The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-28
pOSTMtSTERs AND POLITICS.

posTMASTERs AND POLITICS,
There is strong probability that the House
Will adopt the resolution offered BY Representa-
tive Saunders. of Virginia, providing that "A
rigid Investigation OF the political machine
built up through appointments Of postmasters
be made by the Committee on Expenditures in
the Post-Ofice Department. Should the inquiry
be ordered and establish the things alleged
there viii doubtless be considerable agitation
throughout the country for the election of post
masters BY the people, And why not
Although the postmaster Of community Is
accountable to the Post-Offce Department, a
branch Of the Federal government so far as
/, finances go. he is primarily local official, COM
ing In perhaps more intimate and frequent
touch with the people than any other public
servant The people Of community should
have the same right to choose their postmaster
as their mayor Merely because IA man Ia a
good worker for this or that party does not
qualify him for postmastership. However
popular he may bo with the appointing officials.
he cannot serve the people of hts municipality
to their liking If he does not enjo. their friend.
ship esteem and confidence
This Is one argument for the popular cleo
ton of postmasters. Representative Saunders
allegations and questions furnish other reasons.
Among the iuterrogations made In the Sauu-
ders resolution are these: Are postmasters
deyoting their full time to the discharge of Off
cial dutesT' In perhaps majority Of instances
they arc not and that Is what Mr. Saunders is
driving at
How many postmasters named by Postmas-
terGeneraI Hitchcock using their positions
to promote the interests of the Republican par
| ty?' Probably the greater number of them,
since their usefulness to the party was given
first consideration in making the selections. and
1 in view of the fact that MIR. Hitchcock was Pres
ident Tafts campaign manager and is likely to
ofhcate in the same capacity next year. BY
I the same token, inasmnch as the Post Office De
partment has always been a patronage fountain
would not Democratic postnlaster<;eneral.
situated as Mr.. Hitchcock is do the seifsame
| thing
What percentage of posCmasters chair
men of political clubs. and how many of them
are campaign stump speakers We are unfa
miliar with local political conditions in other
sections of the country. but in the South a grea.
many postmasters the chairmen of political
clubs working for the reelection of the patron
age-dispensers, and practically all of them are
active and energetic members of such organi
| cations, The postmaster usually regards 1t ~
a duty TO go on the stump TO work for the adj
ministraton which appointed him. and he Ii
| rather expected 10 do this. since he Ia believed
to have Influence in his own community
lis TT that Mt rr7ar1v Utficrs the men rIDtt
ing the title Of postmaster seldom come around
| leaving the work 10 subordinates?' There Is
no great wrohg IN leaving i postoflce IN charge
OF competent and Trustworthy subordinates
What Mr.. saunders wnnts to know. however, is
the for tie postmaster abscnting him
self, and whether the official is out drumming
up support and votes for the cutters of Federal
pie.
why does the Postoffce Department discon.
tInue and remove post-ofices without consulting
. the interests of the communities served The
answer to this seems simple. AS men are re-
moved from or Installed III post-offices according
to their uselessness or usefulness to the party
which appoints. Just with the location of the
ros'oftice. II at one place can do the
party good. the postoffice Is transferred to
another district where more influential man
can take hold OF postal affairs and work ener-
gettcal1y for the party
In many instances good postmasters are put
out Of Office because new party has come into
power. and bad postmaster is appointed This
invariably occasions disappointment IN the city,
town or village In which it occurs In others
a postmaster who does not give satisfaction is
retained IN Office so long as his party is in pow
err. and all efforts to have him removed are
without avail. The for this is that he Is
serving the party% if not the people. OF his com
munity.
There are countless reasons for taking post.
Offices and postmasters out OF politics. and the
people Of the country will be indebted to Mfr
Saunders n IFS resolution brings thfs about
\ GOVERNOR AND A LEGISLATURE