Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-10-05
COALITION MANAGEMENT IN
AUGUSTA COUNTY.
STATEMENT OF Elk POSTMASTER HUFF,
OF WAYNESBORO.
[From the Richmond State.l

OF WAYNEsBORO.
From the Richmond State
Some months ago the ci iZ-ns of Waynes
boro and Staunton were indignant and ex
cited upon learning that Mr.. John Huff
an old and highly esteemed citizen, who
for nine years had been postmaster OF
Waynesboro, had been under atrocious
and peculiar methods turned out of the
position he had filled to the satisfaction Of
the people Of tt e entire section regardless
of politics. MIR. Huff's character is above
reproach, his word undisputed, and he Is
in every respect striking example of the
country gentle man of the old school,
During his term as postmaster OF
Wayueshoro the people in that TIL ifty sec
ton Of Virginia have never failed to ties
tify to his courtesy. uniformly Obliging
disposition, and strict attention to duty
while with the Department at Washing
ton his record as public official was higt
| on the roll of honor. Learning that Mr.
Huff was in Henrico county on a visit t.
relatives. q member of The States stat
sought him yesterday evening.
STAUNCH READJUSTER.
Postma ster Huff stood SO well with the
department at Washington that every
body Was puzzled to know how he could
have been dlslodged. Postmaster General
! Howe, himself, said that his record WAS
irst-ciass and there was not a single
charge against him. During the contest
in Virginia over the State debt, MIR. HUFF
was Wa M adherent of the Readj ustel
side.
s'Oh, no. he said, Il have no objection
to talking about the matter. 1t is d piece
IF villalny that ought to be exposed. 1t
was one OF the greatest pieces of rascaliSy
ever accomplished. But before I proceed
want to say that Senator John F, Lewis
is my friend. ! have knCwn him from
boyhood, and he has been my very best
political friend in the world. He stuck to
me all the time. There was not single
charge against me. Senator Ltwls went
to Washington and saw Malone and the
Postmaster-G General. The latter said my
record was lirst-class.
ARACY NARRATIVE.
The names of the parties who figured in
Mr.. Huff 3 statement we're William Ma
hone, Congressman John Paul, Senator
John F. Lewis, Mayor Pattel son, OF
Waynesboro', W. B. Kurtz, John A.
Noon. Col. Rudolph Turk. W. E. Craig,
Hugh T. Gallagher and w. M Caldwell.
'sWeu, SIR" he continued, ''earIy in No.
vember, at the meeting of the Readjuster
County Committee, the first effort Was
made TO put w. B. Kur,z in as postmaster.
Jonn A. Noon, one of Craig's deputies,
ACTED as secretary, and Craig himself Was
chairman of the commit ee. The second
meeting was held late in November, aud
when the minutes of the previous meeting
were read 1t appeared that they endorsed
KurtZ for tue position of post master of
Waynesboro. Col. Turk, who Was friend
of mine and who had been present at the
meeting, was astonlshed at this. He ap
p-aIed to the members of the committee
singly, and asked, Is that SO ? and each
responded. Mo- He appealed to Craig
and he replied also. No Nom, the sec
IT tary, said. however, be had put it dow
that way. By the way, Senator Lewis
told me subs, quently that Noon was the
party who recommended kurtz tor the pc.
sltiOn.
A FALSE RECORD.
have Col. Turk s letter to prove that
they made false record, and that Craig
sig ned that record when he knew 1t was
false. But Craig. since this matter has
been unearJhed, has studiously refused to
say anything about it. About twelve
months ago, in November, received a
letter from Senator Lewis, saying he
thought some raScality was going IN, and
ought to 90 To StauntOn immediately to
see Maj. Yust. | went to see Craig first.
KurtZ, | discovered, had told the SUBJ
committee that neither my son nor myself
had voted in the last Governor election.
We eoiately sent over to the clerk g
office, and our names were found recorded
as naviag voted. Craig remarked when l
saw him, II understand you have been the
best postmaster ever in Waynesbaro." l
then went to see Major Yost and told him
and had come to set myself right He
said "Kurz told us you did not vote, but
l did not believe him. thought you
would not neglect to vote, for it would
have been treating Mr.. Lewis with great
ingratltude. You are all right. I know
you have been a fine postmaster. You
can go home and rest satisfied that you
will not be dist urbed.' | went home and
the first thing knew Kuitz's appointment
papers Game through the postoftlce. When
the fact leaked out ,Lfie citizens of Waynes-
boro, without regard to party. signed
PETITION against my removal, and got
Mayor Patterson TO go to Washington
with it.
A VISIT TO MALONE AND PAUL.
He saw Mahone. and he said he did not
have anything to do wi it, but that Con
gresham Paul had the matter in hand
He then saw Paul. who said that KGrtz
had presented fine papers, and had told
him that the Readjuster committee had
unanimously recommended him (Kurtz)
for the place of postmaster. Now, about
the fne papers. Mr.. Gallagher and Mr..
Caldwell gave Kurtz a nmendation
for some Office under the Government, but
it was distinctly uuders God that the post
mas ership of Waynesboro had nothing to
do with it. Kurtz showed Paul these let
tiers and alleged that they we're recnmmen-
cations for the place of poStmas' er of
Waynesboro Mr. P tiers N sho ed that
this was not so; aud Paul said, 'That al
ters the Case then. G home and tell
Craig TO say that the County Rpadjuster
comm ittee did not recommend KurIz tor
the position of pos master. and l will stop
the thing right teIe.'' Patterson came
home and vent to see Craig, who said, Il
have noi hing to do with the N ter and
nothing to say alb ,ut it, then e t r v. q.
Beard an uncle of Craig to see him, but
Craig declined to do anything, and said,