St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-26
IT SHOULD BE so ESTEEMED
MOST OF ALL BY THOSE WHO
WEAR 1T, COMMANDING PUB
Lie RESPECT.
THE FAREWELL OF THE CAPTAIN
Is an Eloquent and Thoughtful Adj
monition to His Men Not to For
get Their Positions.

assuming the duties of his office. been
esteemed by all his subordinates, but
. his address to the letter carriers last
night won him a place in their hearts
that will endure as long as life lasts.
When Capt. Castle was in Washington
city short time ago, an official of the
department suggested that before re-
firing as postmaster he make an ad-
dress to the carriers similar to the one
made to the postoffice clerks some
months ago. In line with this sug-
gestion the carriers association held a
meeting last night at Assembly hall
for the purpose Of enjoying an even
1ng's social intercourse and hearing
parting word from the man who
has filed the position of postmaster
the past four years with such satisfac-
ton to both the public and his sub
ordinates.
The hall was crowded, all the ST. Paul
carriers, most of the clerks, a ma
Jority of the carriers from Minneapolis
and a large number of members Of
other labor organizations being pres
ent. L. j. Doyle, president of the local
association, presided, and made a few
Introductory remarks. After listening
TO a selection by the postoffice band
ana song by Thomas Jones, Presi-
dent Doyle called upon Capt. Castle
Tor an address. Capt. Castle stepped
forward and read carefully prepared
speech, in the course of which he said.
among other things:
Mr.. Castle said:
am very glad to meet the letter carriers
hot.
last my intercourse with them has been
pleasant | shall carry with me into retire
ment the happiest recollections of their uni
lolMly courteous treatment, and the approval
Oh my own conscience as to my conduct
towards them. | adopted as guide of nv
management, when beginning the theory
mat the postoffice should be run for the
pehehI OF the public rather than the conven-
fence of employees. Everything consistent
WIN that rule to fmpartially favor the en-
ployes has been done. l have had no favor
ties except the men who did the best work.
only eight carriers have been dismissed and
only seven others suspended on nv motion
or recommendation. / do not think nv dis
clpline has been loose, In good conduct and
efficiency the St.. Paul carriers are equal to
any body of men on earth.
Mr.. Castle then went over the postal
history of the, country, and the impor-
lance OF the department, continuing:
you are under semi-military discipline
with the highest possible motive for So
prlety industry and obedience There is an
esprit de corps about such an organization
which leads to the best results. You should
cultivate high sense of personal honor
Your uniform warrants 1t; your position de-
mands it. Nothing mean should be tolerated
The sneak and the liar should be reformed or
driven from the service. No petty tale bear
ing Should be encouraged. But you are
sworn officers of the government and anv
Wlflful violation of the law, even when by
one OF your own number, must be relent-
Iessiy exposed and brought to punishment.
Each OF you has record on file in the de-
partment at Washington.
On that record 1 hope that each will feel
special pride in ranking high for personal
honor. You are peculiarly favored in your
relation to the public. No other class of
people comes in such direct contact with it,
You get most .ofs,the credit for the postal
system. People who receive letters from
your hands forget the others whose ac-
curacy and intelligence their quick transmits
sion mostly depends They are not seen by
the public; you are. Hence you get the lions
share of the compliment, and yet criticism
you can easily throw, off on some one else
You are constantly under the public gaze
and the necessity of exemplary conduct is
doubly manifest. If your uniform is seen in
saloon or staggering. or in a quarrel, you
are marked at once. The public naturally
measures the whole department largely by
their observation of your character and con-
duct.
To one large element of the public you
bear relations of special significance and i'm
portanee. For what is termed the "organ-
lied labor" class of our country your ex-
periences have peculiar value. You have an
association which is to the various orgapi-
cations of wage earners in different fields
both an example and an encouragement You
have demonstrated that enough good work
can be done in an eight-hour day to satisfy
any reasonable demand, and you have not
abused the privilege.
You are impregnably iDtrenched in your
position unless through ill-advised demands
for too much you cause reaction in public
ua111d
reached your present position without organ
lied effort. 1 confidently predict that the
wage earners of the land may well take
courage from your success and make a
model of your conduct. As trusted officers
of the nation, you can and will set your
fellow workers an example of respect for au-
thority and obedience to law which will be
of inestimable value to them and to all.
Liberty without license, freedom without
anarchy, labor without degradation are the
watchwords of true Americanism. Through
rational organization, If at all, American Ia
borers are to be elevated.
Mr. Castle then referred to the re-
sponsibility Of the postmaster to the
government and his dependence on
those under his direction, and referred
to the surveillance of last summer as
follows:
The method was startling in it's novelty.
and very severe as a test. That the letter
carriers of the country in general, and those
WELL Is triumphant vindication of their
character and efficiency. That the results of
the espionage have been marked improve
ment in the service no one can deny. Wheth-
er it Is the best system Of inspection, or
even proper one at all, is a question for
congress and the department to settle. If
that system is abandoned some other will be
substituted, I think-perhaps less obnoxious
perhaps also more exaeting. Since l am
about to leave the service l speak a warn
ing, not a threat, when I say. "Be We also
IN, oIrr orycN dxg f.x1l
day and every day, and you have nothing to
fear
Mr.. Castle referred to the possibility
of improving the service through house
| to house collection, street cars. bicy-
cles, pension for veterans, and other
details, and in conclusion said:
One more urgent parting admonition. Each
one of you should be at all times a jealous
missionary Of the gospel of political saliva
ton through civil service reform. To the
civil service law most of you owe your an
pointments and all of you owe your secure
official tenure. To the conscientious enforce
ment of this law, and the consequent divorce
Of the postal service from partisan politics.
do it's current work would require at least
twice the number of men now employed if ap-
pointed and dismissed under the old spoiIs
SYSTEM That the civil service law has been
. conscientiously enforced under my admins
tration, as it was under that of my worthy
predecessor, you are my witnesses, and the
department dC washington mas DGeu my Judge,
For three years have held this Office in sub
ordination to officials at the capital with whom
have not had or pretended to have a parti-
Gle of sympathy or utilization on the political
issues of the day. Yet in no single instance
during all that period has political question
been raised In any matter of appointment, of
administration or any other matter. l have
been as we'll treated at headquarters as I
could have been had been Democrat: YOU
have been well treated by me as you would
have been if you had all been Republicans
AS matter of fact, do not know today the