The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-19
PosroFF1cEs AS sPoILs.


Recent developments in postof1ice APP
pointments in Kansas lead one to Won
der what is the purpose of the post
office department. Is it for the purpose
of aiding congressman and politicians
to pay their political debts? Is the
necessity of furnishing a politician with
job paramount to the service of the
public? Is the postoffice primarily to
aid the public in receiving and sending
mail. or to aid a congressman to in
trench himself more firmly in office?
ITO the victors belong the spoils,'
may be all right up to a certain point
When a new administration comes
into power. elected for the purpose of
carrying out certain principles and
ideas, it should be surrounded by men
in office who will aid and not hinder it.
All administrative offices which have to
deal with a certain principle should of
course, be in sympathy with the prin-
ciple to be carried out.
But when the spoils system is carried
to the extent of neglecting the good of
the public service, when public offices
are used by public officials for the pur-
pose of building up a private propa-
ganda, when offices are bartered for in
f1uence to the injury of the public-it
is time to call halt.
The recent appointment to the Leav-
enworth postof1ice is case in point.
Whether the charges made by Mr.. An
thony against Congressman Curtis are
true or not is immaterial SO far as this
phase of the question is concerned 1t
is not denied that the postoffice is used
to reward a political friend. 1t had evil
IDENTIFY been promised to Mr.. Willard.
Mr.. Anthony claims it had also been
promised to him. He further claims
that Mr.. Curtis asked him to pay Will
1ard's personal debts amounting to $500,
and get him to withdraw his candidacy
for the place, which would be vir-
tually buying it from Willard fora cash
consideration. Curtis claims the sug-
gestion to pay Wizards debts came
from Anthony, but he admits knowing
it should be carried out. If Willard
could have been bought off in this way
and Anthony would have done it, An
thony would have been reappointed.
The first consideration in the trans
action was not the good of the people of
Leavenworth nor the good of the mail
service. The primary consideration was
the reward of a political friend of the
congressman. Willard had to be taken
care of at all hazards. If he could have
been provided for in some other way
satisfactory to him, Anthony could have
had the postoffice.
That seems to have been the situation
gathered from a perusal of the state
ments of both Mr.. Anthony and Con-
gresham Curtis. Which one proposed
the arrangement seems to be immaterial
SO far as the good of the service is
concerned.
President Roosevelt personally desir-
ed to reappoint Mr. Anthony, but he
bowed to a congressional precedent that
a congressman shall recommend the
postmasters in his district and his rec
ommendation shall be greater than the
desire of the president long as his
recommendation shall not be unfit. for
appointment
Why ought not the president to ex-
ercise the prerogative supposed to be
his and personally name the candidate
desired by a congressman for presiden-
tlal DoStOf6ceS In nine cases out of
ten he will consult the congressman and
follow his wishes, but there should be
no ironclad rule to that effect. The
patrons of a postoff1ce ought to have
some voice in the matter of a post
master, as they are the ones most vi
tally interested outside of the politics of
the office. but in too many cases the
wishes of the people are overruled by
congressman who are under obligations
to pay political debts.
The recent appointment at Parsons is
one where the patrons of the office were
not consulted in the least None of
them knew the man appointed was even
thought of for the p1ace-few knew he
was after they heard of his appoint
ment He was recommended by Sena-
tor Burton. Just why he was recon-
mended is a mystery. but it seems to
have been solely because he was an
employee and a tool of p. T. Foley. one
of Senator Burton's personal friends. 1t
turns out that he is a Democrat. Now
a Democrat can doubtless make just as
good a postmaster as Republican, but
this particular appointment simply IL
Illustrates that Senator Burton violated
long standing precedent-possibly a
poor one-in order to build up his per-
sonal propaganda.
Why not have new precedent in post
officers?