French Broad hustler., 1919-01-02
ASHEV|LLE POSTMASTER
IS UNDER FIRE
Recommendations To Post Office Department urge
His Removal Gudgers Statement Clerks Critci-
zed Severely Others Would Not Be Unwilling
To Accept The Office

County political circles with the dis
closure that recommendations have
been made for the removal OF the
present postmaster of Asheville. The
following dispatch from Washington
and Postmaster Gudger's statement
are taken from the Asheville Citizen
of December Goth, and will prove of
keen interest to many readers in Hen
derson County:
Postofice Inspector B. B. Webb or
Statesville has filed with the United
States postofice department an un-
favorable report as to the administra-
tion of postal affairs by Postmaster
Owen udger at Asheville. The in
spector, it. was learned today, prefers
no charges against Postmaster GuG-
ger but suggests to the department
that a change Of postmasters would be
for the good Of the service.
Rooms Agreed.
1t is understood that First Assis-
tant Postmaster General John Koons
has expressed the opinion that the re-
1novaI of Postmaster Gudger is ad-
visable, indicating that his executive
ability was in question. The report
of Postof1ce Inspector Webb, it Is
said, somewhat holsters up the BELIEF
of the first assistant postmaster gene
raj. The failure Of the postmaster,
so the allegation goes, to make firm
decisions in the administration Of the
affairs of the office, has handicapped
the Asheville postal facilities.
The unfavorable attitude of the post
Office department towards the admin
istration of Postmaster Owen GTdger
has taken such a strong hold that it
was learned here today that con-
ditionaI application for the job has
been filed in Washington in the event
of the removal of the incumbent 1t is
understood that Marcus Erwin, law
yer Of Asheville and legal partner Of
Ex-Governor Locke Craig, is candidate
for the federal job. The application
of course is contingent upon the re-
fnoval of Mr.. Gudger.
BugabOO Of Weaver.
The AsheviIle pOstof1ce has been
the bugaboo of the congressional term
of Representative Zebulon Weaver,
since complications have arisen thick
and fast Charges and counter
charges have made internal d1ssen-
sion inevitable The office force has
constituted a continuous Waring house
hold, even charges of German propa-
ganda emanating from the office build
ing. The report is in Washington
that many OF the clerks are not on
speaking terms with the postmaster
Postoffice Inspector Webb some time
ago filed charges against four Of the
clerks namely, Miss Kitty Rollins
Frank Birkemyer, Ernest L. Mace and
o. L. Fitzgerald. The report OF the
inspector resulted in the dismissal OF
Mace and Fitzgerald.
housekeeping Recommended
A housecleaning from pit to dome
has been essentially recommended tc
Senator. Lee S. Overman, and Repre-
sentative Weaver. These two repre-
sentatives of the people have doub
less spent sleepless nights over The
course to pursue in the matter.
The recent trend of events is not
such a positive character as to 1ore
cast the ultimate settlement Of th'
postofice squabble. First Asslstan
Postmaster Gt- ara1 Koons has tn
initial word and mis- ultimatum mas no
been ssued Developments may d
nostponed for weeks and months ou
something is in the "alr.
Gudger's Statement
"Disposal of my office has been Il
the hands of Congressman weave
for the past two years.
1.-TWO years ago I told Mr. weave
that I was ready to step down an
: time he found suitable democrat 10
the Office, but 1 have never nad' an
have not now, any intention Oh sCep
/ ping out and allowing republican
SSts1e placed in charge OF this poStoln0
without making fight.
The postmaster declared that IN
recommendations of Inspector Weoh
and the activities of First Asslstan
Postmaster General Koons had a.
ben instigated from agitation starte
nv O. l.. Fitzgerald and Miss hltt
Rollins, two employees whose remova
he recommended shortly after nj
appointment to Office. He declare
that he had worked in complete nal
mony with all the other employees
the postof1ce and had found theI
anxious to do anything to further tn
efficiency of the office.
Two Removed.
esMiss Kitty Rollins and 0. L. F1tz
gerald" Nh. Gudger stated to a Cit
zen reporter, "who had been guilty
insubordinati0n and hostility to m