Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-14
Selection Of Postmaster Dis.
tasteful to Washington.
HOME RULE is PREFERRED
No Criticism of Man, But Objection
to Hitchcock Policy.
POSTAL OFFICIALS SATISFIED
DR.. Grandfield, the Appointee, Out
lines What He Hopes to
Do for the City.

| That the announcement Of the appoint
ment Of DR.. Charles P. Grandfield as
postma ster at Washington in The Star
yesterday came as a surprise as well as
a bitter disappointment to the citizens OF
Washington was manifested in the gen.
/ eral comment Of prominent business men
who were approached upon the subject.
| They generally expressed the opinion that
the President and Postmaster General
Hitchcock had given them the right TO
expect that the new postmaster would be
chosen from local circles.
Instead" said one, I'VE are presented
with a man we do not know and have
never heard Of I do not question DR..
Grandfield's ability, and 1t is, of course.
very gratifying to know we are to have
the one perfect post office in the United
States. but why in the name of con-
science do We have to go to the back
woods Of Missouri to find the only man
| competent to accomplish 1t? To GER
tain degree 1 am from Missouri myself
and you've got to show me-"
l. Postmaster General Hitchcock explained
last night that in announcing the APP
pointment of DR.. Charles T. Granonelu
as postmaster of Washington, he
| did not say Dr. Grandfield was of Troy,
Lincoln county, Missouri. as he was
| quoted yesterday. The Postmaster Cen
eral declared he did not know that Dr.
| Grandf1eld had a legal residence or the
right to vote in Missouri. Dr. Grandfield
personally supplied the information that
his legal residence and voting place Is
Troy. Lincoln county. Missouri.
| There is a general disinclination to he
quoted upon the subject. Many prefer to
| remain silent or il they do express them
| selves upon the subject ii is with the In
junction that II am not talking for pub
/ lication.
Willing to Await Developments.
! Others say they are willing to wait and
see what happens. They say they do not
believe Postmaster General Hitchcock,
who is to some extent familiar with the
needs of the local postal service, would
recommend for appointment as post
| master a man who was not fully COM
| petent to LII the place; but-and there Is
| always the but-they cannot see why the
| citizens of Washington should not be
city. or even the smallest villages in the
land, and given a postmaster from their
| own ranks.
| Judging by the general feeling OF those
| who have been approached upon the SUBJ
| ject the appointment is most unpopular.
| and this not because of any personal OBJ
| lection to DIR. Grandfeld himself, or
doubt of his qualifications. but. as ex-
| planned by almost every one who would
talk about 1t, ii is felt the appointment
| was stated in one instance, IL puts 3d.
| 600 people in the District of Columbia on
| a par with the Indians, as wards of the
nation" -
Approved in Postal Circles.
In postal circles. however. DR.. Grand
| feld's appointment is hailed with salts
| faction. Testimonials are not wanting az
to his integrity. his ability and his tit
ness in every respect for the position.
| Indeed" said Acting Postmaster Mer-
rift. who was perhaps his chief competi-
tor among the applicants. there Is no
man In the country who is better
equipped for the position. He has always
been friend to the Washington office.
and I feel certain his administration will
| be of great benefit to the local postal
| service. / know him we'll and esteem him
highly. There is nothing but good to be
said Of him. both as an official and as
] man."
| w. II. Haycock. superintendent OF city
delivery in the post office, whose name
| was put forward for the position by
| Henry F. Blount. vice president or the
American Security and Trust Company.
| and p. T. Moran, on behalf OF the
| Georgetown Citizens Association. said:
| ",rhe appointment suits me all right. l
worked under DIR. Grandfield for several
| wears. and know him to be a very capa-
BILE and efficient post office man. / am
| sure he will give Washington city
model service. He will also have a great
advantage in having the personal inter-
est in his success of Postmaster General
/ Hitchcock"
DR.. Grandfeld Surprised.
| Asked for q statement OF his position
and plans. DR.. Grandfeld told a re-
porter of The Star yesterday afternoon
that the appointment had come to him
unsolicited and as a great surprise.
i ut il especially gratifying" he ex-
1 planned las a proof of confidence from
| the Postmaster General whom j have
| served both as chief clerk, when he
i was first assistant postmaster general.
and as his successor in the latter office
during his own administration as Post
master General.
81 consider myself a citizen OF WASH
ington in every sense of the word;
| have lived here for more than twenty
five years. I have bought home here.
and here I have raised and educated
my children. IT Is true i still retain
the right to vote in Missouri. and I
President Roosevelt and for the re-
publican candidates on the national
ticket before them. I value my vote
highly and am proud OF my right to
/ cast II. But as q matter of fact, ]
have no other home but Washington.
NV mother. her sister, my aunt and
NV own two sisters. my only living
near relatives, are residents OF Call
fornia. Here Is where I have fixed my
hearthstone and here is where I shall
| probably remain. My father was a minis
ter when I was boy. His frequent
change OF pulpits caused a frequent
change of location OF our home, but
when I married and founded home OF
nv own ii was right here in Washing
ton, where ii has been ever since"
Aims to Improve the Service.
Asked as to his policies in the man
agement of the local office, DR.. Grand
field said: ITO the best OF my ability I
shall aim in line with the Postmaster
Generals own ideas. to give the citl-
zens of Washington a model postal
| service in all it's branches. There will
be no politics I'm the post Office. Every
! thing will be directed to securing the
best possible results in postal matters.
The Washington Office today, In my
Judgment stands as high as any of its
class. The service here on the whole Is
good. and the chiefs of the various
divisions in the post office, as rule,
are faithful and efficient men.
1T is too soon," he continued, ito talk
of changes of any kind. 1t was only