The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-01-07
81 EcrIoN OF PosrMAsrERs.

ELECIlON " FOS tWFNS s-st~'
The plan Of selecting postmasters at
a primary election, as devised and Is
being carried out by Congressman Dan
Stephe ms of the third Nebraska district,
is attracting considerable attention
throughout the country. Following the
Inauguration of President Wilson. Con-
gressm an Stephens announced that he
would direct that primaries be held IN
the various towns for the selection OF
postmasters and the candidates for the
office receiving the highest number OF
votes In their respective towns would
be endorsed by the congressman to the
postoffice department at Washington
for appointment as postmasters. Al
some towns in Mr.. Stephens district
where the Democrats preferred IL, the
voting for the selection Of postmaster
was confined to Democratic patrons Oh
the office only. At other places in the
district the plan was tried OF permit
ting all patrons of the office to express
their choice for postmaster. Inasmuch,
however, as the postoffice appointments
are made by the president and as the
administration is Democratic and the
appointments are political, Mr.. stephens
rules D provided that only Democrats OF
ties could file as candidates for post
master, The plan of selecting post
masters whether the voting was con-
fined to Democrats or. to all patrons
Of the office caused Mr. Stephens to
be censured by local Democratic lead
ers who felt that they were entitled
tn the office without submitting their
candidates. to the public. Opposition
a.. only carried
into his campaign for denomination but
one or more Democratic papers of his
district and number of local demo-
cratic leaders bolted Mr.. Stephens
nomination on account of their lpo-
sition 10 his postffice primary plan,
and OPPOSED his reelection during the
eampa i'm.
However, Mr. Stephens was re-elect-
ed by houble the majority he receivd
at the election two years before, and
the Cornmoner agrees with Congress
man stephens that the increase In his
majority from 1000 two years ago to
s, 500 in the recent election must be
construed as a splendid vindcation OF
the plan of permitting the people &c
rule in the selection OF postmasters
In announcing the rules for the con-
duct of postoffice primary elections IN
eight additional towns in his district
Congressman Stephens is quoted IN
press dispatches from Washington I'M
der date of December II, as follows: :"
win never hold another primary II
which Democrats only are permitted
to vote. Such primaries have caused
me trouble All patrons may vote.
am convinced of the wisdom of this
method of selecting postmasters.
further trial Of Congressman Stephens
plan viii be watched by all who arr
interested in the progress that hai
been made during the past few years
| in bringing the government closer t.
the people.--Bryan's Commoner.
The election of postmasters was als'
tried in the settlement of the faction
al differences in the Democratic part!
at Bonners Ferry and Boise. in Idaho
but National Committeeman Elder con
fined the voting strictly to Democrats
regardless Of whether the Democrat
were in the majority in the communit!
served OR not, while Mr.. stephens be
lieves iTI allowing all the patrons t
participate in selecting the postmaster
There Is a question as to which o
them Is right, there being good argu
ments ON both sides. What IL we ha'
had an election Of postmasters II
GrangevAlle and let the Democrats set
tied 1t among themselves, would 1t hav
come Out as it Is now, do you think?