The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-28
GIVEN HIM WITHOUT ASKING.
MIR. DOYLE's STORY OF HOW HE
WAS MADE POSTMASTER.

The President Voluntarily Ten
dered Him the Appointment-COn-
xersatiOns at the White House
showed That MIR. Blum Had Never
HAD IL Chance-DeDuty Postmaster
NYarina to BE Retnined-Mr. Doyle
takes Charge Next Week.
"T am not a political pirate an office
chasing brigand, who has robbed another
man out of his place. I am postmaster
eppointee of Savannah by virtue of the
Presidents voluntary rendering me the Of
flee. l never asked for the postmaster
ship: l did not solicit the appointment. 1t
was absolutely and unequivocally rendered
me by President Mckinley. I accepted it.
That was the only crime 1 committed"
Mr.. Joseph F. Doyle was evidently very
much in earnest when he said this yester-
d9v morning He was under the impress
sion that a considerable number of PEG
ME in Savannah entirely misunderstood
or misconstrued what had taken place in
Washington.
There is not to-day, and never has been,
on file in the postoffice department at
Washington a single line from me apply
ing for the postofice," he continued. IAN
nv papers are on file in the treasury de-
partment, where I put my application for
the colectorship of Savannah. 1 wanted
the collectorship. 1 was anxious to get
it, There is no use in denying that. But
when I called on the President he frankly
told me the office was not for me. Some
one else was TO be made collector,
II suppose, perhaps, 1 looked disappoint-
ed. Anyway, the President said:
&" But Mr.. Doyle, you shall certainly be
taken care of. Would you like an appoint
ment out of the country?'
81 replied, No, Mr. President; do not
care TO leave Savannah
Well he continued, after a moments
thought, there is another office at Savan-
nah. l would be pleased for you to have.
VIII you accept the posimastership there?'
Il told him l would, and as I left, the
President said; You shall be postmaster
then Mr.. Doyle. This was Thursday. The
next day Mr.. Blun's appointment was an
nounced. Saturday 1 called to bid the
President goodbye.
Il have called, Mr.. President, to pay
my respects before leaving for home
said /
You are goingY said he.
Yes replied, there would hardly be
any use in my remaining now that another
gentleman has been appointed postmaster
Another gentleman said the Presi-
dent in evident surprise.
Yes / continued, MIR. BUNS appoint
ment yesterday made it unnecessary for
me to continue longer in Washington.
There is some mistake here said the
President. You are to be postmaster at
Savannah. You may rest assured that l
will look into this.
There was no underhanded work, no
ehreVd pOlitic0l D1anRI1VeriOp IN rOh NTr
Blum of the postmastership," continued
Mr.. Doyle. 1T was never intended that
Mr.. Blum should be postmaster If those
backing him had made proper connections
in Washington they would have learned
that, ana would have known that confirm
ation or no confirmation, he would never
be postmaster. President Mckinley has
the reputation of never having broken a
promise he has made about appointments
suppose some of my friends thought that
was crazy to be telegraphing that
would be the next postmaster when Mr.
Blum had been appointed and confirmed;
but | knew whereof l was speaking. My
appointment would have preceded the
time of Mr.. Blun's confirmation had not
the rush of war business interfered with
the Presidents giving any attention to
such small matters as the Savannah post
office
What 1 especially want to impress on
the people of Savannah relative to this
whole matter is that there was none of
what is termed dirty work about this en-
TIRE matter There is nothing in the whole
case would be ashamed to have the whole
world know. Whose error it was that led
10 Mr.. BUNS appointment, l cannot at
tempt to say. The President had never
the slightest intention of making the APP
polntment. OF that I am absolutely sure"
When do you expect to take charge as
postmaster?''
EARLY next week, I presume. 1 will
nave my bond made up at once It is for
Sio,UVo, $4,000 for the postal department
ana $4,000 for the money order depart
ment. 1t will go forward to Washington
tomorrow, reaching there Monday. That
Is decoration day. and the departments
VIII be closed. Tuesday my bond may be
approved and my commission forwarded
1t Is possible that I may be able to take
charge on the afternoon of next Wednes-
Gay, but 1t is more likely to be Thursday
OF friday when assume my duties'
WIN Mr.. T. f. Johnson be your deputy.
as the rumOrs have had it?''
Mr. Doyle laughed what in the world
would Col. Johnson want to be deputy for f?
! dont suppose such an idea ever eErar ed
Who viii be- them"
w ny Mr.. j. Aston Waring, of course
thlnk a great deal of Mr.. Waring and
Iully' appreciate his value as assistant
postmaster. In the department at Wash
Nston l was told that he was regarded as
one OF the most trustworthy and most
capable deputy postmaslers in the coun-
Try His long experience, his thorough
knowledge of every detail of the business
OF the office make him especially valuable.
found out what it meant to have him
when he was ill.,"
Are there any changes in prospect?"
None just now / shouldn't be sur
prlsed, though, if later on some of the
positions in The office were taken from I'M
ger the civil service rules. Even then,
40 not say there would be any changes"
- Inc salary of the postmaster Is now
$500 per annum. The pay of the assist
ant is $780,