The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-06-12
NAT BRYAN'S LETTER TO
CLAUDE ABOUT POST
MASTER APPOINTMENTS.

fore to a cruel war in progress, Win
Claude L'Engle and Senator N. r.
BRYAN as belligerents. Claude writ
tie senator up in Dixie because the
two could not agree on who should
be postmaster at Barlow and MARI
anna. and also wrote Mr.. Bryan
letter about it. The senator's reply
is printed herewith:
United States Senate,
May rs, 1913.
I "Hon. Claude LEngle,
/ House of Representatives,
~"Washington, D. c.:
I Dear sir-Upon receipt OF your
! remarkable letter Of the 10th instant
| discussed its contents with you over
the telephone. and supposed 1t was
i unnecessary for me to send you i
i written answer.
i However. in view of the fact that.
in your capacity of newspaper corre-
spondent, you have used up half 4
page of space in Dixie. perhaps l had
better write reply, SO that you may
not have an excuse to add to my
many other faults, shortcoming ana
wrcngdoings, the charge that l is-
nored your letter.
The habit OF that kind Of states
man who devotes an hour to work,
! and then takes week to tell about
it, with much self-glorifcation, IN
the newspapers, seems to have seized
upon you.
In your letter to the postmaster
general which you, also. Of course
publish, you say, 1 am willing to dc
everything in the service OF the peo-
pie except make myself ridiculous.
But, the plan you outline in your let
ter to me is nothing ii not ridiculous
That letter has but one meaning:
Whenever your choice for postmaster
: is appointed, you will be able to take
all the credit for t;/and whenever
in your view, an unfortunate ap
Iointment has been made, you viii
) bt able to SHIFT the blame from youl
: shoulders to mine. Let me prove
8 this assertion by your letter. q
> page one, you say that you are go
ing to let me take the responsibility!
for all postofiices in Florida, and tina
you will continue to recommend 10
appointment; but in order to CLAIM
credit for appointments that sui
n you, you propose to exercise you
right as a citizen Of Florida and a
representative OF the people to en-
, .lorse those whom you think vii
g best advance the peoples service
/ In other words, you will not RET
: Cmmend but you will endorse. VIVA
. is the difference, unless there be
a difference between tWeedledee an
tweedledum? There is no difference
and you know it.
You ought to know, by this time
that neither one OF us can make
u single appointment. The only thin
: either OF US can DO, SO far as the al
g pointment itself is concerned, is t
9 recommend or endorse. II there |
" any difference between these term.
, will You please point it out to me
. If there is no difference, why did 20
say to the postmaster general: :.
u therefore, have the honor to infOrl
. YOU that will confine myself in mat
tiers Of postoilice appointments to a
expression of my opinion as to VIII
: would best perform the public serv
II ice? What else besides that ca
: either You or | do in the matter g
o appointments? According to your IL,
: ter to Dixie, you give evidence Y
Is having read one clause OF the consti
It tuition. You make tho discovery tina
Q senators are required to consent t
= presidential nomination before
}. commission can be issued. The Sen
+ ate. therefore, fortunately, has an op
h portunity to correct mistakes. Unit
+ read your letter did not know tina
lyou ever made mistakes, but you a.!
nitted that you had made a mistab
g hen You included in your list G
@ names a Republican candidate TO
: postmaster.
J. you complain Of ME because 0
? my friendship for General Law.
e would be ashamed of myself ii ha,
: not complied with his request. 0
4 course. it is easy for you to say tina
4 this and other things l do have n
: higher inspiration than can be foun,
e ia selfish politics. thought it woul
e pc q pretty tribute to an old war
Lorse, who has also won a high plac
in time of peace, and who has main
Q tanned it-'in-udvocating policies an,
e principles in, which | believe, especi
u ally from a president in whose be