The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-19
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

1ssthes appointment of Chas. E. Man
ley d spostmaster at Fairmont the
consumation of the "frameup'A that
the Times complained about some
umeago2 Or has the slate been brok
Ell reward Mr.. Manley for heroic
party service rendered at the motor
fo1s court house precinct at the last
sseIectfon?$ Personally MIR. Manley is
Eyery courteous and a clever gentle
man and It matters very little to the
public who holds the sinecure of post
master al; Fairmont or any other town
where the office is large enough to
employ sufficient help to transact
the business. A postmastership is !
gTacious gift BY the politicians, as the
manSwho holds the job has nothing to
do except to draw his salary. This
sssaidS without any political bearing,
for postmasters have drawn these sal
aries under Republican administra-
tions and Democratic administrations
alike. tits estimated that the govern.
m~entscould save at least four million
dollars a year by doing away with the
Soffcesof postmaster altogether. Tho
Organization would be just as EFT
gcient,sand the service just rs good5
and WhenSt the postmaster becomes eX-
tremely partisan or is ~traitorous to
his oWn4party, the service to his enc
mics is sometimes made very bad
indeed. The postoffice is often used
as Bipartisan political bureau for the
purpose Of censoring the mail and
giving tips to a political enemy thar
are inyaluablee during political CAM
fpaignss.B But since this office Is to be
d gift of theepeople for party service,
tharesare4many other Democrats in
FatrmontSwhof had applications in for
this job who are as well qualified and
who have as strong claims upon the
Democratic party for the place. Clyde
SSs Holt has been a faithful party
worker andsan attempt was made TO
get mmSout Of the way for the post
gotfce job BY giving him the nomina.
tfonsfor2county commissioner, but Mr..
Holt was too wise to be ~sidetracke1
&ihthds manner and it became neces'
ssary8t put the merciless steam roller
over him gtoaget him out of the a
8Theresare$a number OF other deserv-
ing Democrats who will feel the pres.
snre@of the&roller to an equal extent
and they are Mr.. J: Fay Watson,
Frank a. Lloyd and Others, but none
% these men had the honor CO of Of
ffciatfngI atithe notorious court house
precfnctSon the 3rd of last November
when the registration on the Demo
cratic sideSwas padded and lost (?)
betoresthe returns were sent back to
tie Clerks Office, where the loaters
we're bought and where the
sSherfff'sS office was used in a very
Suspicious manner, and where the
most corrupt voting ever done in the
county&was one of the features of the
election that has given Marion coun
8ty the name abroad and at home of
being the most corrupt county in the
United States.
Another aYowed candidate for the
$postgnastership was ]. Walter Barnes
and hegwas taken out of the way by
placing him on the city pay roll to
draw $4,000 per year, while he at
tendaatoathe business of the Console
dated Telephone Company as nan
Sagers surely an expensive way OF
clearing the path for Mr.. Manley, at
the expense Of the taxpayers OF Fair
mont. Arthur G. Martin was anoth-
& candidate for the place and his
following was SO strong that the of.
5hceSholders' trust had to give him tho
County Clerkship to further grease
the skids for the rank and file OF up
phcantsswho are now being sent dowa
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