The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-09-14
IT IS DAVID ]. PRICE
Congressman McCIeary Names
the Lake Crystal Postmaster.
THE END OF AN ANXIOUS CONTEST.

The contest for the postmastership
at Lake Crystal was closed this after
noon by Congressman MeCleary in the
recommendation of Mr.. David J.
Price.
Not in all of Mr.. McCleary's politi-
cal life has he been so thoroughly en-
barrassed as over the settlement of the
successor to Postmaster Howard. The
embarrassment came not from fear, be-
cause Mr.. McCleary is not cowardly
nor given to cowardice, but rather
from the fact that the multiplicity of
candidates were all splendid men fully
qualified and personal friends of the
congressman. Each had his advocates
and his opponents in his home town.
Each possessed points of excellence
that could not be denied, and each
put his best foot forward to gain the
prize.
Mr.. Howard time as postmaster ex-
pired last spring, and Mr.. McCleary
deferred the appointment until this
late date in the hope, which "sprang
eternal in the brea s" that some COM
promise satisfactory to the contestants
might be effected and thus relieve him
from making choice. Had there been
ten positions to give out instead of
, one the situation could have been
,, quickly relieved, because each of the
, applicants would no doubt have been
given something But to choose be-
tween ten friends for a single place
i was task that Mr.. McCleary natur-
, ally and justifably shrank from. But
, it having become apparent that the
, contending forces were not disposed
, to yield their chances to any other
, than the one whose right and preroga-
! tive it is to settle the matter, Mr..
/ McCleary felt it duty that he owed to
, the people of Lake Crystal as well as
, to himself to name the man without
further delay. The selection of Mr..
Price will perhaps prove more of sur
prise than would that of Mr.. Hum
phrey, Mr.. Edward or Mr. Thomas
The reason for this assumption is that
the last three gentlemen, through their
friends, have been more active, on the
surface at least, than the other appli-
cants, hence it had been generally
thought that the winner would be
chosen from among them But it is
not infrequent that the unexpected
happens and to many, at least, it has so
resulted in this case.
While it is but natural that disap-
pointment will rest keenly upon those
who were not chosen, they are all men
of too broad views and of too magnan-
imous natures to allow any feeling of
resentment to rankle in their. breasts.
/ They cannot fail to realize the embar-
rassment that has surrounded Con-
gresham McCleary in this matter and
must accord him the credit for having
fully considered and duly weighed the
claims of all applicants, and in the
final choice of having exercised that
candor and wisdom which has charac-
terized his every act.
Mr. Price will make the people of
Lake Crystal a model official, and
after all that is what the people want.
He is young man of splendid parts,
and his residence in the village since
childhood has won for him the re-
spect and good will of all who know
him. Now that the contest has been
settled and a good man chosen, peace
and quiet will again hover over the
little city of the Lake. and business
pursuits will be re-established