New-York tribune., 1872-09-21
SPIES IN THE POST-OFFICE.
HOW THE ADMINISTRATION TAMPERs WITH
THE MAILS.

SHALL READ.
Some allusion has already been made to the fact
that copies Of The TRIBUNE addressed to mail sub
scribers have frequently miscarried during the
present campaign, while copies of The Times Of the
Same dates have been substituted for them at tho
place Of delivery. People have been 10th to believe
that the Administration would purposcly confscate
newspaper that is politically obnoxious to II and
many have charitably assumed that the occurrence
was accidental. The Times, it is we'll known, has been
purcbased in large numbers by the Grant Commit
tees, and sent illegally under real or counterfeit
franks 10 postmasters in all the doubtful States, to
be distributed gratis among Democrats and Liberal
Republicans. If this were ALL great harm would
be done few Postal statutes would be broken,
and few employees of the post-ofiee would neglect
their duty, and little more decentralization would
DO introduced into the Civil Service while the circle
of those who dislike John Thomas would be con-
siderably extended. But when il comes to a fOrcibe
interference with the circulation of othcr papers,
the ohouse wears a very different complexion. This
is the ocnse which there is good reason to say
the Administration is Systematically committing.
We have had letters from great many towns, cs-
peoially in the Middle and Eastern States complain
ing of the suppression of THE TRIBUNE by post
masters and giving facts which render the conclu
sion almost irresistible that it is done by orders from
Washington.
The first step in the preparation OF this outrage
is to get the names Of The TRIBUNE subscribers
Now every publisher Of q periodical, every adver-
tislng agent, knows that list Of that kind is
valuable piece Of property. IT is part of the good
will Of the paper. Ii is worth cash. In the principal
cities there are who make living by collecting
the names Of persons residing in parts OF the
Union snd selling them to firms which advertise by
OF circulars. A list of names taken. as The
TRIBUNE is from every county in the United States
would be worth for such purposes very large sum
of money while TO rival newspaper its value would
be almost incalcnlable Nevertheless, the Grant
managers have attempted 10 steal that list by means
Of their pOstmasers Here is specimen of circular
sent TO the New-Hampshire Postmasters. under the
frank OF Senator Cragin;
OFFICE REPUBLICAN STATE CONNuTHE }
STATESMAN BUILDING, CONCOED. n. H., Aug. 2i, isl2.S
SIR: wiz you have the g1OdnS,s To send us the mum
town, whether weekly seu-Meekiy' or dmS1 we pro pro
pos 20 'cn 70 ~. suSh d CVty % " N @ vl n
with copy Vi The Times ioI your l own use. send al
B.F. PRESCOTT. Secretary.
This calls for merely the number OF our sub
scribers. Another circular asks for their names as
the following letter from postmaster in the same
State whose name and address suppress out OF
regard for his official head will show
70 The EdttOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: l this day received from the Republican (or
the number Of subscribers, with names, that take THE
N. Y. TRIBUNE at this Office their that
ELECTION TO them Here Is Civil service reform but il
don't take here, simply write this you can the
manner in which the Grant folks conducting the
campaign The amount of the business is. they tremble
them boots, and with good reason tor sure as the
election day cOmeth this state Will cast It's vote for
Greeley and Brown.
The following is a copy of circular sent to post
masters in Bradford County. Penn:
TowANDA, June l2.--TO -, Postmaster az -.
DEAR SIR As a OF promoting the success Of the
Republican candidates at the approaching election IS
deemed important to have list OF subscribers TO THE
NEwHOKK TRIBUNE N TINS county VIII you have the
kindness eaply possible TO SEND 10 my address at
Towanda list Of the subscribers TO THE NEw-HoRK
TRIBUNE at your Otlce.
Your immediate attention to this request is very de-
Chairman Republican Committee Of Bradford Co.
Very few of the o1ice-boders belong to party
they cease to be ofce-holders pretty quickly when
ever they are found out; and the probability is
that nearly all have obeyed this order, and held
their tongues about 1t. Undoubtedly the circulars
have been sent out wherever the contest threatens
to be close.
OF course no postmaster has any business TO give
such information. 1t is gross breach of confidence.
He has much right to tell the village gossps all
that he can learn about his townspeople's cor
respOndence by scrutinzing postmarks and hand
writing and chatterng about the people to whom
they send letters he has to tell these political
committeeman what newspaper each family receives
But for all that, the information has undoubtedly
been given.
The next step is TO direct a copy of The Times to
each of the addresses thus dishonorably obtained
The postmaster may not have distinct verbal orders
TO keep back THE TRIBUNE. but he knows what is
expected of him, and there is strong presumptive
evidence, in many cases. that he does it. The fol-
lowing letter from the Chairman of a Democratic
Committee in Pennsylvania speaks for itself;
10 Ihe Editor Of The Tribune,
SIR; was this morning informed by two gentlemen,
whom nave known Tor many years as consistent mem
bers OF the Republican party, that following their life
long CONVICTIONS tney are now ardent supporters OF
scriDed and paid for The WEEKLY TRIBUNE, and have
that yesterday on calling at the PostOhce at this place
found In tsr boxes instead of The TRIBUNE The
on they were informed that T6e Times was better
paper than THE TRIBUNE; that II furnished TO them
gratis and consequently they could not be sufferers by
the exchange These gentlemen Indignantly refused 10
receive The Times, and Ger threatening 20 hare the mat
icr Investigated, teere permitted 10 hare TIE TRIBUNE
The same thing has been DONE have since ascertaned,
In many instances; several TRIBUNE subscribers,
siding many miles from the POstOhice not having dis
covered the substitution until they reached their homes
1t occurred yesterday at the PostOfce Milan,
In this county; there the Postmaster is supporter Of
Mr. Greeley and he states that no package OF IRBUNEs
pas receped there but i its stead package Of TBteSeS
addressed 10 The subscribers Of THE TRIBUNE.
Some time since circular from the Chairman OF the
Grant County Committee published In Brddf0rd Argus
ard copied into TRIBUNE addressed to the pOstmasers
this county asking for the names of all TRIBUNE
scribers Was made pubue This present move OF the
pOstmasters is undoubtedly result Of that circular
win you give me your views Of the matter and suggest
such remedy you think the demandsl Very
Jpeetfully, EDwARD HERRICK, JR.,
Chairman Democratic County Committee.
Athens, Bradford Co., Penn, Aug. 3, 1873.
This fragrant instance is well matched by another
in New-York subscriber writes as follows from
Bethel Conn:
SIR came TO this place early in the Summer, and be-
fore leaving my home in NewYOrk subscribed for THE
.aIne yery regularly; but after ne greeley nonndfio IL
soud occasionally taf' and Hnaly wo,4d reeef1e THE