The Prescott daily news., 1912-03-13
IN LINE FOR
 INVESTIGATION
By Winfield Jones.

" "'AAih So oOhS WI ul Ol To uc political machine which Post, master General Hitchcock has built up by means of his author lty at the head of the Postoffice Department is in line for an in. vestigation by the Democratic House. The Democrats have a well-laid plan to probe deep into the machine building activities of the Postmaster General. 1t Is admitted that there is no one department in the Govern ment service where the search. light could be turned on with more success than in the Post office Department.
 For many months there have been reliable reports that Mir. Hitchcock had been quietly lay ing his plans for the capture of delegates for Taft, particularly in the South. The Democrats want to know:
 Whether postmasters through out the country, first class and otherwise, are giving proper at tention to their offices.
 Whether it IS not fact that many of these postmasters ac. cept their trust from the Govern. ment as "side-line" to be con- ducted in connection with private business.
 Whether it is true that many postmasters spend much of their time campaigning for the Republican cause, to the detri, ment of official busin ess of their office.
 For what reasons various postof1ices have been discontin- ued, or moved, upon orders from Washington without consulting the wishes of the patrons of the office.
 House Democrats believe that right under the eyes of the House the willy Postmaster General is putting in order a political mach inc the full force of which will be felt when the standpat Republi. cans try to renominate Taft for President.
 It is also claimed that the postal serivce is being crippled. It is claimed that in many towns men are named for postmasters who have private business that require all their time. It's openly charged that in every State there are men who hold commissions as postmasters at important of fees who spend practically no time at their duties. The real work is left to subordinates, while the politician-postmasters secure in the knowledge that they can deliver a certain mum Der of deligates when the time arrives, content themselves with looking after other matters.
 It is claimed that the Post master General has named as postmasters bankers, lawyers, merchants, and others who re. gard their allegiance to the post al service as secondary to private interests. Itis also claimed that these politician postmasters show great activity in organizing their friends in support of the Re publican cause, that they are chairmen of county or city Re publican committees, and that much of their time is spent in campaigning.
 How much time do these postmasters spend upon person. al vacations and how many in speechmaking and campaign arguments is one of the ques/ tions the Democrats want an Swere6.
 "The time has come for an investigation ,, said prominent Democratic Congressman the other day." I have been watch ing conditions in my own state and and I will soon have some important relations to make. l know that there are postmasters in my state who are seldom seen about their offices. They are off in harge of campaigns, rounding up votes, making politi.