Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-22
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WAsHINGTON, ID. c., February 90
Members Of Congress are rapidly COM
ing 10 the conclusion that the scheme OF
holding primary elections in towns Ia
order 20 decide who shall get the Fed
eral offices, such as pOstmasterships, IS
q fraud aud a failure. These primary
elections have been held occasionally in
the past when there was particularly
animated contest over a pOStmastership
which the member OF Congress did not
care 10 decide himself BY holding the
primary il was expected the voters OF
the town or city would indicate their
preference for the most popular man oy
ballot. aud thus the candidate who was
most generally acceptable would De
given the Dloce and the other candidates
would not feel inclined % kick
against the pOular verdict Ia few
instances this system Of distributing
patronage has worked satisfactorily,
but in most cases, according TO the teS'
timony Of Congressman, it has resulted
I'm more dissatisfaction, bitterness and
marty splits than the old way Of allow
ing. member Of Congress from dis
trict TO pick out the man for appoint
ment. The question is being discussed
Just now at the experience meetings or
Democratic Congressman when they get
together aad cOndOie with one another
over the troubles they are encounter
ing Ia the appOrtiOnment OF the Federal
offices which they expect TO have for
distribution after the 4th Of March. In
a number Of Congressional districts the
idea has been adopted OF holding pri-
mary elections 70 clinch by vote
OF the Democrats OF a town who shall
get the pOstOfiice. In almost every in
stance where this has been done the
outcome OF the primaries has been IN
satisfactory. Tbe man who got the
most votes has been charged with i'm
proUer methods, fraud, trickery, etc,
aud protests have been forwarded 20
the CONGRESSMAN OF the district against
his appointment.
This has been the experience in West
Virginia, where primary elections have
been held In several towns TO settle on
a man for postmaster. In q couple OF
the West Virginia cases the primaries
were got up without even extending 20
the CONGRESSMAN who represents
the district the ordinary courtesy
OF consulting him about the
matter. Naturally, a Congressman does
not feel az all battered by this sort Of
treatment. because by time-iavOred
usage, IL is his privilege to designate
the men who shall hll the pOstOficeS ia
his district. But this is not the worst
feature of the primary election method
Of selecting pOstmasterS.
One OF the West Virginia towns in
which an election for postmaster was
held, is Addison, Webster county. The
outcome and management Of the cleo
tion appear 20 have been intensely IN
satisfactory 70 a large number OF the
Democrats of the town, according TO
the letters which are coming here. IL
Is charged that many Of the Democratic
voters OF Addison, or who get
their mail at the Addison
postofice, did not know any
thing about the primary until 10 was
over. Not half the Democrats who get
their mail at Addison, 10 is said, voted
at the primary, and only three OF the
six candidates for the pOStmaSterShip
signed the agreement TO submit their
claims 20 q ballot Among those who
voted as Democrat was {. Z. D0rr,
who became notorious on the Senatorial
contest at Charleston, when John +.
Kepna was first elected TO the Senate.
In the last campaign il was generally
understood that DOrr aided the Repub-
Hcan management, and stated publicly
that he was opposed 20 tho Democratic
ticket. Since the primary az Addison,
Democrats, who voted, have protested
TO Congressman Anderson against the
appointment as postmaster Of the man
who got a plurality of the ballots. The
protest declares that the candidate who
got plurality is not the choice OF the
DeOple, who did not generally know the
primary was 90 be held, and alleges that
the whole thing was a Republican trick
90 make trouble among the Democrats.
The primary held at Sutton, Braxt0n
county, has had q similar outcome. A
protest has been filed against the ap-
pointment of the man who got a plural
ity OF the votes cast for postmaster and
there appears 70 be as much diSSstis-
faction as could possibly arise il the
postmaster were selected in any other
way.
Altogether 10 will De seen that the
urinary system Is not working well and
it is not TO be wondered at the Con-
gressmen are getting tired Of this sort
Of business.