immaculate Fisk. Homes
republicans and other public spirite'
citizens. who believed in Presiden
Roosevelt. determined to go beyon'
risks powerful political friends to ap
prise the president of the character o
the charges against Fisk and the man
ner in which he sought TO be revenge'
upon subordinate who had manhoo'
enough to stand up for honest and efh
cient public service
The call took the matter directly t,
President Roosevelt. It spoke on behal
Of decent republicans and Of the citi
zens Of San Francisco. Il laid befor
President Roosevelt many OF the wei
known facts touching the Fisk admin
istration OF the San Francisco post
Office. Francis J. Heney performed
like service for the president and 70
san Francisco Ford was reinstated.
The San Francisco public is convince,
that the charges made by Ford an,
Others against the Fisk administrator
could be substantiated and would b
subxtantiated by fair investigation
That such an investigation may be tn
s'-afinued on Page 70, Middle Col. /;