Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-03-27
TAKES CASE no WILSON. !:
Miss Tyler Going to Washington to
Appeal to President

Norfolk, Va, March 27.-For the
first time in 25 years, Miss Matte
Tyler, granddaughter of John Tyler,
tenth President of the United States,
rode on train late yesterday. she
left on a steamer last night bouna for
Washington, where today she will call
upon President Wilson and other OIL
GERS in the hope that they will retain
her as postmistress at CORTLAND, Va.
Miss Tyler is past 90 years old. She
has been postmistress at CORTLAND
for twenty years. Every president
since McKinley's first administration
has kept her in charge Of the Court
land office. She was not required to
stand civil service examination, and
President Roosevelt let it be known
that she could hold the job as long as
he held his.
President Wilson recently decreed
that ali fourth-class postmasters must
stand civil service examination MISS
Tyler being barred because of her age.
Several others took the examlna-
ton. and B. A. Williams got the ap-
pointment. He did not make the
highest average, however, Miss Sa1le
Cole leading the list. u.
Miss Tylers friends took up her
cause and the newspapers printed
several stories that attracted the at
tention of Representatives and Sem
ators. who have interviewed in her be-
half. Miss Tyler received telegram
yesterday asking her to come to
Washington. She declined TO say who
signed the nessage.
81 am almost afraid to SO, she sale
TODAY. at has been so long since
rode on q train or boat l feel like !
am hobbing up ani down. | am 60
ing to fight, however.
"My enemies who have been hgnt-
ing me for years, appear to have won
the fight, but the Tylers never stop
until they can go no further. am so
afraid that this trip will upset mt
that I can hardly talk.
~ shall call on President Wilson
and Postmaster-General Burleson. l
don't think l have been treated fair,
and I intend to tell them So
Miss Tyler paid her respects to
Congressman E. E. Holland, of the
Second District, who she says has
been one Of those who worked t
put her out of office.
Miss Tyler was visibly affected or
the steamer. She wiped the tears
fron her eyes several times, but said
she was going to try to be brave.
"a woman like me should not be re-
ouirea to do things like this" she
saod.
She denied that she ran the Court
land postoffice to suit herself, and
said she distributed the mail as soon
as she could. Those who opposed her
reappofntment said she was discour-
teous and did not pupt up the mail
until hours after it arrived. She NOV
Ell the postoffice to little one-story
building that she owns, and, accord
ing to those arrayed against her, rar
the Office to suit herself.
Miss Tyler, a frail little woman;
was dressed in black, and wore veil.
She remained in the waiting room
while waiting for the steamer and
successfully avoided newspaper pho!
tographers who tried to snap her.
She was accompanied to Norfolk. by
c. w Darsen and William sidley,!
Southampton county farmers an5:
leaders of the Democratic party il,
their sections.
Miss,Tyler said Sunday would be the
birthday of John Tyler, her grand
father She mentioned the fact that
when he ws,s notified Of his election
to the presidency he did not have
enough money to pay his way tc
Washington.
GAN Tylers,' she said, "have dlea
with clean hands and empty pocket
books"
Miss Tyler was assigned to roo11 IL
by the purser of the steamer North
land. but she said she was not super
stitious.