The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-12-05
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES ARE CARELESS
IN DIRECTING MAIL
NUMBER OF MIsDlREcTED ARTICLES LAST 2528eee
SECOND AssIsTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL sHALLENeER.
GER HAS MADE GREAT RECORD LOOKING AFTER
UNCLE SANS DETAILS.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Sin all OF
she storm Of investigation, the rumors
a sharp practice and the implied and
open charges Of corruption, not a
Ereath of scandal has smirched the Of
flce of the present second assistant
postmaster general, Mr.. W. S. shallen.
Berger.
Perhaps that is one reason why SO
few people, away from the national
capital and not associated with the
railway mail service or with some 9th.
q part of the division of responsible.
ny, know Of him and his work. His
Is not a personality to intrude itself
5l any one. He is man of small sta
ture, smooth face and cast Of counte-
nance that reminds you of those clear
cut, rather elongated, canoes which
our forbears left to those of US whose
parents were not corpulent, to remind
Is Of the line behind us. He is one of
the most gentle, kindest-hearted, mild
ess-mannered men in the government
service, and, in spite of the stress of
business which the nature Of his du-
ties brings to him, one of the most &C.
sessihTe
This is not intended as eulogy of
ii. Shallenberger, but rather a de.
ztptIor of the portion of the posta!
zLatrz Of the country which comes un.
der the Office Of the second assistant
rcStnasteF general. In the rush and
hHEy Of modern life it is taken as a
matter Of course and without thought
d tie man who has directed it all for
years and the corps of assistants who
surround, him and but for whose faith
falhaaa and steadiness the whole sys-
aEn Of modern business and present
day communication could not be main
tanned. Mr.. shallenberger has to be
dReh on and described because he is
sarhi an integral part of the whole.
He was for six years a member Of the
Congress, and before that a business
nan of'Festorn Pennsylvania. To-day
k6aSamamber Of the Pittsburg cham
VIZ Of commerce and respected as a
capitalist and level-headed business
nan, as much as he is public official.
EeIas been SO long in the office Of the
Sarnnd assistant postmaster general
That there is almost a disposition to
consider his place as out Of politics
Endone which belongs to him by right
al development and occupancy.
Through changing administrations he
has occupied the place for the past
eight years. Not aggressive nor for
Harf in his personal relations, he is
impressive and persistent and tireless
n his official work. He has placed
Tie stamp of his individuality on the
1e.yice over which he has authority
md almost on the clerical force in his
alfce as second assistant postmaster
general.
that's The only Office of the gov
eminent I have ever been in that re
minded me of Sunday school," said
Testeru member Of Congress. The
men there are all subdued, quiet, clean
gut short of fellows, neat dressers, with
mid manners and an air of orderly at
4ndon and concentration not TO be
1gted in other government Offices
Tie second assistant postmaster
general would probably not resent this
description, as he is a truly devout
Christian gentleman who accepts du-
Ties toward his church. 1t was meant
IS compliment and conveys some
thing of The atmosphere about thu Of
Bce az Mr.. shallenberger, who is the
perfection of neatness in his attire
and whose always modulated voice AMI
zISR, gentle manner seems to be
shared by those about him.
Once, several years ago, some one
Ia Congress tried to start a scan
daI about the mailbag repair shop
which comes under the authority OF
Mr.. shallenberger. Something Crept
INTO the newspapers about it, and at
Gace there was shaking up and
zTgid nne Of inquiry and investigation
Ehat left no doubt in the minds Of any
oDs as to its searching character and
luR not a leg for the accusers Of the
E4as repair shop employees to