The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-12
THE POSTAL CLERKS.
Reported Organization for Self-ProtectiOn
Against Sudden Removal

Pittsburg Commercial Gazette
Unless the postal clerks of the Fifth and a
portion OF the Sixth, Seventh and Second dis
tricts receive from Postmaster general Villas per-
sonal assurance of their continuance in Office.
they will stop work in few days more suddenly
than did the knights of Labor on the Gould
roads in Texas the other day." said Pittsburg
ex-postal clerk last night These clerks have
entered into an organization to protect their
interests, and have appointed subcommittee
for the cities through which they are scattered,
and all things are working SO quietly and nicely
together that sven Colonel Villas will be aston
ishsd at the magnitude of the result and the
helplessness of himself in its presence. A
committee has been appointed to prepare a
memorial for presentation to Mr.. Villas. This
memorial will recite the fact that upon the
sumption of his duties Mr.. Villas publicly an
nounced that he would not attempt to impair the
efficiency Of the mail service by making any re-
movals on account of partsanship as long as
the clerks should attend to their duties and not
NEEDLE in politics. Later on-well, late as
last June--each clerk received a circular reiter-
ating the same assurances.
Many who contemplated resigning were thus
induced to remain, although they had other jobs
in view. From time to time, however, clerks
have been cut off, until quite hole has been
made in the several divisions, and the discharge
of several at one time the other day from the
Panhandle left them no doubt of the insincerity
of the Postmaster general. The clerks I refer
to live or run out of ST. Louis, Indianapolis, Gin
cinnati, Chicago, Columbus, and Pittsburg They
have met several times lately, and have con-
cluded that the order of Colonel Villas was only
temporizing scheme in order to allow him to
educate his own political clerks, and have de-
termined to take prompt measures.
''As soon as the committee shall have memo
rialized him and received his answer, for which
a few days Will be given, all will act. If the
honor of the government is passed that no fur
ther indiscriminate removal shall be made they
will continue to work usual but if the
Swer IS vague, unsatisfactory, or blunt mega
tive, at given signal every clerk in the districts
named Will quit work at one time and allow Mr..
Villas to operate the cars himself. Every postal
clerk III the nine districts of the service Except
the Democratsl will stop at the same hour. In
the First district are 500 clerks; Second, $50;
Third, 500; Fourth, $50; Fifth, 600, Sixth, 800;
Seventh, 600; Eighth, 500, and Ninth, $50. In
the Fifth division so numerous have been the
changes within the last year that it is thought
within the next six months not single one OF
the clerks on duty when Colonel Villas came IN
will be left. This division emraces the States
OF Ohio, Indiana. Kentucky and Tennessee.
The Sixth takes in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa,
Nebraska Minnesota, Dakota, Wyoming and the
upper peninsula of Michigan. The Second dis
trict contains New York. Pennsylvania, Della
ware. New Jersey and the east shores of Mary
land and Virginia. The Third division embraces
West Virginia. North Carolina District of Co.
lumbia, Maryland and Virginia, with the excep-
ton of their eastern shores. If the clerks should
stop, and they will do it, it will paralyze the
commercial business of the country, and inflict
incalculable damage upon all classes of people.
1t is estimated that stop of three days would
accumulate more matter in New York than
conld be removed in month
"A. Burt, who has been superintendent of the
Fifth division, went to Washington three or four
weeks ago, and was met by Mr.. Villas. must
have 100 men taken off your division, said Col.
Villas. 1t can't be done without running the
service replied Mr.. Burt. well, l must have
them.' Mr.. Burt went homo and sent in his
resignation, and his successor has been looping
off men ever since. The removals must stop or
the mails must stop"