Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-10
A STATEMENT.


4 Burt HARDWOOD in Wright County
Monitor.l
"A considerable curiosity seems tC
have developed over the state concern
ing the postffice question in Clarion
There are two causes propobly for this
first the erroneous statements ana
wild guesses circulated by the state
press and second the silence main
/! tanned by the Monitor and it's contem-
! porary concerning the facts in the
case. 1t had not been our purpose 20
give the matter publicity, first because
| we We're only indirectly connected with
| 1t, and second because we considered it
n private rather than public affair
land consequently not subject for
newspaper comment. We had not an
| ticipated that our interest in the matter
would attract any attention from out
siders, and probably it would not If a
certain overzealous correspondent from
this community (where the facts are
quite generally known had not sent
a dispatch to the Marshalltown Times
Republican stating that there had been
contest in the postoffice matter and
that the writer was the defeated cam
didate This was humiliating to us,
and the comment thus aroused tho
friendly to ourselves has been annoy
ing In view of the circumstances. Con-
sequently, as there is nothing to con-
ceal so far as we are concerned, we
have decided to set the matter at rest
by giving Il brief statement of the
facts in the case.
When Postmaster Harwood died
there remained still about three years
of the term for which he had been ap-
pointed. His family needed the in
come and 1t was suggested by friends
that Miss Rilla. his eldest daughter,
make application for the office.
Robert Osier, young man now
twenty-five years of age, has served
Mr.. Harwood as deputy for the past
five years His name was also men
toned as an aspirant for the Office
but in a conversation with the writer
shortly after the postmasters death
he stated that he would not be can
didate against the family. On the
other hand he was assured that should
Miss Harwood be a candidate and Sc
sure the office, he would be retained
as deputy at an increased salary. Mr..
Osier's candidacy dated from abou.
tHdl tlIle. ne Ildu StIouS DdCklus
from certain quarters, and his |
grew while the attention of
the family was absorbed in other mat
tiers. On consideration it was de-
cided that it would be preferable for
Miss HARDWOOD to ask for a clerkship |
rather than first place as she would |
thereby avoid considerable RESPONSE
bilty, also the opposition of those
who object to lady for that office.
Mr.. Osier was approached
by the writer four days after our
fathers death and asked il he would
De willing to employ Miss Har-
wood as deputy at a good salary
should he secure the appointment.
This proposition met with fiat re-
usal. Mr.. Osier stated that he void
lot employ a lady; further that he
vas receiving support from some quar-
ers on condition that there should be
10 lady deputy. The matter was then .
arried to Congressman Blrdsall.
We felt that the family had Il three
old claim for consideration. First
ecause the Office would have belonged /
o j. C. Harwood for three years I
ad he lived. Second, because Mr. t
,sier owed whatever claim he had \
pom it originally to Mr.. Harwood a
'hird, because Mr. Birdsall had al :
rays received the loyal support of the II
Ionitor under the management of \
9th father and son for every Off 10 V
'hich he had aspired during his resi- S
ence in Wright county while Mr.. S
sier being still boy, had taken no II
art whatever in political affairs. I'm t
er these circumstances it was thought S
o more than fair to ask for the clerk V
hip at Mr.. Birdsall's hands at SAL S
ry of $50 per month. This left about
400 for the postmaster. Mr.. Osier
len made an offer of $40 The writer IL
roposed a compromise on $50. Mr. Lie
irdsa!l recommended Mr.. Osier for al
ostmaster with the stipulation thu, lie
ISIS Harwood be employed as deputy p,
1t left the matter Of salary optional "
it'll Mr.. Osier, who repeated his offer in
e $40. This was accepted by Miss g
atwood, our connection with the af- C
ir terminating with the conference pl
it'll the congressman. This is the truth a,
the whole matter. and If our kind C,
,ethren of the press desire to make IL
~ further comment we hope they will sc
so with the above for text. Il
Puts an End to 1t All. II
A oft II,