The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-15
HOW To BECOME A POSTMASTER.

entrance into natlOnai pOlltlcS Dy lsSu-
Ing to his Democratic constituents a
pronunciamento on a subject which he
no doubt rightly thinks is of more in
terest to them than any or all others.
Of course, we mean the ~postoffices. Mr..
Conn is just beginning his career as a
statesman, but the readiness with which
he grasps the salient points of the stu
alton n sizes mp the aspirations of the
Democratic party justifies a belief that
he may attain great distinction and per-
haps even be renominated for a second
term in Congress-. Since the Inaugural
ton he has remained in Washington
and focused his mind on the postoffi ce
question with q view of arriving at a
clear understanding of the policy Of the
new administration on that all-imDor-
tant subject, and deciding upon a line
of action for himself and his Democratic
constituents. Having done this he has
issued the pronunciamento aforesaid.
Mr.. Conn's district embraces the
ties of EIkhart, KOsciusko, La Porte,
Marshall, st. Joseph and Starke. These
six counties contain 119 postoffices, of
which eleven are presidential offices,
where the salary exceeds $1,000 a year,
and the others are fourth-class offices.
OF the 10S fourth class Offices forty-five
are money-order Offices, presumably
worth from $500 to 5000 a year. The
remainder are country hamlet and Cross
roads Offices, worth all the way from 80
to $500 or $500 a year. After inwardly
digestiDg the Presidents orders and
getting oil the light possible from Post
master-general Bisseil. who, by the way,
seems to be very much ~befogged and
with very little light to shed, Mr.. Conn
has issued the following:
Now that the pulley of the administra-
ton with reference TO the tappOiD tment OF
postmasters has been defined. there can be-
no further objection TO the selection of
those officials for the Thirteenth Indiana
district. anu whenever q majority of the
Democratic voters of the same postotfice
present a petition before April ID. 1898. re-
Questing me to call an election for the se-
lection OF postmasters | wln do so under
the following conditions:
J.. No person can be a candidate for the
Office OF who WAS an otficehOlder
under the former Cleveland administra-
ton.
2. No person can be a candidate for any
postoffice where the salary of such an office
exceeds $500 per annum who ie connected
with any other business of any kind or
character.
8. No person can be q candidate for the
office of postmaster who Is not q good DEM
Ocrstic voter in good standing. who is not
q man of good business ability, who does
not bear a reputation for honesty, morality
and sobriety. and vino has not been an
active worker for the Democratic party In
past years.
4. No person can be q candidate for a
pos,ofice who will not pledge himself to
give bis time and attention TO the duties of
the offic provided he is elected. In other
words. every postmaster in the Thirteenth
district is expected to be a postmaster. and
not turn the office over to q paid empiOye.
5. No petition for the election of u post
master will he accepted for consideration
after April Is. 1898. and all recommends
tione for postmasters will be made before
May 10. 1898.
The prOnunciamento, it will be OBJ
served. is addressed exclusively to Dem
ocrats. The Republicans and third
party men, who together constitute a
majority of the voters in Mr.. Conn's
district, as they do throughout the State,
and who, of course. constitute a major
ity of the patrons of the pOstOffices, have
no voice in the choice of postmasters.
This is in accordance with the gerry
mander principle or which the Demo-
cratic party in this State is founded.
We incline to the opinion that the
more Mr.. Conn's Democratic constitu-
ents study over his announcement the
less they will like it. He tells them. in
effect, that the only way for any Demo-
crat to become an applicant for a post
to be called by the Congressman, and
that he will only call an election on PEE
titiOn of a majority of the Democratic
voters within the delivery of the post
Office, and that such petition must be
presented before April 10. Moreover, he
affixes certain conditions to which all
aspirants must submit. Rule No. /,
ruling out all who held Office under the
former Cleveland administration, is
generally understood. No. 2 says no
person cali be q candidate for a post
office where the salary exceeds $500 a
year who is connected with any other
business of any kind or charac-
ter. In other words, the postmaster
at an office worth from $500 to 5000 must
live on that without regard to the size
of his family. If he is engaged in any
other business he must retire or close it
put before he can be appointed postmas-
ter. At the same time, according to the
next rule, he must be "a man of good
business ability" 1t will be hard to get
men of that kind To give up business to
take an $500 p~ostoffice. Proceeding,
rule number three requires the candi-
date to be "a good Democratic voter in
good standing" This is very binding.
He must be not only a Democratic voter.
but n good one, and, more than that, in
good standing, and. as if this were not
enough. he must have been "an active
worker for the Democratic party in past
years." The expression Gin past year,
il somewhat indefinite. 1t il doubtful
If, under that rule. Ex-Governor Gray