The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-12
FIGHTS FOR OFFICES
ARE BITTERLY WAGED
Charges Hurled Back and Forth Among;
Candidates md Thclr Friends.
AInny Cases Investigated.
Especial to Tho Ti,ncs-Dlspntoh.1

Especial to Tho Times Dlspatch.l
Washington. d. c.. May 1.-THE
POST -Ofice Department i,t,o received no
end of complaints regarding the fourth
class postmustcrs appointed as tho re-
suit of tho Statewide examinations
taken in Virginia. but the greater num-
bor and the most violent charges hnvo
been received from tho Ninth Con-
gressional District, where In tho ma
jority OF cases. Republicans are being
ousted to make way for Democrats.
Tho majority of tho patrons In the
Ninth District arc Republicans, and do
mot take kindly to seeing the offices
which have been held for many years
by Republicans taken away and given
10 Democrats. Some of tho letters re-
celved at the department complaining
OF the installation OF Democrats recito
unspeakable charges. and In many In
stances post-oiiice inspectors have been
detailed TO the cases and failed to gain
lsubstantiution for the evils complaint
ed of.
Cnrterton Contest Hitter.
Ono of the most bitter contests has
been waged at Cnrtertun. Russell Coun-
ty. where the news that the department
intended to appoint y. L. GriZzle
brought forth a storm Of protest from
tn. patrons. GriZzlc is q Democrat lilo
was the only person to stand the civil
service examination. passing with a
mark OF 77.S0.
Most violent charges were brought
against him. and it WAS charged that
he was generally unpopular in the com
munity. In contradiction TO these
statements. another class OF letters was
received 1T the department stating that
his conduct was good; that he was :,
moral man; had always been a good
working Democrat" and was In good
stnnding In the community.
There WAS such wide conflict In the
statements made regarding Grizzle.
one class very bitter towards him, and
the other highly praislng him. that
the department ordered an inspector
10 investigate. and Inspector McKcw
was detailed to tho case
1t has now been discovered that all
tho letters denouncing Grizhlo were
written by Republicans, who are in
the majority In the community, and
that letters Of indorsemcnt for him
were sent by Democrats. Grizzic and
his friends forwarded n large number
OF letters from business men OF high
standing all over the state, declaring
that his character had been invcsti-
gated and found 10 be excellent
Gri2Zlc himself came TO Washing
ton on Friday ard called at the de-
partment. The department was high
~ pleased with his appearance and
statement of facts. In tho letters in
dorsins Crizzle are many from the
most prominent Democrats in the
Ninth District, including one from r.
Tate Irving. the Democratic congress
sional nominee.
In the light of all the Information
obtainablc the department has prac-
tically decided TO appoint Gr!zzle 10
succeed the incumbent Republican.
Dispute AT Crockett.
The decision of the department TO
appoint W. +. Sutlin at Crockett.
Wythe County. brought forth another
storm OF protest from tho Republi-
cans. Sutlif' stood third on tho ex-
animation. two Republicans making a
higher percentage than he. John S. Dix
being high man.
Tho Republicans Of the community
filed complaint with the department,
that Senator Swanson had used his In
! iluence to have Sutiiff appointed. when
one Of the Republicans was entitled
| TO the office.
| Sutlifl is the telegraph operator, de-
! pot agent and express agent at Crock
EFT, and the complaint Is made that he
Is unable properly to act as express
| agent and at the same time handle