Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1921-03-31
SPECULATION GOING ON
OVER .POSTMASTERSHIp
People Wondering Who Will Be
Permanet Head of Fort
Mill Office.

| INV 10 W NC tHe permanent
postmaster of Fort MILF This is
a question which has received
more or less consideration locally
since the United States senate re-
fused 20 confirm the nomination
OF Joe M. Belk, made by President
Wilson a few weeks before he
retired from Office on March 4.
The Fort Mill postmastcrship is
still being filled temporarily by
w. B. Ardrey, who was appoint
ed. last July upon the resignation
of b. Fl. Massey becoming cffec-
tive, but Mr.. Ardrey is said to
be anxious to be relieved of the
duties OF the Office and some time
ago asked that some one be ap-
pointed to take his place. lie
was induced to hold the office a
While longer, however, thinking
that the appointment of perma-
nent postmaster would be Il mat
ter OF only a few weeks or Il
month or two. But the weeks
are stretching out into months
and there is no evidence of the
immediate intention of the au-
thorities at Washington to name
his successor.
A few days before President
Harding was inauguratcd fm;r
weeks ago story was sent out
from st. Augustine, where the
presldent-clect then was. bv Il
we'll known newspaper CORES
pondent to the effect that one of
the first official acts of Mr.. Hard
ing would be to set aside the or
| der OF President Wilson drcIrr-
ing all the postmastcrS of the
country III the classified service.
No such action has yet been ia
| Ken by the new president. On
| the contrary news stories have APP
ptared under Washington date
lines within the last three weeks
saying, that President Harding
had no idea of revoking the or
der OF President Wilson.
If this latter story be true. Joe
Nj. Belk doubtless will eventually
be renominated for postmaster of
Fort Mill, with his confirmation
by the senate a forcgonc concIu-
sion. lie is World war veteran
and this fact doubtless will have
weight i'll his behalf if the an
nouncemcnt attributed only a day
or two ago to Postmaster General
nays pans out. In the amouncr-
| ment the postmaster general was
| quoted as saying that former ser
wee men would be given the
preference in the selection of
| postmasterS. Following the res
| lgnation last July Of Postmaster
Massey, Mr.. Bclk was one of two
candidates who stood the civil
service examination for the Office
and he was subsequently, recon-
mended by the civil service com
mission to President Wilson for
the appointment. His nomination
was sent TO the senate along
with several hundred other .nomi
nations for postmastcrships. but
he senate fcruScd to confirm any
OF the nominations.
Should President Harding de-
clde--and it is recognized tha+ he
yet has plenty of time in which
to make such a dccision-to an
nul the order Of President Will
son placing all the pOstmastcrs
| of the country i'm thc cI,s.;i.
fed service, it is presumed that
the Fort, Mill postmastcrship will
GO to the one who can secure the
backing of the South Carolina
Republican patronage bosses. In
the old days when federal pat
ronage was dispensed upon the
heory that ito the victor belongs
the spoils, y one Of the tests of
the applicant S qualifications for
appointment was party loyalty
and party activity. If it be in
the Republican program TO res
urrect this necessary quaIifica-
ton for federal Office holding. the
bosses will have to import a post
master for Fort Mill. because
there has not been cast at this
precinct in the last eight years
single Republican vote. There
are said to be living in Fort Mill
one or two men with Republican
tendencies, but, as was remarked
| by a citizen day or two ago in