Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-29
Looker-On In Iona

| Ackey March 29.-The selection Of
Charles o. Ryan as postmaster a Ell
dora has brought about in this short
time some changes very much appre-
lciated by the public. Heavy painted
iron work screens have been placed
over the entire inside office boxes. etc,
thus making it safe to leave the lobby
open till p. IN. and on Sunday all day.
| The general delivery window is open
till 7:30 p. m. and If the Central train
from the south is little late in the
evening the employees stay and distrib-
ute the mail, so that patrons of the
postoffice having boxes can get the last
mail of the day as late as O'Clock.
Another appreciated arrangement is
the sending out mail-put in the post
office before p mon the trains go
ing north and south during the night
Mr.. Ryan retains all of the entire eff
hcient force that served under his
predecessor. Mr.. Harris, who was
forced to resign on account of his
health.
As mentioned in the papers at the
time Mr. Ryans appointment was
surprise TO nearly everybody in town
and vicinity. 1t was we'll known that
Mr.. Harris health would compel him,
not to ask for denomination, but it was
generally supposed he would fill out
his term. Therefore when it was known
that his resignation had been accepted
and Mr.. Ryans appointment made,
pr bly, not ten in a hundred knew
that anything was doing" And these
were were also surprised parties. A
few business men were called upon by
Mr.. Ryan, who asked their recon-
merdation of Mr.. Paul Woods Yhey
were quietly told that Mr. Harris would
soon resign. To avoid a general fight
and that Congressman Pickett prefer
red to make the appointment before
any general row mmenced. Less than
q dozen letters were written to Mr..
Pickett and among the number was one
from Charles o. Ryan recommending
Editor Woods. Mr.. Woods and Mr..
Ryan also went to Waterloo to influ-
ence Congressman Pickett's choice in
favor OF Paul Woods. On one of these
visits 1t became evident that the plum
was not to be picked by the editor. And
IN the hotel in Waterloo, Mr.. Paul
Woods wrote a letter to Congressman
Pickett saying in substance that under
the present circumstances he hoped
Mr.. Pickett would appoint Mr.. Ryan
as postmaster. Then Mr.. Ryan
returned to Eldora, called on the sign
ers of the letters in favor of Mr..
Woods. explained the changed situation
to them and they too recommended Mr..
Ryan. These facts are obtained from
both Mr.. Ryan and Paul Woods. OF
course even with these facts before the
public, the inside history of this affair
will probably never be known, much
less published. Two things are sure.
Mr.. Ryan did good hard work for Ed
itor Woods. Also Mr.. Woods for some
reason finally withdrew from the race
and wrote Pickett to appoint Charles
O. Ryan. But there's sequel also pc
culiar. After Mr.. Ryan's name was
sent in, Paul Woods changed his mind
and endeavored to prevent the nomin-
alton of Ryan. And here's another in
teresting part of this appointment. Mr
C. s. Hays, attorney, probably in his
official capacity about this time ap-
peared in Washington. and visited Mr..
Pickett and others of the Iowa dele
cation in congress to prevent the con-
frnation of Mr.. Ryan. This action on
the part of Mr.. Hays was evidently
not work OF a personal nature, for as
far as known. Mr.. Ryan and mfr. Hays
frequently "hitch horses at the same
pos" To complete the mystincation
Of the public Paul Woods says he did
not send Hays to Washington, nor pay
his expenses there OF any part of Il.
From the outwardly appearing friend
~ feeling between Ryan ana Hays It
can be assumed Mr. Hays went to
Washington as a paid attorney. Woods
didn't send him, who did? All Of the
above is obtained from the interested
parties. It's the substance OF agreed
upon facts It has particular interest
tothe citizens Of Hardin county. Some