The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-29

as Postmaster at Newcastle, at the same
time acting as storekeeper for the Oregon
Improvement Company. He had been ap
pointed to continue in office until relieved
by his successor" and on moving to thi:
city in 1888 he offered to resign. No atten-
ton was paid to his notice, and although
he has since written time and time again
to the different Postmasters-General and
done everything to enforce discharge, his
successor has never been named, and he is
still postmaster de jure. Dowhat he will,
he cannot get rid of the Office, and it
haunts him like an apparition and seems
to be his unholy birthfight. The salary
arrives regularly, although he refuses to
accept it, and no amount of protest and
expostulation has been of any avail.
A few years ago Richard G.. Roberts.
postmaster at Franklin, a neighboirng
town, where the frig ghtful mine disaster
of last summer took place, moved to New
castle and succeeded Mr.. Atkinson as
storekeeper for the company. The latter
also turned over the postoffice to the new
conner, making him a deputy and giving
him all the pay. Roberts, too, has en-
deavored to resign from his office, but the
authorities have turned deaf ear to his
entreaties. At Franklin the acting post
master receives all communications ad-
dressed to Mr.. Roberts, and at Newcastle
the latter attends to the departmental cor
respondence coming under the supervision
of Mr. Atkinson.
So the monotonous round OF ofice-hold-
ing has continued. Mr.. Atkinson, during
his tenure of office, has received all sorts
of letters, which have been taken care of
and answered by his assistant at New
castle The latest document only arrived
few days ago from Washington, and was
in the shape of blank bond for $500,
which the unwilling postmaster was in
structed to fill out with sureties and re-
turn Immediately.
But the most annoying of all the COM
munications have been those from leading
politicians importuning Mr.. Atkinson for
donations ''to carry on the campaign" or
''to keep up the party organization" The
above fact calls to mind Mr.. Atkinson s
wizard of the Washington Democracy,
who has just visited President Cleveland,
who called Hazard a curiosity and said
he ought to be put on exhibition at the
Smithsonian Institution. A few weeks be-
fore the campaign opened Mr.. Roberts, at
Newcastle, received the following letter:
In view of the forthcoming State convention
the State organizations are greatly in need of
funds l have been directed to request that
you will by return mail send bank check or
postal order for $25 in payment of first and
last installment of your verbal subscription
\ If you are unable or unwilling to pay
this sum then kindly so advise in inclosed
stamped envelope, when you will not be again
called upon. am, sir, yours truly,
GEORGE HAZARD, Secretary.
This letter was allowed to pass without
reply and few days later messenger
from Mr.. Hazard called on Mr.. Atkinson
at the Treasurers Office in this city, and
presenting the letter made demand for
the S25. Mr.. Atkinson was evidently much
provoked, and after reading the communi-
cation twice and pulling handful of hair
out of his head, he turned his gray eyes on
the messenger and demanded:
so you want some money!"
eyes; would like to get the $25. You
know we need money now"
Mr.. Atkinson, who is an ardent Republi-
can, reflected that he was called upon to
contribute to Democratic campaign fund.
He then answered positively:
my leg is not very elastic. 1t has been
pulled until all the stretch is out of it. and
if you succeed in getting any money out of
me you'll be dandy"
After thinking the matter over, Mr.. At
kinson concluded to write to Mr.. Hazard.
He then dictated the following diplomatic
letter:
Your courteous request for contribution OF