The Sentinel=record., 1912-03-05
INVESTIGATE PATRONAGE
SENATOR 6RIsToW HuRLs FIRE BRANDS IN SENATE IN WAY
 OF CAMPAIGN PROBE.
Asks Investigation of President Tafts Activities in Federal Patronage and Solicitation of Cam
 paign Funds.

Bristow of Kansas tossed firebrand into the senate today when he intro duced a resolutlcn. apparently aimed at President Taft, urging an inquiry into the reports that ten nomina- tions of federal office holders in North Carolina had recently been withdrawn by the president, to in- fluence poIiticlens in that state
 The inquiry also would be directed to learn if postoffice inspectors were being sent through the country as po- litical emissaries, and if postmasters were being threatened with removal if they failed to support certain can didates.
 Senator Brlstow read to the senate a letter from Postmaster George k. Lewis of Bessemer, Ala, which charged that Postmaster Truman H. Aldrich. recently appointed at Bir- mingham, and other federal officers with political activity on behalf of President Taft. Senator Bristow did not get the letter before the senate, however, without some inconvenience. Senator Galinger objected to it's be- ing read by the clerk; thereupon Sen ator Bristow called for the letter and read it himself
 Postmaster Lewis letter was to Postoffice Inspector w. J Marles, replying to the inspectors charge that he had been guilty of political activity in December, 1910, and May. 1911. It is dated February 24.
 Lewis began his letter by saying that Marles had appeared in Birming- ham two days after he Lewis) had voted for, resolutions indorsing Col onei Roosevelt. Marles arrived, he. said, at the time when political meeting was being held. and when it was matter of public notoriety that federal office holders in the southern states, especially Alabama, are mass of seething political ac- tiyity."
 He charged the inspector with shutting his eyes to the most fla grant examples of pernIcious political activity in behalf of President Taft, while you direct the searchlight of your investigations along these lines only against few postmasters who have expressed 8 preference to Roosevelt"
 Among other things, Lewis charged that Postmaster Aldrich attended meeting of the republican district ex- ecutive committee and this is Lewis version of what happened:
 When it was developed on the roll call that l6 members of the committee stood in favor of indorsing Roosevelt for president, and II mem bers were opposed, with those II mem bers. Aldrich withdrew from the floor of the committee and at the time of his withdrawal became so excited that he shook his fist at a member of the committee and stated that he would settle with him out side In addition to this AIdrich has been writing letters to postmas- ters and others over this district en- deavoring to line them up in opposi- ton to Colonel Roosevelt and in ia vor of President Taft
 If you are desirous of pursuing this investigation as to pernicious po- litical activity, in an unbiased way along proper and legitimate lines you can easily ascertain and shall fur nfah you with witnesses from whom you can ascertain the facts. that on the morning before the meeting of the committee in Birmingham, two postmasteFs, N L. Wilson of Block ton. Ala. and M. (. Fuller of Gen. teryille. Ala, members of the com mittee. came to the law office of Judge Oscar R Hundley, in Birming- ham, where A. L. Elam. member Of the committee from Blob county. was in consultation with Hundley and other friends of Colonel Roosevelt, when they requested a private inter view with EIam and Judge Hundley rendered room in his office where they could have their private inter-