The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-08

uie and correctness you earn plaudlts not
given because your efforts are not known.
Among the talks made during the after
noon was one by Nh. A Il. Behymer. OF the
railway mail service at Cincinnati, VINO
told something of the work with which he
Is connected. He spoke Of the increase In
me facilities of the service since the close
OF the war 10 the present time. lie sald
that now this country has the greatest
system OF distribution of mail in the world
ana the quickest facilities. At present S,vD
men are engaged in distributing in his
branch Of the service. He said in the last
year an average of but one error was
recorded in each 10000 pieces handled. Mr..
Behymer urged cooperation between the
postmasters and the railroad branch of the
service. He particularly cautioned post
masters against receiving suspiciOus-lOOk-
ing packages in the mails, and spoke of an
instance a short time ago where a loaded
revolver was found by one of the railway
mail clerks. 1t came from Indiana and was
going to Kentucky.
w. s. Montgomery, of Greenfield, dis
cusSed "Postmasters' Duties in General"
He said he knew Of some postmasters
drawing their salaries. The Postoffice De
partment, Mr.. Montgomery said, comes
closer TO the people than any other de-
partment, because il reaches everybody.
His view was that no man should attempt
TO be postmaster unless he thoroughly I'M
derstands the duties Of the Office. He ad-
vlsed postmasters to follow the rules and
regulations laid down by the department,
and II there is an objection refer the OBJ
Jector 10 the department. Mr.. Montgomery
also spoke of the general delivery" saying
that the postmaster should give people eff
hcient service at this window. Some one
should be there who cannot only handle
the mail, but the people. Mr.. Montgomery
strongly favors rural mail delivery. and
believes that the Postal Department is not
yet through making improvements. He
commended that no man who does not want
to work hard and pay the proper attention
to his business should become a post
master. TO an extent he defended post
masters from criticism arising from the
wrong delivery of letters. He believes that
n~lne-tenths of the mistakes are made by
the man who addresses the letter.
POLITICS IN POSTOFFICES.
Representative James E. Watson briefly
addressed the meeting. but with his usual
eloquence. He spoke more particularly of
the political features of the meeting, al
though he placed stress on the fact that the
gathering indicated an interest in the eff
forts of the government to establish a per-
feet postal system. He believed that out
of the meeting would grow great good to
the postal service. Mr.. Watson declared
that a postmaster should In his locality be
one of the working forces of the Repub-
lican party. The first thing is for him to
do his duty to the people, and then do all
in his power for the success of his party.
Mr.. Watson did not believe In Disgusting
the fact that there was more or less poll
ties in the meeting. He declared:
Put the banner on the outer wall, so
that the people will know that there are
no mugwumps among the pOstTnasters of
the Sixth district"
Mr.. Watson said the postmaster has an
opportunity of exerting an influence and
becoming a power in his locality, and he be-
lieved that it was right that the postmaster
should exert such a power for the good of
the party to which he was responsible for
his appointment. His remarks appeared
to hit the right spot, for he was frequently
and loudly applauded.
Mr.. Watson was followed by Charles S.
Hernly, former chairman of the Repub-
lican state committee. Mr.. Hernly made a
short but stirring talk. He spoke Of the
Republican victory in New York. Ohio and
Nebraska. Before he concluded his remarks
his hearers. He denounced m~ugwumpery
in the most scathing terms, and said he
believed -pOStmaSterS should be loyal to
their party to the extent of supporting ii
in whatever way they could. He paid a
tribute to the good work done for the party
by the men in attendance at the meeting,
most Of whom he knew personally, he said,
and urged them to stand firm for Repub-
lican principles.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hernly's remarks
the meeting adjourned, to meet again sub
ject to the call of the president. After the
adjournment an informal love feast was
held in the courthouse corridors, in which
Representative Watson was the center Of
attention.