It was in the Post-Office Department that we first definitely established the rule of conduct which became universal throughout the whole service.  Rumors of corruption in the department became rife, and finally I spoke of them to the then First Assistant Postmaster-General, afterwards Postmaster-General, Robert J. Wynne.  He reported to me, after some investigation, that in his belief there was doubtless corruption, but that it was very difficult to get at it, and that the offenders were confident and defiant because of their great political and business backing and the ramifications of their crimes.  Talking the matter over with him, I came to the conclusion that the right man to carry on the investigation was the then Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General, now a Senator from Kansas, Joseph L. Bristow, who possessed the iron fearlessness needful to front such a situation.  Mr. Bristow had perforce seen a good deal of the seamy side of politics, and of the extent of the unscrupulousness with which powerful influence was brought to bear to shield offenders.  Before undertaking the investigation he came to see me, and said that he did not wish to go into it unless he could be assured that I would stand personally behind him, and, no matter where his inquiries led him, would support him and prevent interference with him.  I answered that I would certainly do so.  He went into the investigation with relentless energy, dogged courage, and keen intelligence.  His success was complete, and the extent of his services to the Nation are not easily to be exaggerated.  He unearthed a really appalling amount of corruption, and he did his work with such absolute thoroughness that the corruption was completely eradicated.

We had, of course, the experience usual in all such investigations.  At first there was popular incredulity and disbelief that there was much behind the charges, or that much could be unearthed.  Then when the corruption was shown there followed a yell of anger from all directions, and a period during which any man accused was forthwith held guilty by the public; and violent demands were made by the newspapers for the prosecution not only of the men who could be prosecuted with a fair chance of securing conviction and imprisonment, but of other men whose misconduct had been such as to warrant my removing them from office, but against whom it was not possible to get the kind of evidence which would render likely conviction in a criminal case.  Suits were brought against all the officials whom we thought we could convict; and the public complained bitterly that we did not bring further suits.  We secured several convictions, including convictions of the most notable offenders.  The trials consumed a good deal of time.  Public attention was attracted to something else.  Indifference succeeded to excitement, and in some subtle way the juries seemed to respond to the indifference.  One of the worst offenders was acquitted by a jury; whereupon not a few of the