The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-08-07

Cuba Senator Bristow of Kansas
was then the fourth assistant post
master general. He is born in
vestigator, able, original, fearless.
Scandal Unearthed
Mckinley, when he realized the
gravity of the frauds, sent for Bris-
tow and told him he had selected
him to go to Cuba and make a
thorough investigation and clean
out any corruption that might be
found there.
II am willing to go, Mr.. Presi-
dent" said Bristow, but before
going I want to call your attention
to the fact that every appointee in
Cuba who has been accused of
wrongdoing has been sent there
upon the recommendation of mem
bers of Congress, Senators, or men
influential in the Republican party.
when it becomes necessary for
me to arrest or remove from Office
any Of these men, they will at once
complain to their friends in TIM
States and you will be bombarded
with complaints as to my conduct.
All I ask is that you withhold
judgment until you hear my side
Of the case"
Mckinley said: Mr.. Bristow. I
understand just how difficult a
task 1 have assigned to you. But
go ahead, do what is right, be eau
tious, but firm, and shield no man
who has been guilty Of wrongdo-
ing. AS to the complaints, leave
them to me; 1 will take care OF
them"
Bristow did go ahead and ran his
game to cover, and when Hanna
and other Senators and Congress
men protested he told them the
Cuban postal service was infested
with a gang Of thieves and that he
was simply doing his duty and
proposed to keep it up.
Then they went to the White
House and Mckinley told them
that Bristow was acting on his or
ders. He stood unwavering by
Bristow against the persistent inn
portunity of many Of his most in
innate political advisers.
never felt that Mckinley had
a fair chance. His first term was
broken into by the Spanish War.
His second was cut off at the very
beginning by assassination.
He had no opportunity to develop
his carefully wrought-out plans for
large trade extension. He had
rare tact as a manager Of men.
Back of his courteous and af-
fable manner was a f1rmness that
never yielded conviction, and while
scarcely seeming to force Issues he
usually achieved exactly what he
sought.
In the fall Of 1890 was a candi-
date for a fourth term in Con-
gress. I was so confident Of re-
election that 1 spent much time in
campaigning in other parts Of
Wisconsin and in speaking in Iowa
and elsewhere.
But serious complications mad
arisen in Wisconsin politics; an
act known as the Bennett law had
been passed by the preceding Leg
islature which the very large Luz
theran and Roman Catholic ele-
ment in the State believed to be a
blow at their parochial school sys-
TENS, and there was a wholesale
cutting Of the Republican ticket.
Combined with this the machine
leaders in Wisconsin came into my
district while 1 was absent speak
ing for candidates in other parts OF
the State, and secretly used all
their power in favor Of the Demo
cratic candidate. The result was
that although I ran 700 votes
ahead Of my ticket, was defeated.
The State went heavily Demo
cratic. Every Republican Con-
gresham save one lost his seat.
Defeated
Thus I was returned to private
life and to my law practice; but it
was not long before the fifteen
years struggle with the machine
in Wisconsin began.
1t would be idle to say that the