Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-15
most intense Tory. Nor are royal visits
a cure any more than these methods.
THE BETRAYAL OF BLAINE.
POstmas ster Pearson Eefutes Certain
False Statements.

False Statements.
Postmaster Pearson, on being Ques-
toned as to the truth of the statements
published in certain Washington papers
on Sunday last concerning his alleged
betrayal of Mr.. Blaine and his prob
able share in bargain, the terms OF
which included his support of the Demo
cratic candidate for Governor of New
York at the next election, said:
''The insinuation that there was any
bargain for my retention in office / am
sure has no foundation in fact The
charge that betrayed Blaine is simply
ridiculous. [ had no trust to betray and,
consequently, betrayed none. Neither
Mr.. Blaine nor any of his active support
ers ever asked me to make any special
personal effort in his behalf, still less to
endeavor to influence the votes of the
employees of this office. L was desirous
that every one of them should have an
opportunity to vote as he 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 other legal holidays, and
prepared the usual printed notices an
nouncing that this would be done, which
were displayed in the lobbies of this
building and in those of all the stations !;
but day or two before election day saw
In the papers Washington dispatch an
nouncing that the Postmaster General
had decided that postoffices must be kept
open as usual on election day. l then
sent this request by telegraph:
First assistant Postmaster General, Wash
ingtOn, ID. c.:
Election day being legal holiday in
this State, and business generally sus-
pended. may this Office be closed on that
day after 10 a. M?
III. G. PEARSON. P. M.
"To this reply was received to the
effect that under a recent decision of
the Postmaster-General' Post Offices
| could not be closed or election day as it
was not national holiday | at once
ordered the printed notices to be re-
moved, and notified all Superintendents
of stations to do the same, also to cause
the usual number of deliveries and col
lections to be made on election day, but
at the same time instructed them partic-
ularly to see that every employe who de-
sired to vote should be given an opportu-
nifty to do so. This could readily be done
without neglect of their duties, as most
of the mails arriving after the heavy
morning mails, and also the local mail
matter, would, of course, bemuch lighter
during election day than on ordinary
days. l believe that not one employe of
the office was deprived of the right of
franchise through being compelled to at
tend to his official duties.
"On the morning of election day l re-
ceived dispatch from Mr.. Hazen, the
Third Assistant Postmaster-G General, in
structing me to see that all employees
were given an opportunity to vote, but as
l had already taken measures to give that
opportunity to all employees, no further
action on my part was necessary. On
the same morning | was called on by
three Post Office Inspectors, who in
quired whether all employees would be
given an opportunity to vote. l assured
them that they would, and told them of
the instructions had issued on the sub
ject, and they left apparently satisfied.
Nevertheless, within one or two days
after the election l ascertained that on
election day, letter-carriers were stopped
while on their routes by Post Office In
spectors, who displayed their commits
sions and questioned the carriers as to
whether had allowed them to vote, how
had instructed them to vote, whether
they would vote as told them, whether
L had not instructed them to vote for Mr..
Grace, etc. / cannot believe that these
officials were instructed to ask such in
sultlng and idiotic questions, but presume
them to have acted only according to
their individual conceptions of the fitness
of things
"One OF the inspectors went even so
far as to enter one of the stations and ad-
wise the superintendent to close the sta
ton and let the men 90 to work at the
polls-and this, although he was aware
of the instructions from the department
and of the order had issued under those
instructions. | have never been infu-
enced by political considerations in nv
official action, either as postmaster or in
any other position [ have held in the
postal service, and never shall be. I
have exercised as a citizen my right of
suffrage and voted according to my con-
victions-how and for whom 1 take it to
be my own business and that of nobody
else; and | have recognized the right of
all employees of this Office to do the same
without inquiry, instruction, hint, or sug-
gestion from me. There is no office on
earth which | would accept on condition
that it should be made by me an instrr1-
ment Tor serving the interests of anv
party or person whatever, or that it's |
operations should be conducted with anv
other object than the benefit and conve-
nIence of the general public. In COM
mon, as believe, with all good citizens.
l desire that the administration of Mr.. |
Cleveland shall be a success, as l would |
have wished in the case of Mr.. Blaine
had he been elected to the Presidency.
and 1t is, among other reasons, because
OF that wish that | am determined that
the trust he has seen fit to place in nv
hands shall be honestly and to the best
Of my ability administered in the sole
interest of the people. You may say that
the Postmaster will, as an individual
citizen of New York, support bv his
vote that candidate for Governor whom
ne believes most likely to best admins
er the office, but that as Postmaster he
will politically support nothing and no
)OdV IN Y Times Anril 7