Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-16
IMpEACHING, A CABINET OFFICIAL


IN the year 1S76-forty- eight years ago
| the country was startled to hear that
General Belknap, President Grants sec
rotary of war, exposed before the house
of representatives for sale of concessions to
post traderships on the frontier army posts
Of the United States.
Those post traders were the people who
desired to set up stores and sell things to
the soldiers which the government did not
furnish, when the troops were equipped
with uniforms, caps, shoes, etc. They made
big fortunes in that way. AS the story de-
veloped it said that the secretary sign
ed up contracts with these post traders and
in one case there was ''rake-off' to Gen
eral Belknaps first wife, ascertaned to be
around 5000 per annum-paid with bank
checks.
The first Mrs. Belknap died
The "rake-off' was discussed at the time
Of her death by people visiting the death
chamber.
The ;rake-off' was demanded for her
small son, who also died very shortly. Aft
erwards General Belknap married his wfe's
sister, a widow. She was very attractive
society woman and lived in Washington for
a time, but when the began in congress
it had been simmering hot in Paris-a
very high Democratic official left his fam
lily at home and visited in Paris. The post
traders wife enjoyed Paris also-all chums
gether, rumor or gossip or an anonymous
letter reached Ohio, where the big Demo
cratic official lived, telling his wife to ex-
pect a fine necklace, which had been pur-
chased in Paris, and should be in Ohio
very soon, etc
The necklace did not come to America
and the story, as continued, related the dis
agreement over there in woman's quar-
rel and the exposure OF the "rake-off III
the post traderships, and TO whom paid
etc. In the closing arguments OF the law
yers at the crises it openly stated that
the whole affair Was occasioned by wom-
ans jealousy in Paris, because of fancied
Sights and neglect.
That impeac hment covered five months,
off and on, and l heard lot Of 1t during
the excitement in the senate. Senator Hoar,
of Massachusetts, made the following speech,
which I clipped today from the New York
Times, newspaper, February 6, 1924, with
its Endorsements
ssMv own public life has been very brief
and insignificant one, extending little be-
yond the duration of a single term OF sena-
torial office. But in that brief period l
have seen five judges of high court Oh
the United States driven from office by
threats of impeachment for corruption or
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. | have heard the taunt,
from friendlic' ms, that when the United
States presen; Wself in the east to take
part with the ilized world in generous
competition III the arts OIL ne, lHe Oily
product of her institutions in which she
surpassed all others beyond question was
her corruption. [ have seen in the state
in the union foremost in power and wealth
four judges Of her court impeached for COR
ruption, and the political administration Of
her chief city become a disgrace and by
word throughout the world. 1 have seen
the chairman of the committee on military
fairs in the house rise in his place and
demand the expulsion of four of his asso-
ciates for making sale of their official priv
ilege of selecting the youths to be educated
at our great military school. When the
greatest railroad in the world, binding
together the continent and uniting the two
great seas which wash our shores, fin
ished, | have seen our national triumph
and eXaltation turn to bitterness and shame
by the unanimous reports of three commit