The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-17

constantly made to him. In many
cases these require extended investi-
CATION.
II believe that not only postmasters
but the public in general have become
thoroughly convinced that civil service
rules applied to all postmasters will
produce greater efficiency than the old
spoils system, but at the same time
we are generally selfish enough to
wish to have this rule, adopted while
we are officeholders in place of being
applied for the benefit of u success
sors. $50.
The spoils system as applied to
postofflces has brought the undoing of
more congressman than has been
caused by their errors of Judgment in
voting against the wishes of their con-
%stituents. The individual, the con-
gresham or senator, may select as the
proper a~ppointee Wa postoffice after
wards feels that he was rightly enti-
tied to the position n when duly in
stalled at the head of the local postal
card reading bureau, he braces himself
behind the bulwarks of the civil serv-
ice rules and then neglects to aid the
friend who named him for the position
when the latter comes up for re-elec-
ton. His friends have also become
lukewarm, believing that justice only
ndd pSen Qone TO Iue canQl-
date.
ION the other hand, the defeated
candidates and their friends are put
ting forth every effort ito get even"
because of the error of Judgment
which they believe the congressman
has committed. The result has been
that postofice patronage has defeated
many a seeker after reelection to the
lawmaking department at the national
m NSfnl incfnnl 1f "
individual who had the patronage at
his disposal.
Politics have no place in this con-
vention. But 1 believe there are one
or two things which it is right and
proper for me to refer to at this time.
Il am a Stalwart republican, be-
long to the "old gang" but l must
commend the order of General Burle-
son Of the present democratic admin
istration-that postmasters should de-
vote the main part of their time and
energy to the direction Of the affairs
of the postoff1ce over which they have
been placed. 1 believe that the admin
.istration minds to carry out this rule
.impartially as far as republicans and
democrats are concerned.
Il believe this, because there has
come to my knowledge that down in
Kentucky after March 4, 1913, the edi-
tors of two daily democrat newspapers
were appointed postmasters. Before
October Of that year both Of these men
were removed from office by democrat
ic superiors because they did not de-
vote their primary attention to the
postofticei preferring to give their first
attention to their newspapers. There
may have been a great many similar
cases but I have see even these
cases mentioned in the newspapers. |
am, therefore. thoroughly convinced
that the department intends to see
that this rule is observed. / warmly
approve the enforcement Of this re-
quirement by democratic OPP
ponents.
The administration is also using
strenuous efforts to have postmasters
keep in touch with not only business
houses and other local patrons, but
with commercial clubs and other SINH
lar organizations of their towns, The
movement to popularize the parcel
post by cooperation between the de-
partment of agriculture and the post
office department, the consumer and
the producer, by bringing them in clos
er touch, is one that should be high
ly commended. This is particularly the
case with the direct shipment of eggs,
butter. poultry and fruit from the pro-
ducer to the consumer.
There is one movement being push
ed by some of the democrats which ]
cannot approve. ] am also thorough
" convinced that it is not favored by
President Wilson and it is also con-
ldemned by a majority of the leading
officials OF the postoffice department.
This is the effort to make abortive the
order promulgated by President Taft
Throwing assistant -postnasters into
the civil service.
I'VE, who were originally appointed
ipostmasters because of our political
work, know well how efficient we found
the old assistant postmaster, who had
served practically as the head of the
Iofice during many administrations
We also know how inefficient the post
loflce service would have been, had II
not been for the intelligent aid given
us during the first year or so by these
thoroughly posted men-Inany OF
whom were really more entitled to the
position of chief than any whom poll
tics might have placed above them
Nothing could do more to disorganize
this great business machine today than
to have their positions insecure OF
Temporary. I sincerely hope that con-
lgress will not interfere with the order
made by the late president.
Soon after your convention a year