The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1914-04-17
LET'S HAVE A FAIR DEAL

Wltbln the past lew days. Up To a
week ago the editor of this paper,
who was one of the original applicants
for the position, was under the i'm
preston that Mrs. B. d. Hatcher had
been assured Of the appointment.
The Times and its editors were for
Mrs. Hatcher. We have said all along
that IL Mrs. Hatcher could or would
be appointed, that we were hands
off," Mr. Vadakin has told his friends
that he would not make any effort to
secure the appointment against Mrs.
Hatcher, and his attitude in this
respect has not changed. This week,
however, the fact has developed, or at
least is being industriously given out,
that, on account Of some legal i'm
pediment or department ruling, Mrs.
Hatcher would not be confirmed by
the senate, but we think there are
also some other angles to the contest,
and they lead US to believe that Mrs.
Hatcher's chances for the appoint
ment are negligible. We have talked
with some Of the leaders who are In
position to know the status of the
postmastership contest, and we infer
from what we have been able to learn,
that Mrs. Hatcher's appointment to
the position, is very doubtful, to say
the least. About year ago Mrs.
Hatcher circulated a petition endors-
Ing her for the position, which was
signed by large number of the
patrons; in fact, we believe, major
ity of the patrons of the office, signed
Mrs. Hatcher's petition. That has
been year or more ago, and Mrs.
Hatcher's petition has not yet been
acted upon. Last week Squire Ellis
Turley, another applicant for the
postoffice, became very active and
started the circulation Of petition
endorsing his candidacy, and we have
been informed that a number of the
patrons who signed Mrs. Hatcher's
petition have also signed the petition
being circulated by Squire Turley,
and that he has asked and advised
them TO do SO, knowing that they had
signed her petition. Viewed in this
light 1t seems that the petition plan
assumes ridiculous aspect, although
1t seems to be the first step of any
applicant for the poStmaStership We
have also met the statement that it
mattered not what kind Of petition
an applicant might send to Washing
ton, unless such applicant had the
endorsement Of certain leaders, he
would stand no show of landing the
postmastership grapes. This, again,
brings US face TO face with the fact
that petition is likely TO be utterly
useless, and will possibly be ignored
and have no weight with the congress
man who must make the recommen-
dation for this appointment. There
Is a common expression heard on
every hand to the effect that any
body can get up petition" For
this reason and because he did not
learn until the first OF this week that,
in all probability, Mrs. Hatcher was
out of the race for the postmaster
ship, Mr.. Vadakin hesitated about
circulating petition. In fact he did
not feel that true expression Of the
patrons Of the Office could be obtained
through the circulation Of a petition,
and it cannot.
We hope we have made ourselves
plain. We have been and are still for
Mrs. Hatcher il she can or will be ap
pointed. And had he not been for
Mrs. Hatcher, Mr.. Vaoakin's best eff
forts would have been put forth from
the beginning TO strengthen his own
position in this race. We have no
pull" or stand in with the parties
who are supposed TO dispense this
patronage. We have not been in a
position TO receive any inside informa-
ton with reference TO this contest.
We know nothing OF any trades or
frame-ups that may have been made,
and Mr., VadakiD has started TO work
now in his own behalf simply because
one OF the Otner applicants Tor the
position, who is man has been I'M
usually active, within the past two
weeks, in furthering the interests of
his candidacy. In view of this fact
The inference has been drawn that
lately some inside information has
been given out, or trades made, that
have practically eliminated Mrs.
Hatcher from the contest We do
not know this to be a fact, however,
but our friends tell US that such is
likely TO be true OF one fact we are
absolutely positive, we have not re-
ceived any inside" information and
because of this fact, if there is any
advantage TO be obtained in getting
up petition, the gentleman who is
now opposing Mr. Nadakin has been
given the opportunity TO gain such
an advantage, because he had his
petition on the streets several days
before we had any intimation that
Mrs, Hatcher was not to receive the
appointment.
Mr.. Vadakin has repeatedly and
persistently refused TO allow the col
umnS of this paper 10 be used In