The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-18
TROUBLES OF NEW MONTANA
DELEGATION AT WASHING
TON JUST BEGINNING.
MANY LOOKING FOR JOBS
Hundreds Of Applications for Appoint
nsnts Pour in Upon Democrats--
Congressman Evans Has Charge of
Western Montana and VIII Make
Several Changes.

Washington, March 17,--(SpeciaL)--
The troubles of the new Montana con-
gressional delegation are just Begin
ming. The question Of the settlement
of political patronage, which is the
one great source of trouble to the
party in power, is already causing
some trouble to Senators Myers and
Walsh and the incoming mali to Con-
gressmen Evans and Stout Is heavily
laden with appeals from the local
democratic politicians In every county
in Montana.
Under the geographical division OF
the state agreed upon by Messrs
Evans and Stout in the matter OF
postoffice appointments. there are
pending for immediate appointment in
the west side counties. five persiden.
tial poStmasters to be recommended
by Evans. and nine in the eastern
counties to be settled by Stout
Evans immediate troubles center
about the postoffices at Plains. Deer
Lodge and Dillon At Plains nearly
every patron of the office-democrat
progressive. republican and socialist,
has petitioned Evans for the reap
pointment of the present incumbent,
Mr.. Coulter. The patrons of the
Plains postoffce are practically unani-
nous in their expressed views that
Coulter has made methodical and
obltging officer and ask to have him
re-appointed 1t Is understood, how
ever that one single "old line demo
crat" at Plains Is urging Congressman
Evans to turn the rascals OUT and is
urging the appointment of Mr.. Cos
tello---a democrat of the Jeffersonian
school'for the place. AS all the
fourth class postmasters are now
under the provisions OF the civil serv-
ice rules, the tendency everywhere
seems to be toward extending the
merit system to all postofficc appoint
ments.
At Eureka, in Lincoln county, the
patrons OF the office have, with one
or two exceptions, also petitioned the
democratic congressman to have the
present postmistress, the widow of an
old soldier, renamed for another term.
as her record for efficiency has been
most excellent
At Deer Lodge a democrat will be
named to succeed the present post
master. Mr.. Eldred, who alsa has a
good record for efficiency, but the local
democratic politicians demand the
place.
At Dillon Miss Grace Lamont, who
has faithfully served as postmistress
for the past Is years. will also be
succeeded by a democrat.
The pressure for appointment to
federal office upon the democratic
senators and congressman ia without
parallel since Cleveland's first cleo
tion. One democratic senator from
a western state now has to consider
the relative merits OF So democrats,
each one Of whom knows that he
should be appointed marshal for that
state. One. democratic congressman
from Georgia Is said to have over
5000 unanswered letters In his desk
relative to postoffices In his single
congressional district.
All OF which again brings to mind
the remark of ex-Speaker Tom Reed,
when he had finally settled upon the
appointment of a republican post
master in Maine, where there had been
a bitter contest among six different
applicant, We'll, have just made five
enemies and one ingrate."