Evening times-Republican., 1911-05-13
DES MONIES poSToFffCE NO
LONGER A POWERFUL Po.
LlTicAL MACHINE.
HAS BEEN THE FOOTBALL
OF OLD HULL CROWD
Much Misrepresentation Going Rounds
Conserving New Postmastsr-Jud udos
Henderson to Measure Up 70 New
Position Of Commerce counsel-psm.
ocratie Hopes in Ninth District
[By Ora Williams.1


Des Moines, May 1s.-The Des
| Moines postoffice, with ESQ employees
including the carriers. soon to be
| turned over to a plain business man
not a politician, is and has been for
| many years the most powerful local
political machine at the state capital
and in the Seventh district. The pres
| ent postmaster, MIR. Myerly, was for
merly member Of the legislature from
Emmet county, and prior to his ap-
polnlmeHt was campaign manager for
Congressman Hull, for which he was
rewarded by the gift of the office. An
other campaign manager for Hull had
mad the office just before him-Jo ohm
| Mckay. He was a Shrewd and skillful
manipulation of politics under the old
system and had secured his training in
the old Des Moines city council. Before
that the office was held by DR.. School
er and Of him it was said that he per-
haps knew as little about the office and
went TO the office as seldom as any
patron. In fact il did not interfere in
the slightest with his medical practice
Then E. H. Hunter also was post
master. Now the office goes to Louis
kurtz. younger man than his prede-
cessors, a lifelong resident of Des
Moines, an active working republican
but never in any sense a manager for
anyone nor especially active for any
one. In Des Moines he is known far
more as a business man than other
wise. His associates are the young
business men of the city. He has done
more boosting" for Des Moines than
for any individual or any candidates;
in fact 1t is no secret that in some
quarters his selection was criticised
because there were others who at least
believed they SO much more deserved
the reward of the office 1t is certain
that Postmaster Kurtz will not
permit the use of the machinery of the
postoffice as it has been used in the
past
Employees "Protected."
There are several good positions un-
der the postmaster, but it has been so
cleverly arranged by those who have
had the arranging to do that every en-
ploye in every department is protect
ed" by the civil service regulations.
| The deputy postnas ster is John Ryan,
| an efficient and capable man and one
who has done much active political
| work. The job pays $1,000 a year. The
position of cashier pays about S2.400
a year and there are several other jobs
| equally good. There are a dozen or
| more sub-stations and some of these
pay we'll for management. All are un-
| der the civil service. But of course
there are limitations to the protection
| of the rules. For instance. for some
years the position of cashier was held
| by a war veteran of quiet demeanor
who was under the civil service. The
place was given an active east side
politician and the old soldier was de
noted to a poorer place. While the
employees must be retained they can
| be shifted about almost without limit.
The good positions in the past have
| been given to the good political work
ers. And the influence Of this powerful
machine in local political affairs has
! been enormous.
For some good reason a good deal OF
| "facts not true" have been dissent
mated about the new postmaster since
! his appointment The Fairfield Led
| ger, whose editor Is member OF the
republican state committee, actually
makes the bold assertion that "Kurtz
has been written down as lifelong
democrat and was the dem ocratic
member OF the commission which over
| hauled the Iowa capitol" and then a
/ libelous tnsinuation that he was re-
| sponsible for the partial burning of the
state house a few years ago. One
statement is on a par with the other.
1 kurtz was not the dem mocratic mem
| Der OF the commission: in fact was not
a member OF the commission at all, and
| there never was even a hint or sugges-
| ton either in public or in private that
| the capitol fire was in any way caused
/ as suggested. Mr.. Kurtz was recon-
mended to the president by both Sen
| ator Kenyon and Senator Curnmins and
| by Congressman Prouty.
Do Henderson injustice.
| A good story is going the rounds o;
/ the press about taking a first step to-
ward state control Of public utilities
! by reason OF the probable activity OF
Judge ]. H. Henderson in his practice
as commerce counsel before the state
railroad commission and in case he is
commissioned so to do, his work before
| the interstate commerce commission
and in the courts Those who doubt
the ability Of Judge Henderson as a
lawyer, or feel that possibly he is toe
old to tackle a new Job involving main
ly the technique Of rates and classif1.
cations, do him an injustice, for Judge
Henderson is above the average ir
| point of ability among Iowa lawyers
and he is far from ready for the re.
tirement shelf. But there are score.
Of cases before the railroad commits
sion in one stage or another Of com
pletion, all involving rate matters anG
the common carriers, and It is moi
probable that he Will be able 10 *
outside Of this line to tackle the larger
problem of regulating all utilities.
There Is no question but that ffas