Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-13
ASSUMING OFFICE IN DEMING.
Eccentricities Connected With Chang
ing Postmasters in New Mexico.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun
1t happened in Deming N. NJ, at the thriv-
ing town that lies at the junction Of the South
ern Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fe. Politics had been red hot for months
there. The opposition, headed by Bill Carnis,
leader with "a pull" wanted to Dust the
postmaster. The postmaster is the boss of the
town in New Mexico. The Carnis party made
things hum in their campaign, and, with the
aid of two newspapers that Carnis ran, they
succeeded in their fight. The victors called
conference in the biggest art gallery that the
town boosted. The great question was who
would take the postmastership. The defeated
man travelled with a bad gang, who were mad
clear through about the defeat and who had
shooting irons galore and weren't particularly
careful about the way they let them Off
Il guess you'd better take it, Carnis," said
the ''bhoys."
What, me?"
Eyes, b hevins, there amt no one else as can
properly represent u.s."
"But I've got my newspapers to edit"
LET EN- run theirselves, and step in and
whoop the post Office up"
Carnis saw there was no use declining the
honor, and 80 he said in a despairing tone
that he'd see ABOUT it. He had band of
friends himself who weren't used to standing
monkey business with meekness They we're
~
shine to Carnis ever since he had said that the
sheriff OF the adjoining county was a horse thier
in disguise and proved it despite the sherif's
threat to blow his head off if he didn't retract
the impolite insinuation. He told the gamblers
that he was going to interview the postmaster
The announcement tickled the gamblers. The
leading gambler said he would go around and
see that there wasn't any monkey business.
The defeated postmaster was sitting in
bank, the Office of which he used as postal
az Tod in inht ><T,
I've been appointed postmaster"
Heard something about that story, but
don't believe it,"
I'm going to take the Office. Perhaps that
will prove it."
You can't have it, that's ALL
The head gambler of the town broke into the
interview at this juncture.
Say, Wen give you just twelve hours to step
out Of Office"
"Ah, you don't say So"
'See here; don't want any nonsense. We're
peaceful, but don't get our mad up.2
Suppose give up, Carnis, where are you
going to take the post Officer"
"Dickinson's."
Dickinson's was the rival bank at the other
end OF the town. 1t was sweeping move. In
Deming wherever the post Office was locat ed
was OF necessity the business center of the
town. It's removal would mean great injury to
the eligible real estate clustered about the old
post Office headquarters. The defeated post
That's a damnable notion
Just so. Wen call tomorrow and get the
letters. Good day."
"Gar-r-x-hp'
The defeated postmaster's friends had been
very busy during the interview giving vent to
their chagrin. When Carnis got outside he
saw rag figure stuck up ON a pole over a gro
Gerry store, with old tin cans tied to the tail of
the old coat around the figure. 1t was an effigy
Of Carnis, labeled The New Postm aster"
hail lad wit han
he caught sight OF it. He called greaser over
to him:
Want to make dollar, Charley"
s.Yes"
go and tear that thing down"
Inc boss gambler gave the greaser silver
dollar and went back to his fair den. The
effigy was still there three hours later when he
strolled back. Charley was there, too.
What in h do you mean by taking my
dollar and not earning it?" the boss roared.
."rhey said they'd kill me if touched it."
The boss gambler pulled big shooting iron
and took up his place in the roadway directly
| opposite the effgy.
Charley, You 60 over there" he said, "and
daylights out Of the first man that stirs."
Yes, sir" said the greaser meekly.
Then you come out and rip that down"
Eyes, sir"
The gang saw the boss gambler in the road
way with his shooting iron drawn and received
the message with the Difference due an official
edics Then they stood close together and
with crestfallen faces watched the despised
greaser shin up ladder and tear the efigy
down.
Gentlemen, I'm man of few words" the
boss gambler shouted in through the grocery
door at the cowed gang "The next man who
attempts TO hang that thing up dies with his
boots on. Don't anybody forget it"
That settled the great political battle in
Deming. Next day Carnis set up the post Office
| in Dickinson's bank and il stayed there until