North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-06-23

About the McGre9or Postomce Fig hit
Friend Times:-As an observer of
passing events, want my say; your cor
respondent Biles has. had his, and. billed
over Travelling Radical has had his,
and he stopped over; "Senator Newell"
has been compelled to simmer down !;
Benton, the Breadand Butter Post Master,
has been kicked out. and left to lick his
chops in remembrance Of Federal Pap
already enjoyed: he has subsidized f; ALI
son thought it was time he was weaned.
lie (Bentoa) had held office long enough a
wise conclusion, "Billy," and too many
of your own constituents think the same
way. "Tompkins'' is the man to get; yes,
get is the word want it is not a very
big one, but very expressive. lie. did get
up and dust, las "Dan Rice would say") !;
get the McGregor Post Office, and did
make Benton get out, and did make Allison
come to time, and will make all the Radi-
calls in the county get into their, proper
traces, for, behold, does not he and Drum
mond, aided or directed by Upton, control
Clayton County; whisper not to the
contrary. Well, Tompkins has succeeded
contrary to the wishes of 1920 Of the
citizens of the city--in getting the charge
of their Post Office, and for it he is de-
serving of the highest praise for his bold
strategy and unfinehing perseverance,.
The struggle is over there has been
from the commencement no doubt of the
result by those who have known the actors
and the several aspirants. Allison, as
member of the house from this district,
by custom had the disposal of the patron
age he is faithful member THAT is to
himself) and with all man of mans
virtues, the chief Of which is a truly
ladyslike amiablity, but he is selfish,
extremely selfish, and entirely destitute Of
either justice or gratitude, and, withall, a
most consummate coward; man to turn q.
deaf ear to his best friends; but crinse
and obey the behest of an enemy APP
preaching him with q bold and threatening
demand. a
OF the rival candidates, neither Grant,
Frazer, Burlingame, nor Morril, were men
for that kind of tactics they were gentle
men, and proposed to present their claims
in gentlemanly manner, consequently no
one supposed either of them stood the
ghost of a chance but Tompkins had
been under the training OF Drummond and
McCrany, and learned of them in their
own classic language, the only way to get
Allison's ear was to cnss him armed with
this Instruction he advanced to the con-
test he had a further advantage; had
control of press, and welded an
extremely venomous and vindictive pen.
To his demands, Allison dare not turn
deaf ear; he quailed it was not the
glistening sword suspended by single
hair that frightened him; it was some-
thing mil htier and to him m ore terrible
it was pen, dripping with gaul and
vengeance, and in the hands of one who
knew too much him it would not do to
offend he could not be triAed with /: with
him, promises must be kept, pledges fuI>
filled. Prior to the nomination last year.
the Nescs Office had thrown out some hints
in favor of Graves and thus extorted from
Allison promise Of the McGregor Post
Office; Tompkins then wheeled into line
and performed his part of the contr1sct
with more than christ ian fidelity doing
for Allison more dirty work than any
other man in the county, except Douglass.
successful, than Tompkins, aware that the
early bird catches the worm, hurried to
Dubuqe, not asking. but demanding the
Office. One thing in Tompkins favor; lie
is no cringins supplient or fawnng beg
gar he claimed his right by contract he
had been bought for price, and he
righttully demanded the pay. The bond
must be kept, it was to Allison like
pound of flesh, for he well knew that it
was an outrage upon his constituents
Tompkins, like Shilock, held up the bond
he demanded--no more, no less-but did
relent, ard at AllisOn's earnest request
and pitiful solicitations condescended to
return home, and get up some show of
backing or Endorsement. This he did
with his usual boldness and tact--frst
forming legue with the enemies Of
Allison, such as Murdoch, Odell, MsCra-
ney, Woodland and Tipton--men who had
left no stone unturned to oppose his
nomination and fought hin. to the bitter
end; they readily lent themselves to the
scheme and advised what they knew was
the most unjust move that could possibly
be made. Their motive was probably
seen by every other man except. Allison
and Drummond, and it is quite doubtful
if the latter did not. Allison fell intot the
trap; but these few indorsers were not
enough; more must be had for this pur-
pose he. approached the timid, with visage
stearn and savage mien, demanding that
they should recommend him-oacking his
demand with threat of utter ruin and
humiliation, at the same time shaking in
their faces his slanderous pen. After
canyassing the district, hunting the high
ways and the byways, the city. the village
and the hamlet. the mechanic, the farmer,
and the professional politician-all he
supposed could he Influenced by threaten
ing and blackmailing-he succeeded in
securing near a hundred letters probably