The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-12-30
MARINER
- 80 =
rte POSTMASTER GENERAL

Twice to Chauee. His Signature.
The Hon. Charles Emory Smith, thu
postmaster general and one of the most
famous after dinner orators in the United
States, has had three distinct signatures.
Each has a history. each significance.
and yet the change has never been ex-
planned. '...,.
When Mr.. Smith came from Albany to
take the editorial chair Of the Philadel.
phia Press, more than ID years ago, be
signed himself in the good. old fashioned
way, Charles q. Smith. To his intimates
he was known as "Charlie." At that
time another Charles e. Smith was the
president of the Reading railroad. and
the letter carriers seemed to have per.
sistent desire to entangle each man in
the others confidence as much as posi-
bic. The most important letters coming
for the editor were always delivered to
the president, and vice versa. The condi-
tons created annoyance, surprise and
amusement. 1t continued for about a
year.. neither man knowing the other per-
sonally. Finally, one night they met at
a banquet and began good natured dis
cussion as to what should be done about
1t.
1.-THE thing is going just a little too far
for your own sake" said the editor, ''for
am getting more inside news about
Reading stock and Reading interests than
you care to have me know"
'On the other hand" retorted the pres
ident, as the diners listened with merri-
ment. II am gaining more information
about state politics than probably you
would care to have me know"
just at this time the editor was having
an open controversy with certain poll
tician In Philadelphia, and his editorials
addressed to that gentleman in question
were always signed. In the week follow.
ing his talk at the dinner the leading edi-
torial was signed Charles Emory Smith.
The change Of signature was Immediately
caught up by those in the secret, and the
next day the Albany Journal. which Mr..
Smith had edited for several years. came
out with. an editorial on somewhat the
following lines:
"Well. well! And so our old friend
Charles e. Smith IL now Charles Emory
Smith. All right. Charlie; we'll respect
you even il you have gone that far, but
we give you fair warning that If you ever
sign it G. Emory Smith our admiration
for you is gone fOrevermore."
This editorial from The journal WINS
republished in the Philadelphia Press the
next morning, and in the foreword Mr..
Smith told of the miscarrying Of letters
between the president Of the Reading
railroad and himself. he told the story
with great good humof and explained
that he had signed the editorial with his
full name the day before with malice
aforethought. He wanted 1t very much
to be remembered that e. stood for EN-
DRY in his name.
The newspaper world copied this edito-
rial widely. and the editor was more oft
en- referred to as Emory" Smith than by
any other name. So the signature stood
through the days of his ministership to
Russia and the heavy political campaign
In which he was so eminent figure.
When he took up the portfolio of the
postmaster general in President McIfin-
ley's cabinet. one of the first of the mi
nor duties which he was questioned
about was the signing of his name. The
chief assistant in going over the duties
with him looked aghast when Mr.. Smith
wrote out his full signature.
THAT will never do" he said. 1--WE
must think of something better than
that"
But" said Mr.. Smith, "the name is
surely short and concise. There can be
no trouble with three such Ineligible
words"
at is not what the department must
suffer-" was the answer, "but what you
must suffer. Now. here is the condition
in a nutshell: The postmaster general
must sign his name on IN average of
1000 times a day. This is 5000 times
week. II you have II letters in your
name. 1t means that you must sign 1900
letters day, or 100000 a week."
Then Mr.. Smith began, with the aid Of |
his assistants, to try signatures that |
would embody his name and yet save him
work. Each letter was disputed over and
carefully weighed as to value as IL II had
been a bag of gold. First he wrote out
G. Emory Smith. but some one laughing
Iy said: "Don't do that, or the Albany
The newspapers would be flooded with
Ibis olO story before the signature nau
been out week" Then he tried Charles
e. Smith, and again friend reminded
him. Don't do that after the battle you
have waged to establish the Emory in
your name" Mr. Calvin Wells, the pub
Usher of the Press. who was at the coun-
Gil, said: "Certainly not. Mr.. Smith. The
editorial columns Of The Press establish
ed your second name beyond dispute, and
you must never go back on that"
Finally the signature was telescOped
down to the one which every postmaster
and letter carrier now knows. 1t has re-
tanned the letters which 1t fought for Is
years ago. and it has saved the postmas-
ter general the formation Of 5000 letters
a day. or over 1850 letters year!
1t is Ch Emory Smith!-Philadelphia
1