The Washington herald., 1918-05-06

Souiu po. SaIco TlChIuB Fost-
master or One Way Of Making
Trouble for a Congressman"
It deals with the more or less
of Congress have had in choosing
which led directly to the promul-
cation of an order by the Presi-
dent putting all postofices under
the civil service.
1t Is thought that II the coun-
try goes back to republicanism the
old method will be restored-so
some of the Republican leaders
tell us-whereas. 1t is known with
even more certainty that IL the
country remain Democratic the
present method will not be super
ceded by any other.
When Woodrow Wilson was elect
ed President Representative Dan
Stephens, of Nebraska, originated
a postoffice selected plan which
met the opposition of political
leaders of his State. but which he
insisted. and still insists, met the
approval of the people of his dis
trict.
At the outset he had a severe
row with a veteran politician over
II. The Congressman insisted that
all patrons of an ONCE, without re-
gard to party, should participate in
an election of postmasters and that
this choice should govern to the
exclusion of every other considera-
tion. To this politician, who hap
pens to be a former well known
member OF the national committee
and one OF the best assets of the
Democratic party has in the West
DR.. P. l. Hall, of Lincoln, Mr.
Stephens wrote as follows:
Il don't like the idea Of those who
preach local self-government when the
liquor question is involved throwing
fits at the idea Of local self-govern-
ment when applied to the election OF
postmasters. I have read your state
ment carefully and the arguments you
make clearly belong to the dark ages
in politics when the boss was supreme
and parcelled out the offices for either
money or party service. according to
his moral standards. We have passed
that period now and I regret to notice
that many do not know it and are still
claiming the right to speak for the
people even to picking out their local
officers for them. notice with regret
that you too are claiming the privi-
lege of speaking for the people in this
respect. In order that I may not do
you an injustice will quote the por-
tons Of your statement which de-
sire to discuss. You state
"1 am unalterably opposed to per-
mitting Republicans to participate in
the selection of Democratic postmas-
tiers, under the coming Democratic
administration
Even Republicans admit the fair
ness Of the Democratic claim that
the offices belong to the Democrats
at this time under a Democratic Pres
tdent, but 1t Is a remarkable conten-
ton even among rank partisans to
hold that Republicans would by vot-
ing for a Democrat for postmaster
weaken a Democratic administration
at Washington, and much more re-
markable when a man of your usual
clear understanding advocates 1t in
Nebraska. want to remind you that
we would not have a single Democrat
in Congress from Nebraska were It
not for liberal minded, patriotic Re-
publicans who thought more of coun-
try than party and proved It by yot-
Ing for the three Democrats now rep
resenting this State in Congress. In
my own case nearly 5000 Republicans
had to scratch their tickets in order
to vote for, me, and by doing so gave
me 5000 or 10000 more votes than were
cast for Wilson and Marshall In this
district. Again you state:
Further, 1t would only be natural
for Republicans, II allowed to parti-
cipate in the selection of these ap-
pointees, to select, so far as they
could, only those who would best
serve their purposes"
That statement in effect Is that no
Democrat should allow a Republican
to vote for him lest he would be un-
der the blight Of being suspected of
serving the Republican party. To
show you the contempt I have for
such a theory I will say that I am
proud Of the 5000 Republican votes I
got In this District, because I got
them as everybody in the Third Dis
trict knows. by preaching red hot
Democratic doctrines, and I am just
about as apt to waver in my practic-
ing what preach as am to back up
on my contention in behalf of the
peoples rights in this matter of
choosing postmasters.
you also labor under great error
when you class these small postofiices
as q great political asset. have
never had any particular opposition
from Republican, postrna utera A. n