The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-11
TIE "BErRAYAL" or MR.. BLAINE.
Postmaster Pearson Rsfutes Certsia False
Statements.


Postmaster Pearson Rsfutes Certain False
Statements.
New FORK Times
Postmaster Pearson, on being Questioned
as to the truth OF the statements published
in certain Washington prpers of Sunday last
concerning mis- alleged betrayal of Mr..
Blaine and his probable share in bargain"
the terms OF which included his support OF
the Democratic candidate for Governor of
New York at the next election. said:
The insinuation that there was any bar
gain for my reteDtson IL Office l am sure
has no foundation in fact. The charge that
I betrayed Blaine is simply ridiculous. 1
bad ne trust to betray, and consequently,
betrayed none. Neither Mr. Blaine nor
any Of his active supporters ever
asked me TO make any special per.
sonal effort in his behalf, still less to en-
deavor to influence the votes of the en-
ployes OF this Office. l was desirons that
every one of them should have an opportu.
nifty 10 vote as be pleased and to that end |
proposed to close the office and its stations
for the greater part OF election day, as had
always been the practice on that and all 9th
er legal holidays and prepared the usual
printed notices announcing that this would
be done, which were displayed ia the lob.
bies of this building and in those of all the
stations; bat q day or two before election
day saw in the papers Washington dis
patch announcing that the Postmaster Gen.
eral had decided that Postoffices must be
kept open as usual on election day. then
sent this request by telegraph:
First Assistant Postmaster General, Washington,
DC:
Election day being legal holiday in this State
and business generality suspended, may this Of
fee be besclosed on that day after 10 a. M?
III. G. PEARSON, p. NJ.
ITO this reply waf received to tue effect
that under q recent decision of the Post
- h
closed on election day, as it was not Ma
tional holiday l at once ordered the
printed notices to be removed, and notified
all Superintendent of stations to
do the same; also to cause the usual
number of deliveries and collec-
tions 10 be made on election day, bat
at the same time instructed them particu-
larry to see that every employe who desired
to vote should be given so opportunity to do
so. This could readily be done without neg
lect of their duties as most of the mails ar
irving after ths heavy early morning mails,
and also the local mail matter, would, of
course be much lighter on election day than
on ordinary days. 1 believe that not one
employe OF the Office was deprived of the
right of franchise through being compelled
10 attend to his official duties.
ION the morning of election day receiv
ed dispatch from Mr.. Hszen, the Third As
sistant Postmaster General instructiDg me
TO see that all employees were given an OPP
portunity to- vote, but as l had already ia.
ken measures 10 give that opportunity to all
employees no further action on my part was
necessary. On the same morning | was
called on by three Pest Office Inspectors,
who inquired whether al employees
vote. 1 assured them that thsy
would, and tod then of the In.
stTuctions had issued on the subject, aDd
they left apparently satisfied. Nevertheless.
1 ~.s-.s, i. Il
ascertaiDed that on election day letter carri-
ere were stopped while on their routes by
Po,toffice Inspectors. who displayed their
commissions and questioned the carriers
to whether had allowed them to vote, how
had instructed them TO vote, whether they
should vote as l told them, whether l had
not instructed them to vote for Mr.. Grace,
etc l can not believe that these of
hciels were instructed TO ask such
Insulting and idotic questions, but pre-
sumo them 10 have acted only according to
their individual conceptions Of the fLaess
of things
'O9e of the Inspectors went even so far as
to enter one OF the stations and advise the
| Superintendent TO close the station aud let
| the men 60 10 work at the polls-and this,
! although he was aware OF the instructions
| from the department and OF the order l bad
| issued under those instructions. | have
never been influenced by political consider
| otions in M official action, either as Post
master or in any other position / have held
in the postal service, and never shall be. L
| have exercised az q citizen my right of suf.
| frage and voted according to my convictions
how and for whom take it to be my own
! business add that of nobody else; and 1
have recognized the right of employees OF
this Office to do the same without Inquiry,
/ instruction, hint, or suggestion iIom me.
| There is no Office on earth which / woald
accept on condition tina. il should 90 made
| by me an instrument for serving the inter
ests of any party or person whatever, or
] that its operations should be conducted
with any other object than the beDegt
and convenience Of the generol pub.
| lie. In common, as | believe with
| all good citizens, desire that the admins
tIation OF Mr.. Cleveland shall be success
as l would have wished in the case of Mr..
| Blaine had he been elected to the Presidency,
and Ii is, among other reasons because of
| that wish that l am determined that the
! trust that he has seen At to place in my
| hands shall be honestly and to the best of
my ability administered in the sole interest
Of the people. You may say that the Post
master will, as an individual citizen Of New
York support by his vote that candidate for
| Governor whom he believes most likely to
best administer The Office, but that as Post.
| master he will politically support nothing