Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1912 — PROBE MOVES OF POSTOFFICE MEN [ARTICLE]

PROBE MOVES OF POSTOFFICE MEN

Senate to Inquire into Activities of Inspectors. BRISTOW’S MOTION REPORTED If Democrats on Postoffice Committee .Unite with Progressives Investigation Will Be Conducted by Anti-Taft Men. ” \ . • V > Washington, March 22. Senator Bristow’s resolution directing the senate postofflee committee to investigate and report to the senate whether “postoffice inspectors are being sent through the country as political emissaries to influence’postmasters to aid in the election of delegates for or against any candidate for the presidency” was favorably reported to the senate by the committee on audit and control )of contingent expenses. The resolution went to the- calendar and will be considered in its turn. The senate postoffice committee, which is directed by the resolution to make the investigation, is headed by Senator Jonathan Bourne, Jr., of Oregon, a progressive, who is strongly in favor of the nomination of Colonel Roosevelt. The regulars, however, are in the majority on the committee. Senator Bristow being the only other insurgent Republican who holds membership. The regulars are Senators Penrose of Pennsylvania, Crane of Massachusetts, Guggenheim of Colorado, Briggs of New Jersey, Richardson of Delaware, Bradley of Kentucky and Lorimer of Illinois. Seven Democrats are members of the ( committee, however, and < should they join with Senators Bourne and Bristow the regulars would lose control of the committee and the investigation, if finally ordered, would be conddcted by forces hostile to the admirlstration. The Democrats are: Bankhead (Ala.), Taylor (Tenn.), Smith (S. C.), Swanson (Va.), Bryan (Fla.), Martin (N. J.) and Smith (Ga.)