The broad ax., 1897-12-18
FOB A P0STOFFICE.
DAUGHTER OF a MISSOURI
FARMER VS.. MERCHANT.
sympathy Of ths<cltiEeus u An with
Her-Ths Former Postmaster Has
Declared He Il Going 20 -starvs
Ihis Thing Out"

! !. !. !: !; !: !. !. !.
~ QUEER contest
- WN that has been ex-
III citing the way-back
2 town Of Acorn
SsSR Ridge, Stoddard
RSS\N4INSS county, Missouri,
@NN4NA has Just resulted in
HAS46AyEES q victory for q -
~ k7NAA year-old girl who
k0THi5NAk9 fought for her
wv rights against a
wealthy merchant
and set the tape-bound machinery at
Washington working in her behalf.
says the New York Herald. Hattie
Ross, the daughter Of a Missouri far
mer, was three months ago appointed
postmistress Of Acorn Ridge, replac-
ing L. d. Robinson, who had been post
master during Cleveland's term. Rob
inson did not In the least relish giving
up the ofice to Miss Ross. He could
get along without the profit accruing
him from the mail business, but as the
postofflce was located In his store
making the building center Of actiy-
ity, Robinson decided to prevent his
girlish rival from taking 1t from him
at all hazards.
A short time ago Miss Ross came to
the conclusion that something was
wrong with the mail Of Acorn Ridge.
Every one seemed to be getting along
without communicating with the out
side world, and no one outside seemed
to have the smallest interest in the
residents of Acorn Ridge. No letters
came into Miss Ross postofice. either
for the purpose Of mailing or distri-
button. The newly appointed post
mistress set to work to ascertain the
reason for this and speedily discovered
an amazing state of things.
Robinson had defied the United
States authorities and had continued
conducting the postofice in his store
as before the appointment Of Miss
Ross. All the residents were going
TO the Robinson store for their mail,
Robinson having secured 1t regularly
by driving to the railroad station and
getting the mail bags from the train
hands, to be afterward distributed st
his establishment. Miss Ross COM
planned to Washington and the arrest
Of Robinson followed. He was charged
with having established postofhce at
a place not designated or authorized
by the postmaster-general. Miss Ross,
the I9-year-old postmistress, appeared
as complaining witness. Robinson
gave bonds to answer.
Miss Ross, who has the sympathy Of
the citizens of Acorn Ridge in her
plucky fight, tells the story as fol-
lows:
"a few days after I took charge Of
the Office Robinson began his work.
When people would come into his store
ne would ask them to have their mail
brought there. He got people to sign
orders for their mail to be brought to
his store and told them IL they had let
tiers to mail he would take them to
some other office without charge. He
said he was going to run a daily hack
and take all the mail he could get. He
declared he would 'starve the thing
out He then circulated a paper to
petition me out, and found he could
not do that Then he circulated an
other petition the same week to force
me to move the postofice back into
his store. He says he will continue
to run the postofice If 1t costs him
$500 a year.
when Mr. Robinson's case came up
they Just released him. / don't think
they treated me fairly. They told me
after the trial that Mr.. Robinson would
not repeat the offense. That shows
that he and they know that the law
has been Tiolated- In any event, am
postmistress, and do not intend to
give up the fight for any one. 1t is
the fight Of girl against strong and
wealthy man, but feel sure that
shall win, for am rightly appointed
by the government, and surely no one
can take the postoffice from me, even
II the people of this town wished IT.
which they don't, for nearly every one
sides with me-"
And so the matter stands at present.
Should the former postmaster continue
to run q postofice Of his own Miss
Ross viii again appeal to Washington.
And she has the law Of the United
States on her side and the armed
strength of the country to back It.
Robinson's chances against her seem
to be very slim. but he will retire from
the combat with the knowledge that
even II beaten he is the only man on
record who has defied the government
20 depose him from a postofiee po-
sition and afterward started an oppo-
sition postofice with q measure Of sue