New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1910-06-01
70 the editor Of the Review.

themselves OF the opportunity recently
accorded to them to inspect our new
post Office building, and I venture to
say that the most Of them were more
than satisfied with what they saw.
True, there are quite few who do
not take kindly to the style Of archi-
lecture employed in the building
others again complain that the lobby
tile floor is altogether too cheap for
the rest of the arrangement. How far
these criticisms are justified, it is not
for me to say. Every body has right
not only to his opinions; but to the
right to express them and honest and
sincere criticism is rather to be en-
because of this prevailing sentiment
aud of the conviction within me, that
honest criticism is always in order, I
take this opportunity through the
columns of your newspaper, to call
attention to some arrangement in the
new federal building which to my
mind deserves severe criticism and
universal condemnation. 1t is barely
possible that it is not generally
known that secret stairway has been
provided for, which leads to eight
look-outs from which points of
vantage a person can overlook the
entire floor space of the working
rooms and basement without being
seen. The key to this secret stairway
is in the hands of the post Office in
spector and he can reach these look
outs without being seen or heard, the
stairs having been deadened to that
extent that the sound of the foot steps
cannot be heard by any one. 1t does
not take stretch of imagination to
know what this arrangement is for.
It has been put in solely for the pur-
puse of giving some official an oppor.
tunity to spy an Uncle Sans govern
ment employees on duty in the post
Office, at first glance this may appeal
to us as being the proper thing, for
does it not give an inspector the OPP
portunity practically at all times to
watch the employees in their daily
work and to detect if possible and OBJ
tain evidence against some one who is
straying from the narrow path of
virtue, and that the fear of being
detected in idleness or what is worse,
criminal practices, will keep the
employees straight? But does it? ]
do not think so. Any one who is
kept from doing something wrong
simply because of the fear of being
detected and punished accordingly is
not an honest man at heart and no
eight or even one hundred look-outs
will make him at heart honest and
sincere and prevent him from going
wrong. And it is a question in my
mind if the man who is dishonest al
heart is not as dangerous a man to
society and as deep-dyed a criminal
as the one who actually commits the
wrong. On the other hand, will not
the daily reminder of these look-outs
familiarize the employees with the
thought of committing wrong:
Every day they are forcibly reminded
that there is such thing as riaing
the mails. Will, in time. this thought
not take such hold of them, that they
are actually tempted to commit some
wrong, just for the purpose of finding
out if they can do so without being
detected by the man at the lookout:
We all know that the child is tempted
to do those things which he is for.
hidden to do and an admonition moi
to go near the preserves will usually
land them there. The grown man is
no different than child, except thai
from experience he may have de.
veloped stronger character. He is
almost as easily sMayed to do a foo
thing on dare and commit some
wrong by being told that he must not
do it, as the child.
The look-outs to my notion are an
invitation to do wrong and if some
should be committed on the future, the
government is simply reaping from
the distrust it has shown in the minds
of it's employees. We always gather
what we radiate. If it is love, 1t will
come back to US hundredfold, and il
it is hate, revenge, distrust and a
venomous spirit that we give FORTH we
get paid back in the same coin.
To put it mildly. the system OF
espimage installed is an insult to the
manhood of every one on duty at the
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