New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-05
THE POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
BUSINESS METHODS INAUGURATED BY 4
PRACTICAL BUSINESS MAN


PRACTICAL BUSINESS MAN.
The most difficult thing accomplished by the Postms
ter-Genera in the first year OF his administration ha
been to remove the many erroneous impressions ADO"
himself The idea in the minds OF Democratic editors,
whether they have held it honestly or not has been
that this great Philadelphia merchant has been meIs
counter Jumper, with yard stick concealed about
his person. and calling out CASH! to every N.''r
who called upon him. They have not cared To hh'"
that he has built up in thirty years career 81 I'LL
exampled industry, a business employing under one
roof 900 persons and yielding in many single y'ir
a proht Of ~ 100000. They preferred to Insult tleir
patrons with gbes about the haberdasher ahc mo
mer, shophccper' They preferred u Insult m'.ii's
Of decent people in yet another way. Ihey repro
secuted that John Wanamahcr was sort OF tahDD".i'
twrler in the salvation Army. They carefully en-
ccaed the fact if they aware Of It, that ne aa
started mission sunday school in the lowest quart
OF Philadelphia thirty years in tent, ana lad
then, as now been superintendent OF beuiahs' le,
do not admit the fact that, far from being p'lei
with offensive missiles by the touSs OF the heishO'f
hood he is welcomed now in the same locahty every
sunday morning in two immense tabernacle' WIFI
have been largely the work of his own hands ana
BRAIN and which hold 5000 people, who gather To SEQ
and hear him. But he Is bypocrlte, OF course De-
cause he does not give up this marvellous suhufl-
school The Democratic editors think he must surely
he a NOUS lnave because he is not afraid u organize
little charities By the nunuIeu, anu 'd'h o-N D-A'''
folks" about the lessons Of humanity
The Postmaster General also had the mSior'uhe
in the first months OF his administration 10 be ms
understood somewhat by the members IF his own
party. represented essentially the merchant III
the new Administration, but many Republicans feared
that he knew no politics. 1t Is true thdt lie du not
and does not now know any politics except that the
best administration good politics. that results which
bear the closest scrutiny the things that ta" ana
that an efficient friend better than ali efficient enemy.
Tho Postmaster General by personal contact with many
Republicans who have misunderstood him. has removed
these false conceptions about himself, and Impressed
his busnesslikc, stawart, pusnaclou, oHdaeer uPoh
tens of thouands..
Tho most prominent Characteristic Of Postmaster
General Wanamaher is his genius for work Promptly
at haltpast no is TO be found at his desk, either
debating letters comforting with one Of his chiefs
or meeting a caller by appointment, who Is startled
at seeing Cabinet officer early at his Department
And it is work. except for short interruption al
luncheon time, all day long, 1t is no exaggeraton to
say that the number Of people received daily and the
amount OF business actually transacted in the ONCE
Of the Postmaster General and his picturesque First
Assistant exceed similar achievements in all the other
Departments of the Government put together. II is
from very fact that the postal service has 10000
branches and 10000 employees. There is stream d
callers In the Offices OF both Mr.. Wanamaker and Mr.
Clarlson from 10 TO l. There Is no red tape about
either Of these gentlemen ladders are required TO
climb In through tho door. Every good republican
and every good citizen gets what he wants or knows the
reason why he cannot have it.
The rule Of the Postmaster General is TO devote him.
self completely to the affair which he happens 10
have in hand at the moment This is one Of his
characteristics. caller who has business with him
finds him the readest kind Of listener. He does not
know more about the subject than the expert the
authority with whom he is conversng or II he does
know the visitor never finds it out The person
with something 10 say, the man with an idea or suy
gcston, the kicker with a complaint 10 make. finds
for the time being that Mr.. Wanamaker is interested
In nothing else In the world except the visitors own
particular notion 1t seems as II the Postmaster
General desires above all things to dispose OF the work
which he finds before him 10 do. He therefore hlcs
from task 10 another with the greatest lie
plunges TO the bottom of a question with hOmcly
vig0r sometimes which takes the successful as well
As the disappointed caller almost or his feet lie
renews the discussion OF old question Just where no
left It.. though a hundred days have interviewed.
THE PNsrMAsTEIiG nNERAL'S ASST STA NTS
The effect OF Mr.. wanamalers business methods
upon his conduct of public affairs is every day
In the conduct Of his chosen subordinacs His First
Assistant Mr.. Clarkson, has had a most remarkable
success. He and his chief are perfectly in Accord
each knows his limitations; each is certain Of his
strength. The Postmaster General would never rob
the First Assistant OF bit OF credit for creditabe
piece Of work or wise policy suggested and carried
out; and the First Assistant, for his part freely
follows where his chief leads Mr.. Clarkson's princi.
pal duty is the selection OF efficient fourth post
masters to take the place OF Democrats who resign
die, or have to be removed because their accounts
are wrong or their tongues unruly. The performance
OF that duty has called out his strongest and most
successful efforts He thinks that personal loyalty AZ
well as official uprightness. makes the best political
record for a party. This is perhaps the principle
which has distinguished his OF action IN every
appointment Certainly, II the Postoffcc Department
had done nothing else In the last year than 20 furnish
the political honesty of Mr.. Wanamaker's First As
sstant, II would be entitled to hearty Endorsement.
The labors Of Colonel Smith A. Whitfield scconA
Assistant Postmaster General furnish another ilusTa
ton Of Mr.. Wanamaker's excellent judgment. The
efficient postmaster Of great city, he came 10 Wash
ngton with an intense interest In his work. UA1D
him the Division of Routes and Contracts mora
efficiently managed than The old clerks SEQ
1t; the route agents and contractors know oft n
to their cost Colonel Whitfield is a modest man,
but he might record If he chose. the history Of many
case In which the rascals have been turned down.
II, indeed. they have not been turned out
A. D. Falen, the Third Assistant Postmaster Cen
cral. is efficient and experienced official Drought
up, as II were, in the Department. he knows all It's
wants and shortcomings most thoroughly. II, lie i
the post he holds before the Democratic Nd