Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-10-15
THE DIsMIssALOFA HoLDSoLDI
". L. Roney Gives a Statement Of
Facts Regarding his Dismissal.

| the people to subscribe for boxes, and
| on the 9th day of last October the
route was Inspected and approved. I
made application to the inspector for
cal rier and was appointed, and COM
meDced February l, 1902. Several
| questions arose on which the postmaster
| and differed. wanted TO know who
was right, so l submitted the questions
| to Mr.. Machen, who is at the head OF
the rural department., but never receiv-
ed an answer from him. though I sub
mitted several of them. AS could not
get an answer from him, submitted
them TO Chester l. Long, stating that
| 1t was no use to write to Machen-that
he would not answer me. Mr.. Long
turned the letter over to the depart.
ment and that constitutes the charge
they have made against me. Ihave it
In type written language from the de.
psrtment. They call it ''insolent Ian.
guage" to q superior officer.
But have learned since was dis.
missed that the charge was pret-xt.
The real cause for nay dismissal was that
l haye been at work for Charles Curtis
for u. S. Senator. This enraged the
Jim Simpson ring of Mcpherson coun.
ty and they reported to Long and he
had me dismissed. L was dismissed
on Saturday, Sept. Goth. The citizens
here became very indignant over this
act and on The Monday following they
drew up petition asking for my rein.
statement and over 100 signed it. On
Tuesday went to Wichita to the re-
union. On Wednesday L saw Charles
Curtis and showed him the charges and
dismissal. He said there was no lnsolent
language about it. Then presented
him the petition which he signed l then
took the petition to Chester /. Long.
He read it and then handed it back to
me. asked him if he would not sign it
and he answered no. very gruf1y, and
added that he would not have anything
to do with it.
Now this is the treatment l received
from Mr.. Long after supporting him
eyer since he has been running for
congress. L needed the position.
can not do hard manual labor. NV day
is past for that. I did not have my rig
paid for yet, which l used to carry the
mail. served my country four years.
1 have been in Kansas 81 years and vot-
ed the republican ticket straight fer 40
years, and [ think l have as good
right to De mail carrier as Chester
Long has 10 be congressman, and all
my comrades here think as I do.
The following is copy of the petit
ton which l presented to Mr. Long,
which he refused to sign:
PETITION
ITO the Hon. A. w. Machen, Super.
| intendent of Rural Mail Delivery:
Wherefore we learn thatW L.. Roney
carrier on Rural Route No Marquette,
Kansas. has been dismissed from the
service for cause, now, therefore, we the
| undersigned patrons. citizens and
friends of said w. l.. Roney, most
earnestly and respectfully request his
reinstatement as such carrier for the
| following reasons:
His honesty, character and compe.
tency have not been questioned. He is
! worthy AID deserving old soldier yet
able to perform the duties of carrier
officially. The cost of his equipments
exceeds his salary to date. The cause
assigned for his dismissal we CONSIDER
trivial aid totally worthy of no more
punishment than a repIimand. He
actually needs the income from this
position and the law gives him prece-
dence, he being a soldier holding an
| honorable discharge
| Now this Is what Chester I. Long re.
fused to sign. did not dictate word
| of this petition.
Now, Mr.. Editor, you have the facts
in the case and you are at liberty to
publish them. DO not know what the
Index's politics is l don't care;lt's none
of my business. l believe you want to
get at the truth of the matter and l
have given it, and my comrades who
want to Know the facts can also have
chance to read them and if their party
ties are stronger than comradeship, I
shall not fall out with them, but the
fact will remain that have been treat
ed shamefully by professed friend of
| the old soldiers.