The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-08-21

of Hon. Ollie NJ. James of Kentucky,
who was a member Of the Ways and
Means committee in the Slxty-second
congress, and who is now a United
States senator, and whom he has at
tempted to quote against me.
This ought to be convencing proof,
even to Dominick and Baker as to
the chairmanship matter, it is true
that l have not been attending the
meeting of the committee during the
Sixty-third congress, and it is also
true that my course is approved by
nv colleagues who understand the
situation. l have found plenty of 9th
er work to do. l attended one meeting
of the committee, when my vote was
needed to secure a favorable report
on some needed legislation. 1t some
times happens that the vote OF one
honest man is badly needed, and my
vote has always been ready when 1t
was needed, in committee or else
where. During my entire service in
congress l have never failed to vote,
or to be paired, on any important is
sue.
The Anderson POStOffice.
1t is charged that 1 have kept an
unworthy man, Republican, in Of
flee as postmaster at Anderson be-
cause of political cowardice. This is
the first time l have ever been ac-
cused of cowardice, and 1t Will prob
ably be the last time. Here are the
facts as to the Anderson postoff1ce:
Soon after President Wilson's in
auguration, If not before, it was an
nounced to be the policy Of the ad-
ministration that where Republican
postmasters were giving good ser
vice, an there were no demands for
their removal on the part OF the
patrons of the Office, the postmasters
would be allowed to serve out their
terms. l opposed that policy then and
| am opposed to it now. If | had had
my way, every Republican postmaster
in the country would have been fired
within a month after Wilson's inau-
guration. But the administration
thought the other course should be
followed, and l have had to acquiesce.
Some months ago Mr.. Cochran, the
postmaster at Anderson, and the as
sistant postmaster and the assistant
postmaster's father, after having
been friends for long time, became
estranged and some bitter feeling
ensued.
Serious charges were filed against
the postmaster, and a postoffice in
spector was detailed to investigate
them. When his report came in it was
unfavorable to the postmaster. But
the officials of the department, having
had experience in matters Of this
kind, and pursuing the policy of TAX
ing nothing for granted-and per-
haps having reason to believe that
the inspector was not without bias
or had been deceived in the matter
had another inspector detailed to
make an investigation. This inspector
had never been to Anderson before,
and knew nobody there. He spent
several weeks in Anderson, mingling
with the people and trying to get at
the facts anG his report was alto
gether different from that Of the first
inspector. Still another inspector
made a report, and his report corrob-
GRATED that of the second inspector.
These reports, made wholly independ-
ent of each other, tailed in almost ev-
cry detail. The department officials
were thoroughly convinced that the
charges against Mr. Cochran were made
through spite, and it was clearly es-
tablished that most OF the charges
were without foundation while others
were grossly exaggerated. The de-
partment officials informed me that
not sufficient grounds for the post
masters removal had been shown,
and that there was nothing for me
| to do.
It is true that when the difficulty
between the postmaster and the as
sistant postmaster first occurred
some good people at Anderson wrote
that they thought the postmaster
should be removed. Most of them
have since written that they were
mistaken, that they did not fully un-
derstand the circumstances, and that
thev thought it would be only ju/tice
for him to serve out his term, which
exsires in December. There are
number of applicants for the Office, all
of whom are my friends, and every
one Of them mas informed me that he
is willing for Mr. Cochran to serve
out his term. 1t is worthy OF mention
in this connection that there are some
25 or 80 clerks and carriers in the An
derson postoffice. They are as fine and
clean a body of men as l have ever
known. Every single one of them has
sided unreservedly with the postmas-
ter in this affair. Surely, if there had
been anything very badly wrong, they
would not have stood for it-certaln-
ly not all of them.
1t is true that three ministers OF
the city of Anderson. did sign peti-