The new North-west., 1885-05-22
Villas SECRET SERVICE.

The NEST unpopular man In Cleveland'a
Cabinet Is Postmaster General Villas. Al.
though he has not made 30 conspicuous
blunders - Bayard, nor stirred up the mug.
wumps 30 much, he has incurred violent
hostility within his own party by falling to
find openings for the hundred thousand
"would. be" postnasters and brought male
dictions unnumbered on his head. This
hostility has become so formidable, and be
has been 50 hampered by Cleveland's policy
of removal only "for cause" which includes
"ofensive partizanism"-whatever that gum
elastic term may mean--that he addressed Q
confidential circular to numerous Congress
men, giving them "a tip" as to the methods
Of making charges that wsuld warrant him
In ousting Republican incumbents and put
ting Ia Democratic successors. Although
confidential, somebody "gave 1t away" and
the P. NJ. General is reported very wrathy st
the breach of confidence. No wonder. 1t
Is q very small piece of business, indeed, for
q Cabinet officer to engage in, and shsws
that with sll pretenses to the contrary, the
Postofiice Department has yielded to the
clamor for "offces" and invites political pre-
texts for removal. The following, which We
find in the independent, Is presumably q
correct extract from the Circular:
81 shall beg you, therefore, to consider the
suggestions make as 10 the methods OF pro-
cedure, and II you adopt them and get some
cases ready within the next two or three
weeks, / think within the month Of May
can give substantial relief that will take
away the importantly and discomfort. This
Is, In short, to pick out the most obnoxious
aud offensive partizans in each county, to the
number Of sixth to a quarter Of all, and
choose first-class men to take their places. l
will require no more proof of partizanshiP
In these selections than the affirmation of
knowledge on the part of q Representative
or Senator that the postmaster has been an
active editor or proprietor of Republican
newspaper printing offensive articles, easily
shown by slips, or . stump speaker, or
member Of political committee, or officer
Of q campaign club, or organizer OF political
meetings, or that his Office has been made
the headquarters OF political work, or that
his clerks have been put into the perform
ance Of political duties. Possibly other acts
Of equal force may be noted In some cases.
IL the Representative does not know the fact
1t should be established by some affidavit of
some person whom he can affirm to be Of un-
questioned character, or by some document
ary evidence. In recommending for appoint
nent beg the Representative will state age,
business, and what kind of business expert.
ence, and description Of the business char
acter Of the applicant, and also Of his habits
and standing in the community. IL would
hA In Ia .h~- thath Ia
be satisfactory to the community, and where
obliged by an explanation which the Repre-
sentative can give. This necessarily imposes
q little trouble, and yet not very great, but
1t seems TO me reasonable to require"
The confession of "impsrtunity and dis
content" and the begging solicitation to
hurry up and pick out certain percentage
of Republican postmasters, to enabls q
slaughter that will take the "cuss" off the
p. M. General, is SO ridiculously small that
1t Is no wonder Villas feels aggrieved at the
exposure. Under bis schedule Of "partizan-
ship" almost any intelligent, active, leading
Republican citizen who happens to be post
master, may have his Official head "affirmed"
of, If otherwise he Is the best postmsste in
the land, as aside from tie objectionable
sins itemized, "other acts Of equal force" is
= carte blanche to prefer any kind Of charges.
II will be noticed that the above circular has
no reference TO incompetency, ineficiency or
In Office the offenses cited are
entirely Of political nature. Villas at least
has Been awbipped into line"