The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-03-15
SERVICE
IS BEING CRIPPLED
(By Winfield Jones)

Washington, March 13.-The politi
, cal machine which Postmaster GeH
: eral Hitchcock has built up by meanl
of his authority at the head of ths
postoffice department is in line for AZ
investigation by the democratic houss
The democrats have a welI-laid plah
to probe deep into the machine-buil@
ing activities of the postmaster gen
eral.
1t is admitted that there is no oIp
department in the government service
. where the searchlight could be turns
on with more success than in tH
postoffice department. I
For many months there have beeA
reliable reports that Mr.. HitchcoJ
had been quietly laying his plans y
the capture of delegates for Taft, paS
ticularly in the south. The democraI
! want to know:
Whether postmasters throughout tf
country first class and otherwise, aA
giving proper attention to their q.
fees.
Whether it is not fact that maA
of these postmasters accept their trJ
from the government as ''side-lin1
to be conducted in connection viii
private business.
Whether it is true that many pos
masters spend much of their time Gag
paigning for the republican cause,
the detriment of official business A
their offices.
For what reasons various postoffid.
have been discontinued, or moved, U
on orders from Washington withq
consulting the wishes of the patroS,
of the office.
Il House democrats believe that rid
T. under the eyes of the house the wi
! POSTMASTER general is putting in ord
. a political machine that full forces E
, which will be felt when the standr
republicans try to renominate Taft 4
president.
1t is also claimed that the POD
service is being crippled. 1t is elat
ed that in many towns men are nd
ed for postmasters who have priv
businesses that require all their til
1t is openly charged that in every Sd
there are men who hold commGsA
as postmasters at important DIN
who spend practically no time at
duties. The real work is left to
: lordinates, while the politician-r 81
masters, secure in the knowledge&
they can deliver a certain numbex
delegates when the time arrives,
tent themselves with looking 81
Iother matters.
1t is claimed that the postmasteI8
Ieral has named as postmasters
lers, lawyers, merchants, and oil
who regard their allegiance to3
Ipostal service as secondary to prW
Interests. 1t is also claimed that d
politician-po -postmasters show greatN
Itivity in organizing their friendA
Support of the republican cause, II
they are ehairmen of county or
republican committees, and that n
Iof their time is spent in campaign
How much time do these post
ters spend upon personal vacat
land how much in speechmaking Il
campaign arguments" is one OIL
Questions the democrats want ans
led. III
The time has come for an inved
tion, said a prominent democ
congressman the other day" III
been watching conditions in my
state and | will soon have somd
portant revelations to make.
that there are postmasters in my
who are seldom seen about thei
fees. They are off in enarge OF
paigns, rounding up votes. malsia i !,
litical arguments, or laying plank{
the future Their work is left I'd
ordinates.
1T is also time that the houa
quire into the promiscuous discoI
alton of Offices Under Hitchcock
! fees are abandoned or moved Of
! word of referee, who sometimes
a hundred miles or more fromM
community affected Every few
the postoffice department will abb
a postoffice, or move it from one
munity to another, all because
cal expediency demands such a n
in my opinion. The conditions
exist in my own state, ! have re
to believe, exist in other states
IS do not know just to what q
this political machine has progr
nor the reason for the strange
that are happening, but one ofC
most important things that the
should turn its attention to now
investigation of fhis neculiar staM