The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-11-23
BRAND AGAIN APPEALS FOR SYMPATHY
FLETCHER SCORES
HAYS FOR NEGLECT
OF SERVICE MEN
Declares Postmaster General Pays
No Attention To Claims OF
Ex-Soldiers

Washington, Nov. 23.-Demand has
! been made in the senate for an inves
| tigaticn of the charge that Postmas.
/ ter-General Hays disregards the rights
of former service men in the selection
of poStmasters.
Senator Fletcher of Florida, Demo
crat, brought the question before the
senate by reading a telegram he had
received from Mayor George r. Lunn
OF Schenectady, N. Y, which stated
that Edwin G. Conde had been nomi-
mated postmaster of Schenectady,
notwithstanding the fact that two vet
erans of the World war were eligible.
Mayor Lunn wanted to know whether
the law giving preference to former
service men in the appointment of
postmasters was still in effect He
characterized the failure to name a
former service man in Schenectady
as "a glaring disregard of the rights
of former service men,"
Senator Fletcher replied to Mayor
Lunn to the effect that while the Dem
.ocratic administration had given pref
erence to soldiers, the present post
mastergeneral holds the act of con-
gress does not apply to postmasters.
The senator requested that the mat
ter be referred to the committee on
postoffices and postroads, SO that if
they find existing law needs amend
ment to accomplish the preference
heretofore supposed to be provided
for, they may report such amend
ment The committee is composed of
ten Republicans and six Democrats
Mayor Lunn's telegram was as fol
lows:
Senator Duncan u Mletcher, Senate
Office Building. Washington, D. c.
Reports here that Edwin G.. Conde
has been recommended for appoint
ment by Postmaster General Hays
as postmaster at Schenectady, N. Y.
or the three eligibles for appoint
ment, two were eX-service men. Mr..
Mcdonald, postmaster since March,
1929, was a Spanish war veteran.
Major Jacob Clinton was a Spanish
war veteran, also a World war vet
-eran, with distinguished foreign
service. People in Schenectady, re.
gardless of party affiliations, are dis
appointed that Edwin Conde should
be appointed over Major Clinton and
Mr.. Mcdonald. Is the law giving pref.
erence in appointment to ex-service
men still binding? When | voted for
war as u member Of the Sixty-fifth
congress | sincerely believed that
this country would never delibera tely
turn down capable and efficient eX.
service mon when they were eminent
ly qualified for appointment | believe
that ii confirmation is withheld until
all the facts can be placed before the
senate that your distinguished body
would not consent to such a glaring
disregard OF the rights of ex-service
men, protected az we have ALWAYS
thought by definite law The ex-ser.
vice men with whom l have talked
appreciate your efforts in their be.
half. If you can do anything in this
particular case 1T will be appreciated.
(Signed) GEORGE H. LUNN,
Mayor"
Senator Fletcher replied as follows
Replying to your telegram, presi-
dent submitted nomination Conde to
senate yesterday. Democratic ad lin
istratfon gave preference to honor.
ably discharged service men if quail
fed to fill positions, but present post
master-general holds act of congress
does not apply to postmasters. In
Florida an honorably discharged dis
abled service man, a Democrat and
acting postmaster. was the only qual-
ified eligible result of recent compe-
titive examination, but postmaster
general has requested commission to
hold another examination, obviously
so that a Republican. not service
man, may qualify and be appointed.
Such unjust treatment of former SER
vice men by this administration will
be resented by all Americans, ire
spective of party affiliations"
,Signed)
DUNCAN U. FLETCHER"