Evening journal., 1898-03-24
FIGHT FOR A POST OFFICE
ALLEGATIONS OF UNFA1RNESS
AND VIOLATIONS OF CIVIL SER
VICE RULES.

post Office. This time it is the war OF |
the spoilsmen of the Republican party |
for the removal of Mrs. Mary ID. BILE
good before the expiration of her legal
term, though no complaint has been
made against her Mrs. Ellegood was
appointed to succeed her husband, who
was appointed March "a, 1894, and died
February 5, 1895.
The leading citizens of the town,
Democrats and Republicans, indorsed
Mrs. EllegcOd for the appointment,
while the Democratic managers, with
CongrC ssman Henry filing the unex-
pired term of Congressman Bratton,
deceased, and Congressman-elect Miles,
indorsed Mr. Brewington. The contest
waged back and forth for nearly two
months when President Cleveland
nominated Mrs Ellegood, who was
confirmed by the Senate and commits
stoned for four years.
About the time Of the election of 1897,
few Republicans in the town began
to circulate the report that Mrs. Ellie
good was appointed only for the unex-
/ pired term of her husband, and about
| the same time Rolla Moore and John
\ p. Owens were spoken of as applicants.
/ =. s. Adkins, a defeated candidate for
tho House of Delegates, and member Of
the central committee, made known his
desire for the place, in order to recoup
his defeat at the election. Mr.. Moore,
| who had up to this time received the
| Endorsement Of Mr.. Adkins, found him
self antagonized by central commit
| teeman and he was mot in It," inas-
much rs Mr.. Graham. another member
of the central committee, was an appli-
/ ~ r,fn
and Mr.. Knowles the other two men,
bers, having already been served So
Mr.. Moore withdrew in favor OF Mr..
Adkins and It is said that Mr.. Adkins
promised him the position of "chief as
sistant." Mr.. Adkins is a large lumber
manufacturer, and will not give his
personal attention 10 the Office
In the meantime Mr.. Owens had no.
looked for the official Endorsement OF
the committee, knowing the situation
but had gotten the Endorsement Of tn,
leading patrons Of the office, but with
the express understanding that he die
not ask for removal of Mrs. EllegOOC
before the expiration of her full term
; and only TO be used in case the Law
gave her an unexpired term. To set a
rest the rumors of an unexpired term
| Mrs. EllegOOd wrote a letter 10 tn
! county papers quoting the Unite,
States statute that "postmasters of tn
r ! first, second and third-class shall b.
e | appointed and may be removed by an,
with he advice and consent of tn
] | Senate and shall hold their office 70
four wears unless sooner removed o
= suspended according to law" Sails
+ bury is a third-class office.
A short time after this Congressma.
g Barber wrote to several leading Reput
leans and to Mr.. Adkins that there ha
2 been a misapprehensiOn and that Mr.
/ ! EllegcOd would not be removed, bt
e was by law entitled to the full tern
and the matter then subsidized and wa
/ | supposed to be at an end. DR.. Barbe
h | saying that he so considered it. Bu
Mr.. Adkins, who had the indOrsemer
If the central committee. thought th
United States statute and civil servic
principles ought not to stand in hi
- way, and therefore. on Thursday
2 March 8, with Mr.. Moore, Mr.. Mile
D and Mr.. Graham, went to Washingto
and saw DR.. Barber. who was conflne
4 to his bed, and represented to him ths
! party expediency" required the immt
= date removal of Mrs Ellegood and tn
! appointment of Mr.. Adkins and insis
F. ed on his immediate Endorsement of th
a latter. DR.. Barber gave IL and the ger
: | tlemen then at once took 1t to Postma.
Y ter-General Gary and obtained his il
y dOrsement These gentlemen cam
l. home and reported that they got no er
p | couragement and that Mrs. EllegoO
Z would serve out her term. Again it Wa
= thought to be settled
r When the news reached Salisbury O
7 Friday following with the announc,
D ment that Elijah s Adkins had bee
n nominated for postmaster at Salisbur
n every citizen except the favored con
q mittee was surprised, and when son
Is members of the committee were aske
n why they had falsely represented Il
l. situation TO the people on their retur1
o their excuse was that it was none
, their (the people's) business, and tn,
II the questions were important an
l. party eXpediency' required it.
ie Citizens then signed a memorial
the president on behalf of Mrs. ELL
e good, and William II. Jackson, Robe
q d. Grier and James e. EllegoOd carrie
e il and laid il before Congressma
Barber and Senator Wellington. I'll
n confirmation is hanging before Il
+ Committee on Post Office and Pc
s. Roads at the request of Senator Go
man, 10 ascertain if Mrs Ellegood is
ID be removed on the ground Of "pari
n cXpediency" alone, which is a fiagral
y violation of the civil service views
this administration.
II The law and her commission entft
Mrs. Ellegood, it is said, TO q full foi
years term, unless some justifiab
cause for removal can be made. On II
contrary her administration of the O
flee gives entire satisfaction to the p.
T irons who have signed a strong m
" mortal objecting to her summary di
missal She is an estimable woman an
the daughter Of a well-known Republ
l. can, Charles WhitelOck, and the cousi
Is Of George Whitelock, Of Baltimore.
50 Is incCnceivable that party expediel
l. cy' requires her dismissal. when. q
" The contrary. IL is more likely to cr
= ate adverse criticism Of character
o. do more harm than good 10 the par
d and the individuals engaged in q
i warfare against her.
u BEWARE OF OINTMENTS FOR G.
TARltH THAT CONTAIN MERCURY
e. ma r,1arortrstr Will cttrafr. .1n.4.-..