Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1913-05-24

CARELESS OF my own opinion If the
appointive power should regard the
primary held on the Texas side of
Texarkana as representative Of the
will of the patrons of the Texarkana
postoffice then the man who carried
that primary should have the office.
81 do not believe that my course in
this matter has in any way violated
the principle of the peoples rule.
Trusting that you will give this
letter publication, am,
Yours very truly,
MORRIS SHEPPARD"
The Eagles estimate of Mr. Shep-
pard since his induction into the office
of United States Senator has been
very greatly raised, which fact we
have not hesitated to mention edito-
rally, stating upon one occasion that
he was "laying broad and deep the
foundations for splendid career in
the Senate"
Our criticism of his action in re-
gard to the Texarkana postoffice was
precisely the same as that of Posts
master General Burleson, who turned
down the primary nominee at Ennis
and appointed his PERSONAL choice
We did not believe at the time, and do
not believe now, that their action was
in accord with the Democratic spirit
and Democratic slogan-"Let the peo-
pie rule" We believe their action will
take from the slogan whatever virtue
it had, make it a by.word and reproach
in the next National campaign, and
thereby place a formidable weapon
in the hands of the Republicans.
Mr.. Sheppard explains that he would
not be governed by the primary be-
cause only the Texas side of Tex
arkana participated. He holds his
as United States Senator
from Texas, and it occurs to The
Eagle that if there are any people on
the face of the earth to whom his
ears would be open, it would be the
people of Texas. He says himself that
one-half, or perhaps two-thirds of the
patrons of the Texarkana postoffice
are on the Texas side, and that being
so, it does look like their expressed
wish at the polls would take prece-
dent over the Senator's individual
and especially when his
preference was the brother of Con-
gresham Bob Henry of Waco. The
fact that he is Congressman Henry's
brother does not disquali'y the gentle
man. but the thing smacks of jobbery
on the part of the patronage distrib.
utors as against the people.
In Mr.. Sheppard's letter to the Pres
ident to which he refers, he stated
that Mr.. A. d. La Roach. the primary
nominee, "is young man of highest
integrity and ability, and woul1 make
a splendid postmaster" Thel efora, ac-
cording to Mr.. Sheppard's own words,
there could be no possible obje ntion
to the primary nominee. except that
he happened to be the choice OF the
people Of TeXarEana, and not of Sen
ator Sheppard. The thing we cant
understand about it is, Wy the Sen
ator should be so concerned about the
wishes of the handful on the Arkan-
sas side who did not participate in the
primary, and absolutely refused to con.
slider his own people who did partici
pate.
In Senator Sheppards letter to the
President he did say: Regardless of
my own opinion, if the appointive
power should consider the primary on
the Texas side fair expression of the
will of the patrons of the Texarkana
postofflce, he should be given the APP
pointment." Yet he closed the letter
thus: 81 REPEAT that Mr.. Henry is
my personal choice for this place. He
is a conscientious, capable, Christian
gentleman, and an original Wilson
supporter, and a progressive Demo
crat." In the face of such an appeal,
backed of course by the earnest efforts
of Congressman Henry and perhaps
others, what chance did the people of
Texarkana have? The result is the
answer.
1t is not the purpose nor the pleas
ure of The Eagle to criticise the &C.
tons of Senator Sheppard. 1t is our
pleasure and our duty to assist him,
and hold up his hands in every worthy