Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-08-18

lf-SSOCldllOu VI TOSluhStSIS III WASH
Iington, D. c.. the many interesting
| papers that were read and the general
interest shown in the work, calls at
tention nnew to the remarkable ac-
tivity displayed in every branch of the
postal service since the beginning of
Postmaster General Burleson's admin
istration. The press of the country
has taken notice of this great develop
ment, whichis not only compliment,
but would seem to show that the South
can furnish quite as capable and ener-
getic business men as the East, from
which section nearly one-half of all
our Postmasters Generals have been
drawn.
It is noteworthy fact, however 1t
may be explained, that, excluding the
border states, the South, properly
sreaking, has had but two men in
that Office since the days Of Benjamin
Franklin-Joseph Habersham, of
Georgia, and Albert Sidney Burleson,
of Texas. The more populous states
of the East, with their political power
and material advantages, have had the
greatest number of such appointments,
! % of the 4S men who have held that
Office having come from that section.
The border states have had Is and the
West only 8. 1t was not until 1856
that the West was at all recognized in
the appointment of such cabinet Of
fee, when Alexander w. Randall, of
| Wisconsin, was chosen by President
Johnson. Subsequently that state
furnishes three more Postmasters Gen
eral, viz, Howe, Villas, and Payne. In
| 1929 the Postmaster General became a
member of the Cabinet by the action of
President Jackson, his first appointee
to that position, Hon. William T. Bar
ry, of Kentucky, receiving that honor.
Pennsylvania and New York Lead.
In considering the states of the
Union which have been most fortunate
i'll appointments to this Office, it is
found that Pennsylvania and New York
have each had to their credit; Con-
necticut, Kentucky, Tennessee and
Wisconsin, A each; Massachusetts,
Maryland and Ohio, each, and the
remainder scattered among the IS
states from which all the Postmasters
Generals have been selected.
The term of service was, it seems,
much longer in the olden days than at
present. From 1875 to 1S50-75 years
there were only II men in that posi-
ton, Gideon Granger, of Connecticut,
having served Is years and months,
and Return j. Meigs, of Ohio, 8 years
and months. From 1850 to 1888
years-there have been 81 men in that
Office. Whether the shifting currents
of political life and expectancy, or
other causes, have operated to make
changes in this office, it, it appears
that many occurred in the administra-
ton of some of our chief executives.
Roosevelt, for instance, had 4 Post
masters General; Grant, Arthur and
Cleveland Tin the latter's terms) also
had each; Washington and Buchanan
| 3; Jackson, Fillmore, Lincoln, Hayes,
and Mckinley, 2 each. The remainder
OF the Presidents evidently held on to
the men they had originally appointed.
The Postmaster General being by
the nature of his official duties brought
into close contact with the people, it
might be of interest to know some
thing of these men, who they were, and
what notable achievements are con-
nected with their names; but al that
is past history and does not concern
the issues of today. A few of the more
important measures may, however
here be mentioned
During the administration of Presi-
dent Tyler, while Hon. Charles A
Wickliffe, of Kentucky, was i'ostmAs-
ter General, many reforms were insti'
tuted, such as cheapening the postage