New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1904-08-20
ELECTING POSTMASTERS.

| Under tno ABOVE meaning tne
Commoner, Mr.. w. J. Bryan 5
newspaper, in its issue of Aug. 3,
has the following:
Why should President be per
lnitted to turn the Postolfice De-
partment into partisan machine
and use thousands of postmasters
as paid agents to advance his politi-
cal fortunesY He should not Why
should a member Of Congress be
permitted to build up Il per-
sonal organization, composed of
postmasters recommended by him
but paid by the Government,
and use this organization to defeat
other congressional aspirants in his
own partyi He should not. Why
should a Chief Executive be per-
mitted to fill the most frequented
Office in the community with a
postmaster Objectionable to the
community, and reward him for
his services with the money paid
in by the community9 He should
not. Why should the "Great Fa-
ther at Washington" as the In
dians call him, be permitted to
electioneer among the colored
voters of the North by appoint
ing black postmasters in the
South against The protest of the
patrons of the of1icef He should
not. Aud yet all these things are
openly and notoriously done to-day.
The election OF postmasters by
the people whom they are to serve
will correct all these abuses. 1t
is in harmony With Democrtic prin-
ciples it is consistent with the
doctrine of local self-government.
What objection can be raised to it9
Can President know the aspirants
more intimately than the community
and better Judge of their qualifica-
tionY Is he more interested than
the community in prompt, honest
and efficient serviceG By leaving
the appointment, the removal and
rejection for cause in the hands
of the President, but by restricting
appointment, to list furnished by
the community, the rights and
interest of both the Federal Gov
ernment and the various communi-
ties can be protected. Presidents
and congressman will then run on
their own merits and not on the
machines which they have built up;
the public service will be improved,
and communities will be protected
from the impositions that are now
practiced upon them.
There are about 76, 900 postoffices
in the United States and an equal
number of postmasters. Accord
lug to the proposition made above
these 10000 postmasters are to be
elected by the people. just what
people are to take part in the cleo
tion is not stated, nor is the term
Of service specified. The people
themselves would have to decide on
those details. There are in Lonisi-
ana nearly 1900 postoffices, and
therefore l 300 postmasters would
have to be elected by the people
of this State, with corresponding
numbers in each of the other States.
To hold 10000 elections for post
masters would add enormously to
the public burdens of people who
are already very negligent and in
different about turning out to vote
for other public officials Of quite as
much importance as are postmas-
ters.
If the people are to elect post
masters, why should not they elect
all other public officials of every
rank and degree, including officers
Of the Federal Cabinet and of the
various administrative departments
of the National Government, in
ending those Of the Army and