The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-12-09
WESTERN AND SOUTHyy F.STERS
MAIL SERVICE.


The st. Louis Chronicle. (Rep.
thinks Mr.. Garfield is free to make
such selections for his cabinet as he
personally desires, and that they will
not lack the force of character to
control DEF artments. Touching the
postmaster generalship the Chronicle
says:
For acknowledgement no one
would be more acceptable To the en-
tire country than Chauneey /. Filley
of Missouri. lie is political leader
the Conkling of the West, and, ma
turally, has party feeling against
him but this would be against any
prominent Republican while in the
case of no other as with E'illey,
wonld it be lost in a regard for the
mans exceptional fitness for the po-
sition. In the st. Louis pOstOffice
he made himselfadmitedly, the best
postmaster in the United States, and
the improvements he secured in the
western mail service by his energy
and force placed wide region I'M
der obligation to him-obligations
readily acknowledged by men
of all parties. lie has eXccu-
tive ability of remarkable
quality. and ability of exactly the
type required in postmaster-gen-
eral. Nothing stops him in carrying
out an undertaking, and he is won
derfully fertile in new devices. With
him as postmaster-general il Is safe
to predict that, at the end of Gar
fields administration, the postal sys-
TEN of this country will have been
revolutionizeda and will have reached
a degree of efficiency never known
before in the United States or else
where. There are, of course. pOliti-
cal reasons why Mr.. Filley should
command a place in Garfield's cabi-
net-that is, if great services Cor a
party are to be rewarded under the
coming administration, for Filley
probably accomplished more TO Sc
cure Garfield's triumph than any
man west of the Alleghanies. He
was a power in the Chicago conven-
ton, and subsequently potent among
the stalwarts In inducing them to
accept an unexpected order of things
He was the great adviser and leader
in the management of the Indiana
campaign, and through him came
partly the October result with
its tremendous influence on No
vember. Later, in the East. his po-
litical shrewdness and sagacity were
utilized again, and the leaders in
New York prOfited by his assistance
TO the end of the campaign. Ger
tainly, in party sense, Filley has
made for himself this autumn a
striking record, but il is not on such
grounds that his claim to the posi-
ton named is here suggested. His
claim rests simply on his exceptional
fitness for the Office of postmaster
general, fitness he has shown him
self to possess, and which is not
possessed to the same extent by any
other probable aspirant. Whether
he would accept it or not is un-
known-he may have some other
object in view-but that his appoint
ment would be most gratifying to
the business men of the west, regard.
less of party, may be set down as q
simple fact" q. ..s
In that part of tine Chronicles no
ticc of Mr. Filley, omitted, reference
is made to his eminent party services
and to his instrumentality in defeat.
ing the stalwarts at Chicago, and in
inducing them to accept an order OF
-,
things not anticipated, Texas has
reason to be deeply interested in the
proper administration of the postal
department.. Mr.. Filley would GER
tainly make very able postmaster
general, and the position should be
held by western man. The mail IA
cilities of the East have been made
perfect, and it is now the West that
desires Improvement in this respect.
The demand for ability in the con-
duct of the western and southwes-
tern mail service, where constant
fresh demands are made, is especial
ly apparent, and the STATESMAN
has reason to believe that Mr.. Filley
may do us valuable service in direct
ing the enlargement and efficiency
of our mail service.