The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-16
THE ARGUS AND THE
POSTOFFICE.

40 Argus feels that it owes to its readers a |
11jfAtement OF its attitude regarding the local
nontma stership, position for the past eight ,
gears and at present filled by Harry p. Simp- !
I'm. for many years editor Of this newspaper. |
Glider ordinary circumstances an explanation
would be uncalled for. but owing to the charges |
that were industroGsly circulated by the city |
administration and printed in Looneys outlaw
snablication. The Argus believes that there
f416uld be frank and full presentation of the
FACTS involving the Rock Island postmastsrshp
70 far as It pertains to and affects this news
$aper.
= Mr. Simpson is serving his second term as
local postmaster None familiar with the work.
ing of,fhe Rock Island postoffice will say that
be has been other than model official. Few
men who have filled the place have given to it
such close and faithful attention. with the re-
cult that the Rock Island postoffice today ranks
with the most capably managed and conducted
IN the United States. MIR. Simpson has main
Gained high percentage Of efficiency through
III departments of the Rock Island postofice.
Ne mas recommended to the department at
Washington numerous improvements. and they
Dave been put into effect in every instance.
= MT. OlmpSOu WdS dppOtHlcu pootudaAcI VI
3ock Island as a Democrat, but during his in
tumbency there has been indicated purpose
to lift second class postmasterships above the
uncertainty OF politics. The Rock Island post
mastership is now under civil service. The
government is not supposed to have any con-
y Germ in a postmaster's political affiliations.
What it is seeking is efficiency in service. Has
It ever been matter of interest or concern to
you what may be the politics of the carrier who
delivers your mall?
! Mr.. Simpson naturally felt that il the gov
ernment wanted the Rock Island postoffce to
continue under the direction of one who had
proved his capacity in the management of the
bfice he knew of no one in Rock Island better
Gttsd than himself to fill the place. Assuming
that fitness. and not politics, will determine the
Rock Island postmastership the next four
years, Mr.. Simpson took the civil service ex-
animation. Business men and patrons Of the
Office generally, great majority of them an
bouncing themselves as Republicans, and re-
eprdess of politics, have endorsed Mr.. Simpson.
The Argus has joined in that endorsement The
Argus would like to see Mr.. Simpson remain
POSTMASTER of Rock Island because it believes his
record Of faithful and efficient service entities
Elm to the place. The Argus reserves the same
fight as any other business institution to
press choice for postmaster. And the choice
af The Argus is Mr.. Simpson for the reason
tAat he has proved one of the most capable Of
Acials who has ever filed the position in Rock
island and for he>further reason that he is
better fitted for the place than are the two men
who are contesting with him for the appoint
,tnent. The Argus wants TO see good service in
the Rock Island postoffice. just as 1t wants to
zee II at the city hall and at the court house.
= When The Argus began its campaign against
0Giclally protected lawlessness in Rock Island it
Vas charged that the barrage of this paper was
Inspired by the refusal of Mayor H. NJ. Schriver
q endorse Mr.. Simpson for appointment as
Postmaster The cry of the city hall and the
SQUIRT house. which was encored through the
columns of Looney's filthy underworld organ,
Mas that if Mayor Schriver would endorse Mr..
Simpsons candidacy The Argus would forth
With cease its attacks against lawlessness. The
Argus might have answered that allegation at
3 the time it was first made. but there was more
{ Important business before the house then, and
the explanation was deferred, The Argus
trusting to the good judgment of the public in
the weighing of charges that emanated from the
city hall and court house and from their Off
cpl defender, John Looney. now fugitive from
1lstice ~
The Argus now wants to tell the city hall
add the court house, their political henchmen.
4 and the $4,000 people of Rock Island that its
nplicies are not on the auction block. They
Y aSe purchaseable neither with money public
Office or political preferment of any distinction
4 0f extent The Argus wants to tell the people
o. Rock Island that If there had been any
pSice at which The Argus could have been de-
I fIected from its course OF the past few months
/ the price would have been paid. The Argus
rejected every overture and every threat that
+ etther came directly or was inspired BY the
| organized forces Of evil and corruption in the
c3ay and county of Rock Island. Those vicious
in{lQences employed every weapon they had
I EXCEPT bullets and bombs upon The Argus to
Il fdece 1t into silence. And they would have used
ITEM had they dared.
!. The Argus did not blindly enter it's fight
against organized vice and official corruption
Neither did 1t underestimate the strength Of the
combination that It determined to center its
6RAupon and uproot and eradicate as domi-