The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-02-14
NEW POSTMASTER GENERAL
Mr.. Payne's Ability Sufficient Reason
For His Selection.

Ut SCICCtlOhs
A Washington report sets forth that
the politicians see in the appointment
Of Henry G. Payne as postmaster gen.
eral the beginnings of Roosevelt ma
chine. The foundation of this story is
that Mr.. Payne is one of the most ca
pable political managers and organic
ers in the country and that in the
fourth class postmasterships and other
unclassifled appointments in his de-
partment he would have an unequaled
opportunity to get in touch with infu-
entail politicians and with the people
of almost every district. These poll
ticians are undoubtedly wise fellows,
but their astuteness in this instance is
wasted. They have made the common
mistake of judging others by them
selves. They know what they would
do if they were president and can't
conceive of any other motives in the
White House than desire to play per
itics. They can't get it through thei1
heads that second term, bought at
the sacrifice of his lifelong principles,
would be ashes in the mouth of a man
like Roosevelt. They seem to have
yet to learn that he will as vigorously
apply the merit system to the post
masterships as he has applied it in all
his appointments, and they have evil
IDENTIFY lost sight of the fact that if he
should depart from the course he has
always followed he would be indistin.
guishable from the common run of
presidential aspirants and sacrifice his
entire stock in trade. If he continues
as he has begun, he will need no ma
chine, and he knows it. No counter
organization Of politicians can make
Roadway against popular demand in
which the conservative and independ-
ent elements are united with those ele.
Of judgment than for courage and pop,
ular manners.
Furthermore, to suppose that Payne
was given a place in the cabinet in or.
der to convert the postoffices into a
Roosevelt machine is more than incon.
sistent with the entire record Of Roose.
welt from his first entrance into public
life. 1t is fatty contradicted by the
explicit announcement Of his policy In
regard to appointment by man who
has never, so far as is known, deviated
hairbreadth from the truth. 1t is as
impossible to suppose that Roosevelt
would use the postofices for his own
ends as it is to suppose that Dick Gro
ker would not so use them if he had
the chance.
Finally, sufficient explanation OF
Mr.. Payne's appointment lies in his
own qualifications as an organizer and
an executive officer. He is not poll
ttcian of the machine type and will be
as eager to improve the service as the
president himself. He is remarkably
successful business man who will treat
the department as great business an6
who has the ability and the experience
to accomplish whatever he sets out tt
do. The position he has held in the
Republican party will, furthermore
give him an influence with congress
that will be valuable to his depart
ment and probably useful to the ad
ministration. From the standpoint Of
the good Of the postal service it i:
doubtful if a wiser selection could
have been made, and the hope Of re
ward for giving good service is all thu
politics there is in it. The machin,
theory is silly. ..z.....