Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-11-06
REV. II. /. COOK REPLIES
TO POSTMASTER WHEELER

The following commun cation was
delayed in the mails. In justice 70
Mr.. Cook we publish it at this late
day:
Matoaka, w. Va, Nov. 2, 1905.
Editor Daily Leader:
You W II please allow me space IN
your paper 20 answer an article
written by c. e. Wheeler, under
date of October 81. 1908 in witch
he attempts to answer an article in
the Daily Leader OF Oct. q, 1905.
written by Republican Voter.
Mr.. Wheeler IN his article pro
poses" to state facts, which if he
nad done, would have nothing to
say. FIRST, Mr.. Wheeler sceks 20
Justify his act of coward.ce OF
tearing down the picture of Joe l..
SIN tn by referring to sections 26S
and 269 of Postal Laws and Regu-
lations. Later on in his article Mr..
Wheeler says, " Out of respect to
the national candidates and with
due respect to my patronage alike
| permitted Taft and Sherman's ami
Bryan and Kern's pla pictures to
be put up in the lobby, but no Issue
nor picture designated for political
purposes only has been allowed
about the posioffice premises"
Now | want to say that this state
ment made by Mr.. Wheeler is a
falsehood. and no one knows it bet
ter than he; and was made for tn.
purpose of deceiyng the uninform-
ed public.
Now the facts about this unscru-
pulous polite ans conduct are as
follows: Some time early in the
campaign the pictures of Swisher
and Matheny Republican cand,-
dates) were displayed in the lobby
Of the postoflice, and later OH the
pictures of Taft and sherman and
Glasscock were displayed in The
same room, and at the time Smiths
p cture was put up the three LIST
mentioned pictures were still in this
room and Smiths picture, whi:h
was torn down by Mr. Wheeler was
he first picture of Democratic
candidate displayed in this room.
Now | want to ask Mr.. Wheeler
how it is that displaying q Demo-
Gratis picture in the lobby IF the
post Office would be considered for
campaign purposes and in violation
of section 268 ana 2G9 of The Pos
al Laws and Regulations, aud the
displaying of a Republicans picture
in the same room is not for cam.
paign purposes nor in violation Of
the sections above referred to.
Some time after the tearing down
of Smiths picture and after i, was
known that ne hal .nsulted his pub
lie patronage, h allowed large
picture of Kern TO be posted III his
room but refused to allow The large
picture Of Bryan to be posted unless
the WORDS Shall the People Rule?
were turn j under, which was re-
fused to be done, consequently he
large picture of Bryan was not dis
played IN this room. but the large
pictures of Taft sherman and Glass
cock were allowed to remain in his
room about fifteen days after The
tearing down of Smiths picture.
Mr. Wheeler said in reference to
my putting up Smiths picture "tho
Rev. Cook said he would put it up
anyhow Relative to this state
ment | wish to say did not use any
such language. butsdid tell Mr..
White that If Mr. Wheeler objected
20 the picture being posted in this
room I would ;ako 70 down.
Mr. Wheeler i'm mis- article refers
to me as a "rciormcr" and in re-
ply will say that what [ have done
to bring about a better state of af-
airs I'm this coWay, I have done
nothing Of which ] am ashamed,
nor have I used any unfair means
n trying to secure the election OF
mon That are iu favor of dccency
ana q fair expenditure O. the pco-
pics money.
Yours truly.