Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-05
WILL CUT BOTH WAYS
BristoW's Blade for Taft Turn
ed on Roosevelt. :
PLAN FRAMED IN SENATE
Proposed Inquiry Regarding "Per-
nicious Activity" of Federal Of
flee Holders Going Back to 1908.

A movement is well unQer way III Tie
Senate to have the investigation into
''pernicious political activity of federal
office holders in the south, proposed in the
Senate yesterday by Senator Bristow in
behalf of Col. Roosevelt's candidacy
against President Taft. also to include
activity during the Roosevelt administra-
ton prior to and during the 1908 CAM
paign.
Senator Bristow's proposal that the Sen
ate committee on post offices should IN
vestigate the political movements OF Jed
eral Office holders of the south In the
present campaign was very plainly dl-
rected against President Taft. The letter
which Mr. Bristow read in the Senate as
basis for the inquiry was mainly to the
effect that postmasters who are active Tor
President Taft were unmolested. while
those who are active for Col. Roosevelt
are being investigated by post office IN
spectors.
Soon after the resolution of inquiry had
been read democratic senators suggest
ed that it be amended SO as to extend the
investigation to the 1908 campaign. 1t is
charged that Col. Roosevelt allowed the
southern office holders to get into politics
to put through Mr. Taft's nomination.
Indicative of Party Foment.
The Bristow move was the talk of the
Senate yesterday afternoon. 1t showed
the heat with which the factions Of the
REPUBLICAN party are to wage the pre-
nomination fight and gave clear indica-
ton that personalities are to be a char
acteristic feature Of the struggle.
The letter produced by Senator Bristow
was written by Postmaster George r.
Lewis Of Bessemer. Ala, to Post Office
I'LL yc I'm q
nature Of "a reply to the inspectors
charge that he, Mr.. Lewis. had been
guilty of political activity in December,
1910, and May, 1911. The postmaster re-
marks that the charges remained DOR
mant until two days after the postmas-
ter. as a member of the congressional
executive committee of his district, voted
for resolutions indorsing Col. Roosevelt
for President. The postmaster then goes
on to ask for an invest igation of several
other postmasters in the state and post
office employees who have voted for Presi-
dent Taft.
Regarded as Significant.
ut is a matter further pregnant with
meaning the letter says. that while
you are here in this community in per-
son you should shut your eyes to the
most fragrant examples Of pernicious
activity in behalf of President Taft,
while you direct the Searchlght or
your Investigations along these lines
only against few postmasters who
have expressed a preference for Roose-
velt.''
When the reading of the letter had
been concluded Senator Clark of Wyor
ming suggested that the entire letter,
even to the signature, was in typewriting.
He asked If Mr.. Bristow has the original
Mr.. Bristow said he had not
''Then l will ask the senator if he has
seen the original persisted Mr.. Clark.
81 have not" Mr.. Bristow admitted
II understand the original is in the pos
session of the post office inspectors.
Pursues His Inquiry.
'I ask the senator, he having read the
letter into the Record, whether he knows
that the letter was written by the man it
Is palrported to have been written by and
whether it was written to the man to
whom it is supposed to be addressed?"
II have no doubt about it, replied
Mr.. Bristow.
eff the resolution proposed by me is
passed" he added, 1--WE will find out ex-
actly how much truth there is in the ac-
cusation made against the postmaster at
Bessemer"