Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-05-21
Turning the Rascals Ont.

Postmaster-General Villas has issued
the following circular letter to leading
Democrats throughout the country. II
was intended 10 be kept secret, but
some prominent Democrat seems tc
have got Republican friend to read il
to him, and thus 1t has been made
public:
4 TCOHfdeHfiail
| PosToFFIcE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF PosT-l
MAsrER-GESERAL.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April 90 1885.
Dear Sir:-The continued illness of
MIR. Hay will delay his coming for some
time yet to the department, and think
1t desirable that some action should be
| taken in the way of removals, and am
impatient to assist our people in secur-
ing relief to which they are Justly en-
titled from partisan postmasters.
have had conference with the Virginia
delegation, and they will soon bring in
their cases. and l shall hope to make
the earliest removals in that state. As
soon as they shall be ready, and hope
within week. | desire to appoint from
three to ten in a county in Virginia,
amounting to several hundred altogeth-
er. l had intended to invite Yourself
and the Democratic delegation from
Ohio to meet me this week and con-
sider the plan upon which we should
proceed in making removals in Ohio.
But understand it will be inconyen-
lent for some to travel hither now, and
IL has occurred to me that perhaps the
same end might be accomplished by
writing. | shall beg you. therefore, to
consider the suggestions | make as to
the methods of proc eedure, and if You
can adopt them and get some cases
ready within the next two or three
weeks, l think within the month of MAY
can give substantial relief that will
take away the importantly and discon-
tent. l think that from Is to % per
cent. of the feurth-elasS postmasters in
Ohio might be removed within the next
two months; and great good accom-
plished thereby, if our people will adj
here to proposed plan.
This is, in short. to pick out the most
obnoxious and offensive partisans in
each county, to the number of sixth
to quarter of all, and choose first-class
men to take their places. will require
no more proof of craftsmanship in these
selections than the affirmation of knowl-
| edge on the part of a representative or
senator that the postmaster has been an
active editor or proprietor of Repub-
llcan newspaper printing offensive arti-
cles, easily shown by slips; or stump
speaker, or member of political COM
mittee, or officer of campaign club.
or organizer of political meetings, or
that his Office has been made the head
quarters 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. If the representative does
not know the fact, it should be estab-
lished by some affidavit of some person
whom he can affirm to be of unaues
toned credibility. or by some docu-
mentary evidence.
In recommending for appointment, !
beg the representative will state the age.
business, and what kind of business ex-
perience, and description of the bust
ness character of the applicant, and
also of his habits and standing in the
community. 1t will be well to file evil
dence showing that he will be satisfac-
tory TO the community, and when there
are various candidates / shall be Obliged
by any explanation which the repre-
sentative can give.
This necessity imposes little trouble,
and yet not very great, but it seems to
me reasonable to require very extraor-
binary care and trouble enough to be ia
ken to represent surely the facts. The
earliest removals and appointments of
this kind will challenge the keenest
scrutiny. The former must be iusti-
fable and the latter beyond criticism.
Some mistakes have perhaps occurred,
and our adversaries are keenly inter-
ested to make the most of every fault,
because they have perceived strong
current of general appreciation of the
purposes of the administration.
In rendering this justice to our peo-
| pie, which consists of the removal of
and substitution of our friends, | feel
that it is very desirable to proceed with
extreme care, and that l am correctly
| representing the Presidents wishes and
purposes in earnestly soliciting that
every step may be taken accordingly.
|
is infinitely beyond the welfare of any
one person, however great his place, so
appointments, to further a mere per-
sonal end, should be absolutely forbid
den. and recommendations upon that
basis may well expect disfavor.
shall very willingly take up the case
OF any district or of any county. when
ever they are ready, and l shall be glad
| if the representative can personally at
tend and go over them. Papers should
be sent in as soon as possible, and will
be then carefully briefed in the depart
ment, and when so made ready ap-
pointments can be made with great
rapidity.
Should you think it desirable to have
personal conference before this is be-
gun, ! shall be very glad to meet the
delegation.
| But as / have felt it desirable to re-
lieve them of unnecessary iourneying
| and expense / have written a similar
letter to each representative from Ohio
and respectfully solicited responsive
action in accordance with the spirit of
it. Very truly yours,
WILLIAM +. Villas,