The Springdale news., 1912-12-20
OPPOSED ID PRIMARY
Congressman f1oyd's Views on This
 Method of Choosing Postmaster

Some of the applicants Hor post patrons of the office. have been az itatHg tAe question Of holding primary election to select post master The question was recently submitted to Cousressman Floyd by Col ! A C Blackburn and fol lowing iS Mr Floyd s letter in re- ply. which will no doubt be of in teresU throueboat the district
 Washington, pee.I3. 3.t9I2 2=Hou. ! 4 ( Blackburn Rogers, Ark NJ Daaf Sir and Friend Zi am in receipt -oi your favor some days ago relative to the proposed plan for selecting candidate for post master ut Rogers. Ark Your favor would have been answered sooner, but being one of the house mana gers iu the Impeachment trial of Judge Arch bold, l have found no time 10 give 1t personal attention until Bow.
 h reply to your inquiry I desire 10 say in the first place that l think 1t ls too early to decide on such matters and that the proper time 10 decide who shall be post master at Rogers will be when the tine arrives when such appoint ment is 10 be made
 The W administration has not yet been organized and feel that ought to await the ton of the administration be ze=e def niHg my position The administration ought te b. given an opportunity to first formulate its plans and policies and when that is done 1 aesife 10 be in position as lar d possible 10 work in harmony with he administration Views will say, hoH eyer. that l cannot personally approve the pro posed plan as outlined ln the news paper clipping you sent ne. First, t proposes that the candidates must pay the expense of the pri- mary and that no names are 10 be considered except those who enter snah primary. This is objection able an two grounds First. the expense might be such as to exclude some worthy and competent person, who otherwise would apply for the postofflce, from entering such con test. and secondly. 1 know of no test Of party loyalty that would re quIre a democrat to enter such primary in which republicans are per mitted to vote before his appli- eaton is entitled 10 consideration by a democratic administration.
 Il is also objectionable on this ground The plan as I understand 1t proposes to allow republicans to vote in a democratic primary. or more accurately speaking. in pri- mary for the selection of a demo- cratic candidate for postmaster This l regard as all wrong If such plans were adopted there are many towns in my district where the re pubiicans would elect postmaster and in probably all would hold the balance of power. It might easi- ly happen that the republicans gen erally would vote for that candi- date most satisfactory to them and least satisfactory to the true and loyal democrats of the community.
 The third objection 10 the pro- posed plan is that it seeks to bind me, as representative, by pledge in advance to recommend whoever may be selected in such primary. It might be that some one might be elected under such a plan that l could not conscientiously reeomme nd and that a majority of the demo- cratS mIguI not want Tor tlelr post master. If the appointment of postmasters are to be made on my recommendation, then I shall re- serve to myself the right in all cases to make honest and eonseien- tious recommendations on my own judgment with all the light and in- formation available at the time the appointment is to be made Any other course would be unjust to me and unfair to the administration.
 With kindest regards, am,
 Yours very truly,