The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1906-03-02
CAN'T SERVE AS DELEGATES
HINT TO PosT8IAsTERs FROM
THE DEPARTMENT.
Political Activity VIII Count Against
Rather Than for ReappOint-
ment.

William z. Curtis, the Washington
correspondent Of the Chicago Record
Herald, and who stands high with the
powers that be in the national capital,
has obtained Information from official
circles that is interesting to people
who want to know just the status Of
political" pOstmasters- The post
masters VIII doubtless act in future
upon the maxim that discretion is the
better part Of yaIOr and keep clear Of
the political firing line. Mr.. Curtis
says:
Since the publication Of an inter
view with Postmaster General COrtel-
you upon the application Of the merit
system to the postal service, I have
received a good many letters from
pOstmasters who are anxious to know
just what is meant by actively in
politics. - The postmaster general
said that the official record Of a post
master Of the first, second, third or
fourth class, would be the basis upon
which the department would decide
whether to continue him in Office after
the expiration Of his term He said
also that the only question hereafter
is TO be whether a man has been a
good postmaster and is satisfactory
to the patrons Of his Office and the
department. Political activity, one
way or the other, will have no in
huence and. Mr. COrteIyOu intimated.
would be counted rather against than
in favor Of re-appOintment-
A very high authority who need not
be mentioned, to whom various cues
tiOns from pOstmasters relative to this
matter were submitted, says that;
First-The reappOintment OF a post
master viii not depend, in the future,
upon the Endorsement Of a senator or
even Of the local party organization,
but upon his record as an efficient
officer and his reputation among the
patrons Of the Office, without regard
to politics or party. He is the servant
OF the people, carrying out the in
strutiOns Of the department, and viii
be judged by the satisfaction he gives
in that capacity rather than by his
popularity with senators, representa-
tives or political clubs.
SecOnd-Postmaster may vote,
take part in the primaries, write for
the newspapers, make speeches in
campaigns and exercise the ordinary
privileges Of citizens, but they should
not be members Of political commit
tees nor delegates to political cOnven-
tons.
POstmasters should abstain
from taking part in personal and poll
teal controversies They should not
give their adherence to either side Of
any factiOnaI quarrel; they have a
right to express their opinions or vote
for the candidates they prefer and to
give their reasons for doing so, but
any activity either for or against a
candidate or in a factiOnal quarrel will
impair their usefulness as the bust
ness representatives OF the govern
ment-
Fourth-POstmaster should re-
member that they are not the repre-
sentatives Of a party or a faction, but
they are the servants Of the entire
public without regard to political di-
visions. 1t is their business to pro-
mote the convenience and interests Of
the community and not the success Of
any party or faction.
Fifth-There is no reason why a
postmaster should not belong to a pO-
HticaI club but he cannot perform
the duties required of an officer Of a
club and at the same time fulfill the
obligations Of a postmaster to the
public
Sixth-Hereafter the opinion Of the
public, that is, the patrons Of the Of
fee and not the opinion Of a sen
ator or a representative or that Of a
political OrganizatiOn-wiU have the
greatest decree of weight.