Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-02-14
DID Mr.. TAFT
GET HANDED
GOLD BRICK /?
is IS
Said Insurgents in Postage
Rates Put President
in Bad to Kill
Him OF,
PREDICTS DEHDGRATIC VICTORY
Representative Clark Says
Party Has Everything
in It's Favor.
PREDICTS DEhDGRATIC VICTORY
(By RRoDERIcK CLIFFoRD)

Washington, Feb. l4.-(Special)- -
Did Postmaster-General Hitchcock
knowingly hand President Taft a
gold brick when he induced the
Chief Executive TO agree 10 an in
crease in the postage rate on second
class mail matter ask? The ipsur-
gents in the House. In their opinion
the erstwhile chairman of the Re-
publican National Committee played
a trick on the President by inducing
him 10 include in his annual message
a strong recommendation for legis-
lauon TO check the postoffice deficit
caused, 80 the Postmaster General
asserts. by tht one cent pound rate
on newspapers and periodicals.
The story circulated here Is that
the willy Postmaster General knew
that the country would-Rot stand foF-.
an increase In postage rates on sec
ond class matter, and that the House
would never reach the point where
1t would be called upon to vote on
the question. The purpose OF the
Postmaster General, it is said, by the
insurgents. is to put the president
I'm bad" with the press of the coun-
try and kill on his chance for 1912
And the President they say walked
right into the trap.
When the question OF increas-
ing the second class matter was TAX
I'm ha
offices and periodicals invited the
publishers OF the country to Wash
ington and appear before the com
mittee and present what argument
they desired TO convince that postage
rates ought not to be increased.
A number OF publishers availed
themselves OF the opportunity some
OF them presented facts and figures
TO show that the deficit OF the Post
office department In handling second
class mail matter was due to lack OF
business methods and through not
demanding from the railroads the
same terms given express companies
and large shippers.
Coupled with this came the sad In
formation that the minority members
OF the committee on postoflces and
postroads were solid against the
proposed Increase and would make
report against the bill and the Demo
Gratis 90 a man, would fight the In
crease. Then came warning voice
for some Of the big guns OF the Re
publican side OF the House that ther
is 70 be an election OF members OF
Congress next November, and that
70 antagonize the press OF the coun-
try would prove fatal to party sue
cess
This has had the desired effect,
and the proposed increase in rates {
on second-class mail matter. adyo-
Gated by the Postmaster General a.
q means Of reducing the postal de-
hcit, and endorsed by Mr. Taft. goes
glmmcrIng into the graveyard OF re-
form measures that lacked the public
sentiment
But why. ask the insurgents. did
Hitchcock try 20 befOozle President
Taft into committing such n serious
party blunder? Perhaps. they con
tain, the Postmaster General Is am
bilious and. being an engineer in
charge OF the old reliable steam
roller. no has dreams OF 1912
Democrats Should win.
The Democrats have everything in
their favor this year, and We ought
TO elect a majority OF the next
House" said Representative Clark,
OF Florida today 70 a party Of friends.
A victory next November would in
my judgment, be the forerunner Of
a Democratic triumph I'm 1912 he con-
tlnued. AS 20 presidential candi-
dates I should say It is little too