The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-09-17
THE OLD SOLDIER
ON THE RINGSTER?
WHICH WILL GET THE LITTLE
PoSTOFFlcE AT LEON, W. var,
HOW POLITICS WORKS.
Old Veteran May Lose His Little OF.
fee After Many Years Service
Due to Democratic Grab.
BY CHARLES BROOKS SMITH.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Sept. To-
In an effort to hold on to the little
postoffice position which Is their only
means Of support. and has been for
upwards OF sixteen years. J. II. Fer
guson. an aged veteran at Leon. Ma
son county and his daughter. Mrs
Juniata Amos. a widow. have put up
a sturdy fight that would seem TO d.
serve success in the end Certainty
it Is not without its pathetic touches
which have aroused the sympathy ami
interest of others in their case. who
have done what they could to help
them. Among these latter Congress-
man Sutherland has performed an
important part. doing for them ami
advising for them.
Ferguson. as stated. has been in
.charge of the pOstOifice AT Leon for
sixteen successive years In all that
time never a complaint about him per
sonally or his conduct of the office
A few years ago while repairing the
roof OF the building in which the lit
tie office IL kept. he fell and broke
his ankle. Up in years then. the
break did not mend quickly nor en-
tirely. He has been cripple since.
unable 10 perform manual labor but
still able, with his daughters help. 10
run the little office. the small con-
mission from which constituted the
bulk OF the small family's income.
Must Take Examination.
Then along comes the order that
all fourth-class postmasters must take
an examination for their commission
That Is. all who were not beyond a
certain age Ferguson. the old sol
der who fought to preserve the union
and whose war record on file here
shows him to have been soldier
whose bravery was Of such high
order a. to commend him 10 especial
and favorable mention by his superb
'ors IN their reports. could not take
the examination because 10 was be
yDnd the limit Of age set lie
was s..
Il was about then that Congress
man Sutherland became intCres ted tn
the case. lie carried IL right up the
red tape line into the White House
itself. lie laid the facts in the case
before the President and h. urged
that a special order be issued by the
executive in behalf Of the faithful old
soldier emmOye Of Leon That piah
OF procedure failed
in the meantime another plan which
ConEressman Sutherland had the fore
sight aud caution to suggest. was
working with better success The
widowed daughter experienced in ,hp
business Of the little Office. had pre-
pared herself 20 take the examination
aud when the time came she took Co.
There were FIVE others who took fhe
same examination. four OF them men
The results have just been made pub
Tic. and the Widow Amos heads the
list with an average n fraction short
OF 81 The next highest stands 81
Should Have the Job.
Under an honest Enforcement pf
The post office department. order
mere should BE- no question. Of Mrs.
Amos receiving the commission But
there is q question al 90 that and
very considerable ono. n Or due. OF
course. 90 politics Tho man VINO
wants The onlcn either for himself
nr one Of hie own clan was in the
memorable 1911 session of the WorI
virginia legislature and helped fp
elect Watson and Chiffon senators.
according tO thc story Of what o. be
hind lllinr this little Office Of the
fourth class BE has the influence 90
q senator % The dominant party BE-
bind him. and The lone widow. n
daughter ~ brave old soldier. has
what weight conrroaaman-nt. large
1i minority party con bear on Do
uufrlnudlV administration and the
highest averages obtained ln what OIL
presumed 90 De- a falr and honest con.
test 20 establish Individual Qualifca-
tons
This case 40 Leon is typIraI Of
thousands uuon thousands fhrourh0uf
fnn country ln Itself If Dr. only inn.
Uortant 20 those directly concerned
but in fg larger aspects Dr. deserves
Iho space allotted Do here