The Atlanta constitution., 1900-01-01
Fourth Class Postmasters.

The present congress has been called
upon to consider the compensation due
fourth-class postmasterS for their
work.
1t may be stated, without charge OF
exaggeration. that the fourth-class
postmaster Is the advance guard OF
civilization and progress wherever he
goes. He is the man who keeps up Win
the frontier line and establishes COM
munication between the smallest ham,
lets of the country and their more pre-
tentious rivals of the city. He be-
comes at once a great public agent for
the local good, a representative of the
government and an enlightener
through whom the whole world is
brought within view of the little COM
munity in which he lives. Strange as
il may appear, the effort of the gov
ernment heretofore has been to belittle
the importance OF this officer. and to
so cripple him in his resources that
he can have but poor encouragement
in the work which he has undertaken
The proposition, therefore. to give
proper recognition to the country post
master, is one which has been too Ions
delayed, and which should receive inn
mediate and sufficient attention. These
men, scattered in every little valley
and at every crossroads throughout
the whole country, come nearer to the
heart of the people than any other equal
number of inhabitants. They perform
public work which cannot very well
be described because unimportant as
their Office may seem, il is the first
connecting link which binds the new
community to the older settled portions
of the country.
One reason for the neglect OF the
country postmaster has been his iso-
lation. While postmasters CT towns
and cities have been able to gather in
convention and TO press their claims
upon congress, the country postmaster,
on the contrary, has been unable to
do this, because very often the re-
ceipts of his Office for an entire year
would not pay a trip to Washington.
The Constitution, fully recognizing the
Importance of the country postmaster,
his necessity to his neghborhood and
his value to the general government,
feels a peculiar pleasure in being per-
mitted to become the mouthpiece OF
these worthy public servants, and to
demand in their behalf that considera-
ton which should be given to them.
While pOstmasters of second and
first-class offices can be employed at
far salaries which will sufficiently re-
ward them for their labor, the work
of the country postmaster is not to be
Judged by the number of letters which
L. .l,.,,, l.gtr ha
sender and recipient. IL he delivered
but one letter in a year from his Office,
he has performed that great public
function which the government owes
10 all of its inhabitants. and for its
performance he should be given COM
pensat.on adequate To the public char
acter of the service, rather than being
measured by its quantity. There are
a thousand ways in which the country
postmaster acts as a leader and guide
for the people of his community. lie
is the seat of intelligence, acquaint-
ing the people with government doings
and requirements, which would be diff
ficult otherwise TO reach them. He
has never been considered at his true
value heretofore, but from now on, so
far as the power of The Constitution
extends, that consideration shall be de-
manded for him which is his due.
In another column will be found
comprehensive statement OF the pres
ent condition of the claims Of the coun-
try pos' master in Washington. Our
friends OF the letter box have It In
their own power, by moving unitedly
and at once, to bring about the changes
suggested. That cohesiveness which
they have heretofore lacked can now
be supplied, and The Constitution viii
feel itself privileged TO be permitted to
become their spokesman in the cam
paign now on for this purpose.