Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-03
The Indianola Affair.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:


tration in it's action in reference to the In
dianola post Office was strong, dignified and
unassailable, and was supported by the in
fiuence of a statesman who stands justly
high in the country.
The United States cannot tolerate any
form Of partisanship in the administration
of national affairs. A post Office though
local in respect to its situs constitutes
single divisional agency through which the
postal service of the country is admins
tered. and is just as much a part Of the
general postal system as though 1t were a
mail car or an adjunct Of the department
in Washington. The location Of a post
office in any place is entirely discretional
with the government, and it's administration
is entirely under federal regulation and
control just as the revenues collected
thereat belong to the government, and a
local post Office Is no more subject to local
influences than the head Of the system at
Washington. Indeed it Is repugnant to the
system Of federal administration, and con-
trary to public policy, to permit local in
fluences to be exerted over local post Of
fees; for the law contemplates a uniform
system, administered under Just and we'll
defined rules, in all parts Of the country,
and furnishing uniform service to all
classes of people, without discrimination or
undue privileges to any class. To this end
the law has wisely placed the adIniniStra-
ton Of all postal affairs under a single ex-
ecutive head, has restricted the transmits
sion of all forms Of mail matter exclusively
to the government, with single purpose of
rendering faithful, diligent and effective
service in all parts of the country alike.
Once permit local influences to control the
policy Of post off1ce-whether In city, town
or hamlet-and you establish principle
vicious and inimical to the best interest of
the people. You will enable certain locali-
ties to gain privileges exemptions which
cannot-from the very nature of the serv-
ice-be granted to all, and you destroy the
vital and effective principle Of the postal
system, a strong federal administration.
The selection Of postmaster who is in
harmony with the people of a given locality
is granted by the government, not as
right, but as an act Of mere courtesy and
should be left free to administer his Office
entirely in harmony with the policy and
under the well-defned regulations Of the
department at Washington. Local influ-
ences should be subordinated for the good
OF the service, and the people should keep
their hands Off the local agency Of the gen.
eral administrative system. The people Of
locality have no more right to interfere
with the post Office in their midst than
they have to obstruct the United States
mails or the collection Of customs duties or
internal revenue The postmaster is a fed
eral Official and any interference with him
or her is an unlawful act and a violation of
federal statutes. The federal government
has the exclusive right to name its postal
agents Including postmaster-and such &C
ton is not subject to review or question by
local residents. And 1t matters not whether
the agent selected be white or black, he Is
an officer of the law. charged with the exc
cution Of solemn duty, and any interior
ence with him Is a breach Of federal rights
In 80 far as the federal government is con-
cerned 1t matters not whether the malls
are collected, sorted or distributed by per
sons of one race or another, the central idea
being to secure uniform and effective serv-
Ice, free from partisan or local influences
Sectional or race prejudfces cannot be per-
mitted to interfere with the prompt and or
derby administration of justice. Recognize
ing this safe and equitable rule, the people
of given locality can no more object to
the administration of a local post Office by
a colored person than they can to the sort
ing of their mall by a colored person on a
mail car. Both are correlated agencies OPP
Grating alike in local places and for a we'll
defined, specific purpose.
The selection Of a postmaster agreeable
to the people Of given place is a matter
Of social ethics; but the selection Of a capa-
BILE and efficient agent Is Of greater concern
to those charged with the grave duty Of
administering the federal postal system in
accordance with law and justice and equal
rights. Because the southern people enter
tain inherited prejudices against the COL
ored people that Is no reason why under a
government founded on equal rights to all
classes, they should claim special privileges
or exemptions from the fixed rules Of law
not accorded to people of other localities.
Many localities object to the administration
Of local federal offices by men OF Irish,
Swedish or German birth or descent; but
sucn objections cannot prevail against the
right Of the federal government to exercise
Its discretion in the selection of such Off
Gals. No act Of the federal government Of
local character can be subject to question
or interference by local or state influences
The administration has acted. in respect
| to the Indianola post Office affair, not with
Thought IN 0f mn
! sectional aniunoDities In the south; far from