Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-14
TIRE PRESIDENTS MAIL.
How Postal Cards Poured Into the
White House Asking for Mason's
Pardon.


Pardon.
Washington Special in New York Tribunc.l
A newspaper paragraph suggested that
postal cards cost only cent apiece, and that
it was thus within tue power of every citizen
to exercise, at snail cost the right of peti.
ton to the President in behalf of Sergeant
Mason and Betty aud the baby 1t may
not be true that the President saw the para
graph and pardoned Mason on the spot, but
it is a fact that the postal cards only began to
come In when the pardon had already been
announced. They came in hundreds, aud
continued for two or three days. How many
there would have been If the President had
not parduned Mason it would be hard to
guess.
The cards made an interesting collection
as they were stacked in ncn, bundles on the
desk of Private Secretary Phillips. A great
many were from women, educated ann un-
educated; number from soldiers. Some
handwritings showed extreme age Others
were ftom chlldrcn, or signed by whole fam
lies. Many showed singular ideas OF cti
quetic in addressing the President, aud said
without word Of preface or poltonc,s,
Pardon Sergeant Mason Scores of cards
said not a word more. Perhaps nine out OF
ten contained a request that Sergeant Mason
should be allowed u cat his Thanksgiving
turkey with Betty aud the baby" Ouc
writer evidently ielt that the President was
likely to grow tired of this refrain, and sum
married. II thus: ".5r: Mcrcy-Pardon--
Mason Thanksgiving. BE Just and fear
not" This was sigucd by four members
of family, tie last evidently a
young boy. ODc card gave POrti4's
description of mercy. Oae card, unsigned,
bore this rather pathetic inscription IN Il
trembling hand "Plclsc libcri,c Sergeant
Mason, and answer tie prapers OF gray
headed mother" A Philadelphia BOY
card was practical. III you want to be /
winner iu "a you will have TO let the ser
geant brave eat Bettys turkey dinner" An
other card read: president Arthur: MAXI
two votes by letting up on Mason.-Blank y
Bro"
There was ore dissenting voice, and onli
one Don't please, pardon Sergeant Mn
son. Let him serve his full tlino. 1t i
healthy discipline. Its effect, pro or con, i
very far reaching. Newspaper sentlmentait!
and self appointed censorship need SOM
rebuff. Your course is to be commended.
think, by thoughtful pcrs) Ihi5 MAJ
never reach your eye and doubtless will not
Still have satisfied my conscience"
From tins showing il would seem that tn
Presidents mail may, tinder some circum
Stances become burden. let it is not 5
large as many might expect. II often fall
as low as fifty letters q day and seldom cX
ceeds 100, unless some specially imporlaa
appointment or measure is pending. Mn,
lenths of these, it is said, are apt 10 be on dt
, paitmcnt matteis and ought properly 10 i
: addressed to the department. Almost ever
: mail brings some letters from 'cfanks,
which arc duly filed uud,r the head of "E'
ccntric'-a Subdivision about as large =
$ any in the White House files.
8 Occasionally letters even come from lun'
E tic asylums. One of the Interesting ie.
c lures Of the clerical work of the Whit
, House is that the cn,ile time Of one Of Il
seven clerks is occupied in reading the hun
5 dreds of newspapers received. This is dor
simply TO keep the gln Of editorial opinion
i which are classified in scrar-boohs by the
subjects aud preserved thus making Iii
n tory in one way OF an administration. III
c system was begua under President llnye
o The clerical work at the White House is
n well systematic ID that president has lit
$ labor with his letters and papers. The gre
Il drain upon his physical powers is - q
! stream Of callers, mary Of whom come vi
s affairs with which he is 10, concerned al a
and which lie is ob.igci 10 refer 10 the d
partments