Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-23

4 .
again And mfr. Gould replied by whce
that he would do ali of these thugs
within six months. Lets see, Was Il
six months ago. the Iowa Central
promised the railroad commissioners.
and the commissioners promised the
patrons Of the Story City branch. ian
improved passenger service?"
The writer has heard considerable
concerning the postoffice fight in Iowa
Falls and so was very glad to get the
following statement from a citizen
there, which is probably a very fair
statement OF existing conditions in Iowa
Falls:
while some bad appointments In his
district may cause Congressman Haug-
en- his job in Washington, Congress-
man Charles e. Pickett, of the Third
district, seems to be handling this end
of the congressional business like a
veteran and thus far has decided many
bad postoff1ce tangles with apparently
little. if any, friction which indicates
Mr.. Pickett is possessed of that diplo-
matte trait that enables him to pour
oil successfully on the troubled politi-
cal waters that are often so badly dis
turbed by postoffice appointments. 1t
takes a man of big calibre and sound
reasoning to adjust these delicate
questions and the facility with which
the gentleman from the Third Iowa"
is handling postoff1ce appointments, he
is convincing his constituency that he
is the man for the place and capable
Of handling more weighty political
problems that may confront him. Many
congressman is judged by the post
office appointments he makes and in
the selection of good clean men for the
positions Irrespective of pulls or in
trigues, congressman is apt to last
longer than where he merely pays po-
litical debts or listens to the big
noise of the populace. One of the APP
pointments that now confronts Mr..
Pickett and will probably be settled
during the holiday vacation, is the
naming of the successor of Postmaster
Winery at Iowa Falls and the in
tricacies of the situation as they APP
pear to an outsider, present a prob
lem that will require real general to
solve without leaving some sore spots"
Mr.. Winery has had the office for
twelve years and is not candidate for
disappointment, feeling that he has had
his share of political preferment and
will step aside for other aspirants. The
fight seems to have settled down to
two active candidates in E. E. Bene-
duct, the present assistant, and s. H.
Weldon, a brother of Billy Weldon
the present member of the house"
from Hardin county. Mr.. Benedict has
the endorsement of many of the bust
ness men of the city and is making a
strong fight for the appointment while
Mr.. Weldon is backed by his brother
who has been active in politics for
several years, and is using the political
wires to knock down the persimmon."
1t is reported that MIR. Pickett will be
asked to repay political obligations in
the appointment of Mr.. Weldon, while
Mr.. Benedict will rely wholly on home
endorsement" From this lineup, it will
be seen that knotty problem con-
fronts Mr.. Pickett. If he sticks to the
Weldon faction, he offends the Benedict
wing and should he name Mr. Benedict.
he will doubtless antagonize the We'll
den machine. 1t seems to resolve itself
into placing Mr.. Pickett between the
devil and the deep blue sea. 1t is
stated by both sides, that Mr. Pickett
will visit Iowa Falls during the holt
day vacation and canvass the situation
and then make his decision. From an
outside point of visW the result will be
watched with interest for the position
lisa very delicate on in which to place
a person, especially congressman
who is just entering on his COMPRESSION
al career. OF the two evils, he will
probably choose the least, but just
which he will consider the least" is
up to Mr.. Pickett to determine. At
best, it is a hard situation and prob
ably one of the hardest nuts that Mr.
Pickett has been asked to crack since
he took up the congressional job. But
his friends are confident that the whole
situation will be carefully analysed
and that when the appointment is
made, it will be based on the real. es-
sence of the situation and will be
settled in strict accord with the merits
of the controversy, by the appointment
of the man that will smooth out as
many of the political wrinkles as is
possible"
40 Me>1~~r