The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1919-02-14
Crepe Is on Postofice Door
and Town in Mourning"

ana 1OWn III mourning
DR.. A NJ. Riggs, a prominent bust
ness man and postmaster at La Fol-
lette, Tenn, wrote the following let
ter of resignation, recently to First
Assistant Postmaster General John C.
Rooms, after having been asked by
the Postoffice Department to resign
unless he could devote his entire time
to the business of the Office:
"Sir: Your kind favor of the 4th
inst. received, informing me that
now the war is over and consequent
ly less demanded of its loyal citizens,
the Government can now manage to
wag along without my services as
postmaster at La Toilette, Tenn, un-
less l devote my entire time to the
Office. Therefore,
81 resign.
"It pains me to DO this, and / shall
ever look back with regret to this
rude separation from this ideal posi-
ton requiring twelve hours e day
service with the munificent compen-
sation (after paying all expenses) of
two dollars day. Iheve neglected
my personal affairs to serve the Gov
eminent, doing any and everything
required; selling Liberty Bonds and
War Saving Stamps galore, carrying
water and sweeping the floor, as
Uncle Sam has studiously avoided
making any allowances for incidental
expenses.
Selling War Stamps and immedi-
ately cashing the same has been one
of my pet diversions. When realize
/ am no longer compelled to do all
these things, and a host of others
equally edifying, such as explaining
why the mail carrier took the flu,
and the postmaster on certain oc-
casion (as reported by an inspector)
sent an employee to the office for his
mail instead of going for it himself;
and why Rockpelter & Co. were not
deprived of a mail box the moment
they failed to pay when due; why the
flies were allowed to speck certain
lobby notices required to be kept
posted there when, say, l contem-
plate all these things
II again resign.
Il am made to cogitate on the flu
tility of so conducting the Office that
the patrons do not complain, of prop
erly keeping the records and pune
tiliously accounting for every dollar
of, Uncle Sans money; made to un-
derstand that L, in the midst of the
fighting must be on the spot eight
hours a day and every day, regard
less, nothing else sufficing.
81 would gently inform you, my
dear General Rooms, that what you
need is asman as postmaster here who
can support family of eight on two
dollars day. l frankly confess that
I do not know how to do it. Do you?
Realizing this, it is with a comfort
ing sense of resignation that
II resign some more.
"And, now, in my grand finale of
resignation, avail myself of the OPP
portunity of congratulating the
United States of America on having
so efficient an Assistant Postmaster
General as your honorod self. am
convinced that nothing escapes your
eyes. l am made to shudder
when l contemplate what may hap
pen to this great country of ours
when the fateful day comes when
you, even you, will be summarily
and unceremoniously kicked from Of
flee (the public welfare requiring iD,
as you now, without feeling or JUS
tice, deprive me of mine.
Crepe is on the postoffice door,
and the town is in mourning. God
save the Republic!
Respectfully and dejectedly
yours, A. M. RIGGS"