Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-12-12
POSTMASTER BERehuiS
REMOVED FROM OFFICE.
is at a Loss to Account For Action
of Postohlce Department.

of Postofhce Department.
The editor of this paper, who has
also been postmaster of Clara City
for several years received notice
from the First Postmaster General
at Washington last Monday that he
had been removed from Office and to
take effect as soon as an acting post
master could be appointed.
The change or removal was made
sooner than expected for the next
day Mr.. Egge of the inspection force
at St. Paul arrived to check us out
of the Office. He conferred with our
bondsmen, John Tebben and H. w.
Berghuis and appointed John Tebben,
acting postmaster until new post
master is appointed. Altho it de-
prives us of printer and compels
us to get the Herald out alone we
suggested that Peter Zoeterman be
appointed clerk in the postofice IN
til new man takes charge. He I'M
derstands the work and a stranger
would be up against it this month,
the busiest time in the year in the
postofice.
The postofice department gives no
reason for the removal. Mr.. Egge,
the inspector thought there was some
financial difficulty but soon found
there wasn't and after he had check
ed up informed our bondsmen that it
was one Of the best kept Offices he
had ever entered.
| We can only guess, but we don't
know why we were removed but sus-
pect that certain editorials we print
ed months ago had something to do
with it. Inspector Drake who was
here two weeks spent several hours
looking over the files Of our paper as
far back as January and copied ev-
erything that he thought might cast
a reflection on our government. Two
or three he read to us before he left
and we might reproduce them here
but it might get US into further trouble
and wo do not care to be put out of
business altogether. The substance
Of one Of them which appeared May
IS was that the people here were not
buying Liberty Bonds very fast be-
cause the bonds only yielded three
and half per cent interest while thu
banks were paying five per cent and
that the people had great confidence
in our banks. The other which ap.
peared May Is, stated that in Ger.
many, the railroads are owned by
the state, public utilities are owned
by the municipalities and the state
provides insurance against accident
and old age.
There is nothing in these editor
ials that can be construed as being
disloyal and anyone who dares to as.
= sert that we have been disloyal IL
ever uttered a word Of disloyalt,
and furthermore any publication who
comments upon our removal for beins
disloyal will have to make a retrac.
ton or defend themselves in court.
We were appointed postmaster il
February, 1901 and therefore have
held the Office almost continuously
= for seventeen years. We have al
y ways tried to give the people Of Glare
City the best Of service or at leas
tried to-, but Of course they are tn
, best judge as to that.
The Clara City postof6ce is Of tn
third class and therefore in the civi
, service class. The civil service com
mission will no doubt call for an ex
animation soon but it will probabl.
, be February first before the new
: postmaster takes charge. - Clar,
= City Herald. ..