Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-05
POSTMASTERS MADE AGENTS.
How It Was Proposed to Build Up
Circulation in 1917

The modern postmaster may think he has
troubles Of his own. but there was a time.
along about 1917, when he was called upon
to do all manner Of queer things. For in
stance, in rummaging through an old
trunk a venerable resident OF Washington
recently unearthed an age-stained pamphlet
which announces the inauguration of a
new daily and thrice a week paper" to
be printed "at the seat of government -
The announcement was dated April 5. 1877
and after a voluminous exposition of the
virtues of the proposed paper, the editor
to-be says:
'Postmasters are hereby authorized to
receive subscriptions for the Gazette, and
for all moneys collected and transmitted to
the editor. at the city OF Washington. a
discount of 10 per cent will be allowed
Distant subscribers will have their papers
carefully packed and punctually forwarded
to order"
Then follows set of blank spaces where
the postmaster might append the names of
the subscribers. The entire pamphlet was
complete, and copy was sent presumably
to every postmaster in the then United
States If every postmaster could thus be
used mail order agent" in these days
of strenuous competition, what a variety
of duties they would be called upon to per-
form. But under the system that then ex-
listed, this method was entirely proper and
II is said that the postmasters made con-
siderable revenue from these sources. Need
less to say this was before the day of the
now celebrated fraud order" which the
Post Office Department issues with every
returning sun.
But getting back to the prospectus" 1t
is weird affair. wonderfully and fearfully
made. 1t actually states that "a competent
reporter will be employed to furnish the
proceedings of Congress for the Gazette"
and that all Interesting articles of I'M l.
ligence will be carefully selected and pub
lished." When 1t says that "all public doc
uments and state papers will be printed at
full length" one Is Immediately reminded
of the Congressional Record. a publication
that has been without rival In the mem
DRY of man.
It is also interesting that the editor-to-be,
one Jonathan Elliot advertised in April
that he would start a paper in October.
And he expected all these subscriptions to
be Forthcoming, evidently before the paper
was established That Eritor Elliot WELD
ed an eloquent pen Is evidenced IN his sum-
mary. wherein he says:
LAS the humble guardian of the public
veal. he will occasionally use the privi-
lege he has right to exercise, in express
ing his temperate disapprobation Of such
measures Of the government he may
think injurious to the interests OF the coun-
try. If those opinions should sometimes
be erroneous. he wishes them to be ascribed
to the common faIlibilty OF human judg-
AS far as 1t may be possible, he will labor
to be impartial, but that there will be a
bias. and that that bias will be in favor
of the present dominant party. he has too
much candor to deny and too much hon
esty to conceal. What he can do within his
humble sphere shall be done for the good
of the country. and II he falls he will con-
sole himself with the reflection that he has
discharged his duty to the utmost Of his
ability and power"