Evening journal., 1913-10-10
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Thomas L. JameS'S First
Visit to General Grant
By Holland.

Shortly after my appointment as
postmaster of New York City. by
President Grant, was confirmed by
the United States Senates, received
an intimation from Washington that
the President would be glad TO
have me call upon him at as early a
time as would be convenient for me
10 60 to Washington. said Thomas
l.. James. who went from the office
of postmaster at New York to that Of
postmaster-ge general at Washington, In
the cabinet Of President Garfield.
"Of course / looked upon this as
a courteous but really official com
mand, and / went on the following
day to Washington. / called for a
moment at the White House to say to
the Presidents secretary. that | was
In town and that I would call at any
time he might name as convenient
within an hour or two ! received
at my hotel a note from the Presi-
dents secretary. telling me that Cen
orally Grant would be glad TO see me
at o'clock that evening, at the White
House.
Il had never met President Grant
and, in fact. had only seen him once
or twice and then from a distance. l
was a little diffident when / reached
the White House, but / had not been
in the Presidents presence long be-
fore I was completely at ease. ]
recognized the grim. almost impas-
sive, countenance with which the pic
lures of General Grant had made ev-
erybody familiar. but l saw in an in
slant a new expression. II was a
smile of greeting. II was sincere.
cordial and very kindly.
Take a chair, Mr. James, he
said I am glad Of an opportunity to
chat with you. You know, of course,
that l nominated you for postmaster
of New York, without having in any
way communicated with you. Your
name was mentioned to me by a Sen
ator, and It instantly occurred to me
that you we're just the man we ought
TO have in the New York postoffice.
Il suppose l looked a little as
tonished, for I saw President Grant
looking fixedly at me for an instant.
Then he said:
"'I know something Of your record
while you have been serving in the
custom house in New York. I have
appointment to government places OF
men who are fitted by character and
ability for those places, and that
you also believe that If they are ap-
pointed in this way. and make good
they should not be disturbed.
This is a belief that I have
long entertained. / want you TO carry
out that policy in the New York post
office. You will have my cordial sup
port in the maintenance Of any rules
for appointment based upon fitness
and character. Don't you worry II
some of The politicians threaten you
with their displeasure or mine, IL YOU
do not make any appointments which
they ask I will stand by you.
I want 10 ask you a question. the
President continued. DO you thinl
the postmaster should have the abso
Lutte right TO discharge without any
body's questioning that rightg
Il told the President that was m,
firm opinion. He wanted TO know
why, and I said that II appointment
were made on the ground OF meri
and fitness. then the postmaster o
New York would have no reason 70
removing an employe TO make a va
cancy so that some political favorit
could be appointed because the va
canoy would have to be filled on tn
ground of merit and fitness alone
The President said that he full,
agreed with my view. He said tina
the executive heads of government
departments should have the abso
Lutte right of dismissal and he wa
also convinced that appointment
should be made because Of merit an
fitness.
The President was as good as hi
word. He stood firmly by me in sew
eral critical emergencies when poll
ticians we're angry with me because
would not make appointments 70
them, and II was due entirely TO Pres
ident Grant that was able to estah