Today it is fixpected a representa ti ve...

Today it is expected a representative of the post office department will be here to look over proposed routes for free rural mail delivery. The Argus is pleased to note that at last its contention for free rural delivery is likely to bear fruit. But for its continued pushing of the question there probably would been no step taken, and Ann Arbor would continue in the rear or various other places in the state relative to this important improvement. Ann Arbor is on the very verge of being a first class post office. It is desired to make it such. Free rural delivery will help to make it such yet, if it has aided the cause of free rural delivery in any way, it has hidden its light under a bushel. Nevertheless the improvement is coming.

The attempted assignation of Maitre Lobari, one of the Dreyfus counsel, at Rennes yesterday, was not a wholly unexpected event considering the passions which have been aroused and the threatening letters which Lobari had received. It is not as yet definitely known whether there is a plot back of this dastardly act or not, but those responsible for the prosecution of Dreyfus would seem to be equal to any crime. The lawyer is not dead but he is incapacitated for further work at the trial. What the result of the crime will be on the prosecution is hard to predict. Ordinarily such a crime would be considered favorable to the accused, but the French are a peculiar people and it may have the opposite -effect. It has undoubtedly left Gen. Mercier with a better standing than he would have had had he been subjected to the cross-examination of the able counsel for the defense. His testimony was shown up in a very damaging way by the ex-president of the republic. But the doings of this arch conspirator would have been made to appear in a much stronger coloring had Lobari been present to take him in hand. As it was, however, the evidence of Casimir-Perier showed that he resigned the great office of president rather than to have his name mixed up in the effort of those high in authority to defeat as he believed the ends of justice.