French Broad hustler., 1919-01-02


Iished by Frank Birkemyer, superin-
tendent of mails, about two years ago,
on the recommendation Of two !,
Office inspectors and myself. They
were reinstated a few days later by
First Assistant Postmaster General
John c. Koons, after q talk over long
distance telephone between Mr.. Koons
and Congressman James J Britt who
was in Asheville at that time. l re-
ceived unofficial notice that they
would be reinstated a few hours be-
fore receiving the official notice by
wire from Mr.. Koons. 1 also received
unofficial information that Mr.. Koons
desired my acquiescence in their re-
instatement, which I declined to give.
Was Warmed.
I'm reply to a personal letter / re-
ceived from Mr.. Koons soon after,
stated that the reinstatement Of these
two clerks would result in loss of
discipline and the utter demoraliza-
ton of the Office force. Before send
ing this reply in, 1 was warned and
cautioned that it was the personal
wish of Mr.. Koons that they be rein
stated, and that my re-appointmen;
might depend on my acquiescence.
Immediately these clerks began an
agitation to create a public sentiment
against Frank Birkemyer, who, it was
alleged, was a German. This was
carried on secretly by these two clerks
and their friends for a number o.
months. Finally the matter was re-
ferred to me by Mr.. Rooms in Novem-
ber, 1917, for investigation and report.
1 made a thorough investigation and
found nothing to justify a belief that
there was any truth in the charges
against Mr.. Birkemyer and also found
that the agitation was started out of
malice by these two clerks, Miss Rol-
Inns and Fitzgerald.
GA similar report was forwarded to
Mr.. Koons by John Y Jordan, signed
by himself and two other deputies in
the office of the United States marshal,
representing the department of JUS
tice, and this report stated that the
agitation was started by o l.. F1tz-
J gerald for the same reason. l recon-
mnnded at that time that some action
be taken by the department to stop
| this agitation, finding few days later
that these two clerks and their friends
we're discussing the contents OF my re-
port and that of the marshars office,
it having been divulged to them IL
some mysterious manner.
81 learned, furthermore, that o. L..
FITZGERALD, a republican, was conf
IDENTIFY expecting to be appointed post
master at the expiration of my term.
This was supposed to be a closely
guarded secret.
No Action Taken
s'No action was taken by the depart
ment on the recommendation made by
me, anG an appeal was made to seVe-
raj patriotic and civic organizations,
and to the ksheville police department
?asking them to investigate these
charges. This resulted in reports
being made in each and every case
completely vindicating Mr.. Jordan
and myself and establishing the pa
triotism and loyalty of Frank Birke-
lmyer.
I THE last committee making such a
report was composed of w. B. Will
hanson, Rutherford B. Hayes and
Frank Loughran, and is now on file
in the office of S. D. Hall, across from
the postofflce.
"Soon after this report was made an
appeal was made direct to Mr.. Rooms
by attorneys representing these clerks
and their associates, requesting that q
: postoffice inspector be sent to take
statements of these clerks and their
friends and re-investfgate the whole
question of Mr.. Birkemyer's loyalty
B. B. Webb made two trips to this
office in June and July of this year
: and spent several days on each trip
taking sworn statements and amend
, ed statements Of those preferlng charg
| es and on each trip, 1 requested tha
, tho inspector get the statements and
oninions of Messrs. Williamson, Hayes
ond Toughran, and others equally
nrominent, who had passed on this
cose as well as the reports that haC
, Iboon filed. for the information Of the
denartment. Mr.. Webb declined to dt
5 this.
Refused Statements
"T found that after he left the IN
f spector had also declined 10 'ah'
statements of clerks and carriers II
, the postof1ce who held opposite views
to those of the clerks whose state
ments he had taken. Several OF tnes'
clerks and carriers came Voluntarll.
to me to ask what I thought lnspec
? for Webb meant by such action.
? ST learned later that Inspector WeD