The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-03-25
POSTMASTER. REED

TO he Elitor of The iatt2igencer.
Sin:-l know Of no reason, Whatever,
for the publication in your paper Of the
article rejecting upon me which DC.
CURED in your issue oil the lllh inst,
and may be pardoncd, therefore, for
saying that tho injustice done mo wns
incxcusable, whether from lack OF facts,
which could easily have been obtained,
or williul perversion OF facts, (Which |
10 not cflargc.) The dispatch from
Washington, announcing my appoint
lnent rs postmaster OF Fairmont, was
followed by what purports to DO the
reason why ] was appointed, giving al.
legged fac,s affecting my previous con.
nection with the office. The article was
uucalled for, and so would DO the reply,
were II not for the insinuations your
correspondent makes, by which my
position was assailGd, but you, OF course,
nre the better judge OF what should or
should not appear in your paper, and
this defense IL submitted for your in.
spection. have no unkind feelings in
the matter, and am conscious OF having
done nothing ut any time TO offend any.
body. am moved to this public reply
to your paper by desire to be set right,
believing that you are not justified in
permitting your correspondent to bring
discredit upon me.
It is stated in your paper that the
Postmaster General recommended Lieu.
tenant Huntington for appointment. |
have positive information TINT the
Postmaster General did nothing OF the
kind, but, on the contrary, he recon.
mended me. General Clarkson was dis.
posed to favor Mr.. Powell, but being out
OF tho city when tho appointment was
under consideration, he recommended
neither OF the three. think your cor.
respondent could have ascertained these
facts hud he been go disposed. Your
paper further states that President Har.
rison was moved by sentiment to ap.
point me. Ile told mo himself, person.
ally, not longer ago than Tuesday, the
18th Instant, that the matter would be
decided upon the expressed will Of the
people, and since you have taken the
trouble to gratuitously declare in large
headlines that 1 had no local support,
l should say in my own defense that
my application was Endorsed by six hun
bred aud six lG0G) names Of those who
reside within the limits OF the office
patronage; that had on file iorty-nine
letters, most OF them being from the
business and influential men of Fair.
mont, and patrons Of the office. have
tho indorsement Of nearly tho entire
forty-tive Republican members Of the
late West Virginia Legislature. am
very literally Endorsed by the West Vir-
GINA Republican State League, as we'll
% by numerous prominent G. "A. r.
men, in and out OF the State. I chal-
lenge Lieutenant Huntington, or your
correspondent, to produce one-hali, yes,
one-third MS strong an Endorsement as
this.
l will 20 farther aud say that I had
greater support than both Of my worthy
competitors combined. l would not
make this assertion ii l did not think it
can be demonstrated by investigation OF
the papers which arc probably still on
file, or ut least come.at.able. am not
aware that any prominent Republicans
in or ont OF the State, went to the Presi-
dent and protested against bis consider
ton OF ex-Prcsident Hayes' request. l
do not believe anybody did SO, but if
there were such, why was not something
at the same time said OF the endorse
ment OF Lieutenant Huntington, OF the
late Sixth West Virginia Infantry, by a
prominent Iowa Congressman, and other
Endorsements for each OF LIS from other
sections? You should remember, Mr.,
Editor, that each OF the candidates for
tho Office did the best he could for him.
self, rs he had tho right to do, and
neither should be criticised therefor. |
WAS not reappointed postmaster by Pres.
ident Arthur, at the request Of cx-Presi-
dent Hayes, nor did I, rs has been said,
but not through your paper, serve eight
years prior TO tho administration Of
President Cleveland. 1t is not true,
either, that Republicans participated in
the pressure brought to bear by Demo.
Gratis to prevent President Cleveland
from recommissioning me. An article
published in the ISrELLIGENcrR at that
lime relieves mo OF the charge brought
by the ISTELLlGESCEE ut This time. ! had
tho united support of the Republicans
then, as believe, and tho support also
OF over three hundred and sixty.tiye
Democrats, patrons Of the office, for my
retention. II the 1STELLlGExcEI knows
to tho contrary, perhaps it has the names
Of the Republicans who opposed me,
The fact that creed again became a
with the usual letter Of TO.
quest is not denied nor am l disposed
to reflect upon myself therefor, what.
ever the lNTgh'aGENcER may think OF It.
Upon this point may it not be rs well
for the lSrELLlGEScER to explain why
it is so bad thing, politically, and as a
matter OF policy and principle. for OK.
President Hayes to endorse one man,
while other aspirants, here and else.
where, are endorsed by Republican
leaders" in and out OF tho State? Are
leaders Of the State all |
patrons OF the Fairmont postoilicc, aud
did none OF them support me? You in.
troduce your article with the statement
lint presidential courtesy overrides
The wishes OF local leaders in the matter
ii local appointment" etc. Besides
is incorrectness, this fling at the admin.
stra.ion and ex.President Hayes is i'll.
latured and should only find place in |
|, Democratic paper-never in the "lead- |
ng Republican paper OF West Virginia"
Respecting the numerous protests"
alleged to have been fled by citizens
If Fairmont against tho so.called inter-
erence by ex-President Hayes with
ocal appointments. and the alleged |
.ction by General Goh, Mr.. Elkins aud |
,thers, I desire to say that, in my
opinion, which is rs good as that Of
;our correspondent, no protests were
lied nor di! the gentlemen named
mako the alleged inquiry. Ii you know
o thecontrary, do yourself the Justice
o give particulars. I learned from
'umor, based upon his own declaration,
hat ono citizen Of Fairmont "a late
Lieutenant Colonel Of tho Sixth West
Virginia Cavalry, known better in these
ater days as General Flemips) did
write letter TO ex.President HAYES suc-
testing, in general, that the OK. President
lad no right to recommend me. I beg
cave to say that that one man has his
abor for his pains. s, IA 5isEe IG0-,t
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, desire to