St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-25
SHE WOULD ELECT THEM.
The Miseries Endured in Small
Places From Obnoxious Post


Places From Obnoxious Post
masters.
Special Letter to the Globe.
FOUNTAIN, Mimi, March 24.-Not
many days ago l read just hint about
electing the postmasters by ballot in the
small villages and towns and wherever
the small poStotficeS are situated. That
seemed such satisfactory solution of
the veXatiOnS often endured by the peo-
pie of such places that one can but
wonder why it had not been agitated
years ago; and it would have been if
the people had ever thought of any re-
lief being obtained in that way from an
Overbearing or ignorant man that
questionable way, much to the amaze
ment and utter disgust of the inhabi-
tants to be served by an unpopular or
grabbed man; until endurance ceases to
be virtue, and often then they are
forced to endure it to the end of his
term unless he does some overt act that
must be attended to by the postmaster
general; afterwards the man may be re-
moved or left with reprimand, and
the people are again at the mercy
OF an enraged man who does
not fail to use his power
ID greater degree than ever. No one
real misery such man can infiict on a
community, can have an idea of what it
is to be obliged to have daily contact
with such an officer. If the inhabitants
OF place containing 500 or less inhabit-
ants, and the surrounding country were
given the right by congress enacting
the proper laws for such communities
to select and elect their own post
master, there would be an end to so
much difficulty as is now often expert
enced.
Such law would be a great relief to
the postmaster general and would be
hailed with delight by the people, who
would select honest and capable men to
run the Office for them. They would
and could be the best ones to know who
would be the best man to fill that re-
sponslble position for them. And that
would do away with the diSgraceful
undetermined way that some men OBJ
tain the position in such small places,
and at the best every appointment
made seldom gives satisfaction in
all ways; but in electing an officer the
people Settle down at once to the
verdict of the people, as everybody
knows they do as soon as the result of
the voting is known. The majority
have said this one is the one we want
anu GIlO HldtteI 10 ttG Ouc6 Settlcu lOf Ul6
next four years. Something of this
kind would be sure to bring out the
best man, regardless of politics, Just as
these communities elect their own town
officers: the result is given out and
every one is suited, except some dis
gruntled one thatmay "sputter" around
for few dgyS and at last submit to the
inevitable will of his friends and neigh
bOrS. If there is no constitutional law
to prevent this mode of electing post
masters In this way, the way is clear to
reform much needed in small commu-
mites, where politics do not control
but the best men of both parties are Sc
lected for town officers, and no nation
atty is overlooked or left to get his
or her mail as soon as it arrives, and not
a week after. 1t seems so easy to have
congress give us the power to elect
postmasters that the subject is worth
agltating at least, to see the why OF
wherefore that it may not be done at
once. Keep it before the people, and
let the small communities agitate this
question until we learn why it may
not be the man or woman of
our choice to serve us as post
master or postmistress. and thus effect
much needed reform in the small and
| mixed natiOnalitieS to be served. | am
sure tldt ILLS queSUlOH HecIS- all
classes, and being only woman and
not politician, having no axe to grind,
only that want the greatest good to
the greatest number, and of late have
learned how much such small communi-
ties are made to feel that the servant is
the master and they have little or no
rights, has often made my blood boil
when l have seen it practiced in this
free country. Let us agitate and see if
congress will not ''give us rest"
Mrs. MARTHA CRANDAII,,