The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-09-16

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WASHINGTON, .. g, Sept 16:z
I In an effort to hold on to the little
postofice position which Is their only
means OF support, and has been for
upwards Of sixteen years =. II: FER
guson, an aged veteran OF Leon, Mas
on county, and his daughter, Mrs
Juniata Amos, q widow, have put up
q sturdy fight that would seem to de-
serve success in the end. Certainly i
is not without its pathetic touches
which have aroused the sympathy and
interest Of other in their case who
have done what they could to help
them. Among these latter Congress
man Sutherland has performed an inn,
portant part, doing for them and adj
vising for them.
Ferguson, as stated, has been in
charge OF the postofiice at Leon for.
sixteen years: In all that time never
complaint about him personally or
his conduct of the Office. "A few years
\ ago while repairing the roof of the
building in which the little Office is
kept, he fell and broke his ankle. Up
in years then, the break did not mend
quickly nor entirely. He has been al
cripple since; unable to perform. man
ual labor, but still able, with his
daughters help. to run the little office,
the small commission from whichcon-
stituted the bulk Of the small family'ss
income.
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 soldier
who fought to preserve the Union and
whose war record on file here shows
him to have been soldier whose
bravery was Of such a high order as to-
commend him to especial and favor
liable mention by his superiors in their
reports, could not take the examina-
ton because he was beyond the limit
of age set. He was sixty-five.
It was about then that Com ressman
Sutherland became interested in the
case. He carried it right up the red
tape-line into the White House itself.
He laid the facts in the case before
the president and he urged that al
special order be issued by the execu-
tive in behalf of the faithful old sol
der employee of Leon. That plan Of
procedure failed.
IN the meantime, another plan
which CONGRESSMAN Sutherland had
the foresight and caution to suggest,
was working with better success, The
widowed daughter. experienced In the
business of the little office, had pre-
pared herself to take the examinat ion,
and when the time come she took 1t.
There were five others who took the
same examination. four Of them men.
The results have just been made pub
lie, and the widow Amos heads the list
with an average fraction short of
80 The next highest stands 81.
Under the honest enforcement OF
the postoffice departments order
there should be no question of Mrs.
Amos receiving the commission. But
there is a question as to that and al
very considerable one. 1T Is due, of
course to politics The man who
wants the office either for himself
or one of his own clan was in the
memorable 1911 session of the West
Virginia legislature and helped toll
elect Watson and Chiffon senators.
according to the story of what is bel
hind filing this little Office Of thel
fourth class. He has the Influence of
a senator of the dominant party bel
hind him., and the lone widow. Al
daughter of brave old soldier, hasl
what weight a congressman-at-large
of a minority party can bear on AM
unfrfendly administration, and the
highest average obtained IN what isl
presumed to be fair and honest
contest to estab lish individual qualt-t
tications.
This case at Leon is typical OF
thousands throughout the country.
I In itself it is only important to those
directly concerned, but in its larger
aspects it deserves the space allotted
lit here.