Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-28
o4f4ftt ttRsD2Y DECEMBER %, 1866. i
The Attempt OF Postmaster Benedict
to SuDnreuv the lsehttHF,

statement in regard to the unlawful and
malicious detention, b, the1 Postmaster, Of
the copies of the LEADER sent to the Post
Office to be mailed. Since then we have
ascertained that some of the mail agents
on the cars had instructions from Postmas-
ter Benedict or his assistant to return to
the Cleveland PostoAice copies Of the LEAD
ER sent direct to the mail cars, which they
might suspect Wers transient IL 'their
character. These instructions some of the
mail agents were indiscreet enough to
obey. In SO doing they have made them
selves liable to prosecution for violation
of the Postofice law. Postmaster Bene1
dict has 40 authority whatever togive such
inssrsstiehs, any more than the Postmaster
of Newburgh or Bedford has, and in doing
so, he has violated the Pestofiee laws and
trespassed upon the rights of the publishers
Of ths LEADER, as wen as those Of its sub
scribers. Mail agents have no right to
refuse papers coming rom a known
office .Ofspubiicition, and we hereby no
tify those who have been refusing to re-
ceive the LEADER that their conduct will
be investigated as soon as an agent of the
Department arrives. .,i.s-
The mail agents are not appointed by
the Cleveland Postmaster and it is high
time that they consult their printed in
structiols from the, Department, instead
Of putting themselves under the thumb of
the Postmaster, ,seditor of the Herald, for |
the purpose Of fdrthefing his private ends.
When notice was received at this office |
Of the LEADER being excluded from the
NAIL one of our clerks called on Mr.. Ben
ediet for an explanation. Mr.. B. dealt in
insulting remarks charged the LEADER
Company with. etdeayOring to defraud
he aUhartment and had much to say
'bOut the "LEADER Company flooding
he country with sample numbers Of its
'aPer." Our representative offered to
9 hake affidavit that the detained
'apers were sent to regular sub
cribers, and respectfully asked for a
'lAnk form Of affidavit. Benedict refused
aging "he would not give such form of
fhdayit, aud that he should reject or ac-
ept such affidavit as he saw ft--and that
be sending Of these papers was fraud
nd Ed. Cowles knew it," In making
MS insulting reply, Mr.. Benedict had evil I
-
entity worked himself to high pitch of
Zcitement. He laid much stress upon
ne fact that the LEADER Company had
lslled large numberof sample papers,
'ome $4,000 copies, upon which the post
GO had been prepaid, which seems to
ave exceedingly annoyed him. Our rep :
then left, and Immediately |
iegraphed the facts in the case to Mr.. '
OWles, who wa then absent in New
Ork and Immediately started home !
look after the matter.
We need only add one fact in order q
display perfectly the unfairness and
alignityg Of the Postmaster-and that is
at the Cleveland Herald has for years =
en- sent to subscribers under precisely I
9 same circumstances, and that it has v
ways passed, and is now passing, through y
g Cleveland Postofiee without any de- ;.
ltion whatever.
y Sc - Aa.s g 7A----- - --=--- - /
let is presuming upon his intimacy with
9 Postmaster General, and thinks he can e.
ceed his authority as postmaster for the g,
rpose Sf embarrassing rival paper by =
aking fictitious grounds for excluding it
IN the mails. In this he will doubtless "
d himself mistaken. m
Our readers viii remember the attempt q
the MahOning Railroad Company to u u
clude the Herald from. its trains, some m
rec years ago; and the fuss which Mr.. "
nedict made about the affair. We 81
ould have expected that that experience H
'uld have taught him to follow the
lien Rule So :,
We hereby request all our subscribers f.
10 have failed or may in the future fail So
receive their papers, to inform us of the L
It, together with all its details We in
i'd to investigate fully. this attempt on y
, part of Postmaster Benedict to cup
ess the circulation of the LEADER.