New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
MR.. WILSON'S STATEMENT.
TUE, posrMAsTERs OPINION AS TO HIS
.ss1srANrs LETTER REGARDING
THE POLITICS OF EMPLOYEES
rors NOT THINK ANY WRONG WAS INTENDED
n,-ry AT THE PRIMARIES A THING NUT
NJ EXCUSED. EVEN By THE HOLD
ING OF AN orrIcE-MEN IN THE
POSTAL. SERVICE WELL
PROTECTED.

PRCIENlED'
1,.,s IT Wilson issued state
ment Yesterday afternoon IN the io IA - ,.a hin,
% newspaper men and others VINO hao ,,~,.a
~ ~" ~, nr,nion ON Assistant Postmaster W'''an
Ta,.Ior,s wisdom IN attempting to learn ''o - -
col afsliations Of certain postaI eihpio' Co On
,,ms ago Mr. Taylor wrote on poslo"'o pr ,.,.r
four friends in different parts OF 'ho oIty :, .ho
sbou. the politics Of some OF Inc me-" w oors,a.
letters was made public, ana 'he'0
arabia comment the incident .,Au.
a., a. ,uo after tho letter was maoo P"o
Postmaster Wilson went TO Washington" a." .I1
s,orv was started that he had gone ''e W. sts
with the Postmaster-Genera! ana o'"ei' .h,s
missing Mr.. Taylor In order 10 e'sp ,oor NJ
story and TO make MS own
Wilson said yesterday: -.
.srhera Is no ruling on the point but as the s,i-
uonery Is furnished by tho Government : on ..a,
clined TO think It improper TO us9 IL ioi NJ
ofacial purposcs recommend, therefore, mo
TAYLOR pay TO the cashier OF TINS ONCE ."e - 80
q, the four sheets OF official paper he Is ea'N W.
navs used in search OF political informa'io"' -
.h,s recommendation should affect the conscences
NJ ninetv-nve out Of every hundred ONCE ai'
once holders Of both parties. WISH 10 Buy
4, ,s made solely from desire to be reh' '1H'l'
caly and from no natural oispoSI'o" ~
a gnat and swallow camel
'The letter seems TO have been sent ho'
nostofrice employe, but to some Repuohca" ''''"0
not in this service The Information foush- "as
81. no,i,ics OF certain postofiice employees IL IL
iva. Mr. Taylors intention 10 coerce these en-
,ovos or 70 make them feel that their pontcadr
Views might affect their tenure OF olco ~ m'apd
,Sair hones of promotion In the service, ne WIN
he in direct conflict with the present stt'lcd IA
Of this Office: in conflict also. WIN the Iuie3 ts
Tag,Iations governing the postal service IL a.
however a settled rule OF Interpretation ot -
Ten documents that. other Things peihs eHu~''
good intention should be nierIeo' ,,or giving long
hours OF public service as ne Is DONG i,e,e .;r S
n devote his nights and sundays 10 COM ''Is
,Hese voung men TO a realizing sense OF tneli pV
itical duties 10 persuadng them That IL is their
and take active part IN selecting for once caIui
dates who will be jealous IN ther ellorIs 70 CIV
=" the people honest efficient and economicai ser
vice he is to be commended II wouIo seein ~ ON
Tho present outlook here that the neeu Is great
and that the aborers ought not to be rev.. .,
'arhe last sentence of the letter 90 not eAactf
IKE bur the promise to treat the matter as conn
dental was clearly intended for the reclpiens U1
nind tbe fact that many well-dsposed citizens,
from modesty or other reasons. prefer 10 90 sooo
by stealth. , -, a,s-e
gard OF the primaries. To disregard the primary
Is in my Judgment, neglect or hlsh SSutS,
which IS not excused by the holding OF an olDclal
place The postal rules and regulations, IL ialrIy
applied prevent intimidation and coercion. ana Sc
cure 10 every citizen who comes into the service
the exercise of his right OF private luognent IN
politics believe in Civil Service that protecIs
honest and efficient employees, and that places no
unreasonable restriction on the exercise Oh 'hei'
political rights as citizens. <,,
s'rhis Is an important subject l welcome fulI
discussion of Il, and believe that nothing Out gooo
can come from such discussion"
the p9shassr cn sa any man in the Once Who at
tempted 10 intmidate or cocrce another employe
for political purposes would be discharged speed'iy