Evening journal., 1911-04-04
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Hedging That Doomed
Sunday Delivery Of the
Mails
BY "HOIIand."

One day in the early summer of 1874
Postmaster General Marshall Jewell
ushered himself into the Office of the
postmaster of New York city. lie
brought with him that abundance OF
physical vitality. the high spirits and
the smile 10 which was due so much
of his success as politician, and
which were characteristic of him.
"RIr Postmaster" he said, as he
seated himself why is it that we
don't have one delivery of the mails
on Sundays, at least in the larger
cities?'
suppose Il is because the Post
master General at Washington has
never directed post officers to deliver
mail by carrier on Sunday was the
reply
"Well. believe that I will order II
to be done" the Postmaster General
answered. Il think It is as much OF
q necessity as running railway trains
or horse cars What do you think. Mr..
Postmaster?"
"I think you'll have trouble If you is
sue an order Of that kind. It. will run
counter to the moral convictions Of re-
ligious people They will oppose you
bitterly, because opposition which is
based upon moral principle is always
persistent and strong. The people who
would be benefited by a Sunday de-
/ livery do not care enough about II to
make a strike for II"
Il think you are mistaken" said the
/ Postmaster General. Il am going TO
issue an order directing that there be
one Sunday delivery by carrier from
all postoffices Of the first class"
The Postmaster General went backto
Washington and within q day or two
issued the order II occasioned q great
deal OF comment although the opposi-
tlon TO Il was not apparently as strong
as was expected.
Early I'm the week following the first
Sunday delivery in New York city by
carrier. the postmaster of New York
was visited by a committee. Of which
the distinguished philanthropist, Will
liam r. Dodge. was the spokesman.
MT Postmaster" said Mr.. Dodge,
IT cannot express my amazement re-
gret, and astonishment that you should
have issued an order which is virtual
ly a command 10 break the Lords Day.
have come 10 ask you the reason.
"The reason is very simple, Mr..
Dodge" was the reply. "T was directed
] ny the NWrNINdNNNA 1fN"A al " wv AAH
Here is his order"
Mr.. Dodge read the order signed by
the Postmaster General and turned TO
the committee. 'I will attend TO this
Immediately" he said, and departed
with his companions
He certainly did attend to II. In
fact he must have got into instant tel
egraphic communication with Marshall
Jewell. for before the close of the
business day the postmaster Of New
York. and probably Of other large
cities affected by the order, received
a telegram practically in these words
THE moral sentiment of the people is
against the Sunday delivery of letters
by carriers If we insist upon IL, there
Will be war between us and the good
people Of the United States We want
to avoid that. Therefore. I request that
you make arrangements Immediately
to hedge by establishing a carrier de-
livery at a late hour of Saturday
night"
The following Saturday night came
the late delivery; and many persons
wondered how II happened that a Sun
day delivery by carrier was tried IN
the large cities Just once. and that a
late Saturday night delivery. which
mas cohuhued 10 this day, was adopt
ed. The explanation is now given for
the first time. Il was all the result OF
a request. tantamount TO an order, OF
the Postmaster General to hedge
Copyright. 1911, by f. J. Edwards. AL
Rights Reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell
@Why Hannibal Hamlin Resigned