Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-02-21
THE BUTLER POST OFFICE.
Who Should be Appointed ?
Or Elected? A Plain State
ment of Facts.

I
the matter heretofore, but lest anyone
may suppose that only few feel an
interest in tie question, address
you this. That there is a deep feel
ing among our citizens on the subject
all realize. For no Office concerns all
of US more. Our business corresponds
ence is done through it. The person
holding a post office should therefore
be one in whom all have entire conf
dence, both as to integrity and efficien-
CIV. No community of its own will
and choice would select for that Office
an Incompetent person, or person
whose reputation for honesty was
questioned. No more would they do
so than would a business man take into
his employ clerk whose honesty was
questioned. The office from its nature
REQUIRES it to be occupied by one hav-
ing the confidence and respect OF the
public.
The term of the present official in
the Office here is about expiring. She
soon will have held the Office for the
usual term of four years She is an
applicant to be continued. Another
lady, Mrs. Black, is also an applicant,
and the question before us is, which OF
these two is most deserving? Which
the most competent ? Which would
give the most general satisfaction !!
And in which could all those receiving
their mails at the Office repose the
| greater confidence
1t is not necessary in this connection
to say anything personally as to the
young lady, Miss Robinson, in whose
name the Office is now held. No one
desires to say anything personally
about her. She was but a young gIil
when appointed, and may be said to
be so vet. No disinterested citizen
ever thought of her at the time for the
F, office. There were then, and are now,
perhaps hundred young ladies' in the
town equally as worthy and compe-
tent as her. Her appointment came
about solely through her father. He
was the real applicant then, and is 50
now. Why he did not get the Office
in his own name was well understood
at the time. He holds nothing in his
own name, all property he Lad being
out of his name Whether this was
to ward off creditors he had we need
not now discuss. At the time OF the
appointment of his daughter, four
years Ho, the prominent applicants
for the office were Mr.. Thomas b.
| White and ESQUIRE l.. p. Walker.
Their petitions were both numerously
signed. Mr.. White was urged for re-
appointment on the ground that he
had made a most excellent, obliging
| and faithful officer, as was indeed ad-
mitted by all. But this argument had
no effect upon Mr.. Thomas Robinson
at that time, and he is now urging
his daughter solely on the ground that
she has done well and should therefore
he continued. Esquire Walker was
urged by many on account of his per-
sonal worth as citizen, and being born
and raised among us Besides being
strongly recommended he had the sup
port OF our then member in Congress,
Hon. John NJ Thompson. President
Hayes appointed Esquire Walker and
sent his name to the Senate for con-
frmation The Senate confirmed him.
But within three days Senator Came
ron was induced to move a reconsider
alton of the confirmation, and thus the
matter was opened This was done
mainly by ard through kilograms and
letters from Thomas Robinson to
Senator Cameron, making in them un-
Just and unfair charges against
| ESQUIRE Walker. In the meantime
letters, and | believe q small petition,
were sent on by Mr.. Robinson and
some others, asking for the appointment
of his daughter And thus the matter
stood when the 4th of March arrived,
1879) and Mr.. Thompson went out OF
Congress and was succeeded by Mr..
Dick, the then newly elected member
for this district. Through Mr.. Dick,
Senator Cameron and State Senator
John NJ. Greer, Mr.. Robinson sue
ceeded in having the name of his
daughter substituted for that of
Esquire Walker, and thus she became
post mistress at this place. These
facts are well recollected by many
here. The unfair mode taken to ac-
complish this was then, and is yet
strongly condemned. But 1t gave Mr..
Robinson control of the post office
here, the very last place in the world
the people of this town would have
voluntarily placed him. The forcing
hm upon us has greatly injured our
party here apd in the county, He is
now simply striving to keep his hold
on that office. Like the horse leech his
cry is give, give, although he is suck
ing out the very life blood of the par
ty. With the voracity Of cormorant,
or the sticking qualities of the barna-
Gle, it seems impossible to satisfy him.
Office holding is disease with him.
For twenty years, or more, he has fast
ened himself or some of his children on
Offices either here or at Harrisburg.
He is supposed to be the man who
wrote back to Ireland to his relatives
to come over here, for it was easy to
get offices here, and that almost anybody
could get them. His present attempt
to hold on against worthy widow
woman shows that there is no shame
in his nature. And as the present con-
: test for the Office is truly between him
and Mrs Black, few facts as to her
merits should be known.
Mrs. Black is the widow of the
lamented George A. Black, Esq, a man
much respected among US when liv'
ing, and whose memory is cherished
by all his comrades and acquaintances
, A more faithful soldier did not 60 into
the ranks of the Union army from
Butler county than was George Black
Since his death she mainly supports her
self, besides having the care of a step
| child left her. She is the daughter o1