Congressman Allen

The following long communieation irom Coneressman Allen, will be read with interest, as it gives his explanation of the part he has taken in the appointment of a postmaster for tbis city Thb Register has taken some pains to learn whatMr. Sumner and his friends, Mr. Evart Scott and others, would reply to certain statements made in this letter. The replies are given below, each one being numbered so as to correspund with the paragraph given the same number in Mr. Allen's letter. The Kegistbr said at the time the Detroit letter was published, that it was evidently overdrawn in some pointe, but still showed pretty fairly the feehng of a large number.if not a majonty of the republicana in this city. The Register is not yet convinced that Mr Allen has taken the wisest course in this matter. The appointment of one so strongly opposed by a large number of the patrons of the office, and of one who is otherwise well provided for in the matter of property, tends to give the people the idea that the repubhcan party in this city is owned by a very few men This is contrary to the platform and principies upon which our party is established, and it is just as important that we stand by our principies here as anywhere. What the democracy say of the matter is worthy of no consideration. The deepest ingenuity of the republican party couldn't concoct sounfair a proceeding as was the appointment of the present postmaster, and they know it. A brave soldier who had suffered severely in the service of his country, and has done infimtely more hardwork for his party, and who was entitled to the office, and had the endorsement of a great majonty of his party, was ruthlessly thrust aside to give the place to one who had no claim for services to his party or country to present, and who could not have secured a respectable minority of names on a petition for the place. Ypsilanti, Mich., Dec. 30, 1889. Editors Register: The extraordinary communication relativo to the Ann Arbor post office published in the Detroit Free Press, I should not have noticed had it not been largely copied by The Register, thus, togetherwith your comments, giving it a quasi endorsement. So long as it was published in a democratie paper for democratie purposes, it was uselesss for me to deny its statements or point out out its utter falsity, iboth in word and spirit. So ons knew betterthan yourself just B position I have occupied, commuKated to you by letter, unless indeed ■T be scores of citizens of Ann Arbor fwho have written me, favoring or disapprovingofcandidates. The writers were told, in Communications which they are at liberty to pubhsh, exactly what I was doing and proposed to do. The publication of these letters and the one written to yourself, compared with the result reached, will show whether I have kept my word. Having gone so far as to give semi-endorsement to the article in the Free Press I ask for a hearing, that the people of Ann Arbor may know whether my conduct has been that of a straight-forward man or When I returned home last spring I was visited by the two prominent candidates for the post office and their friends. I had received two letters for one of them before I left Washington, as I now remember. When asked by these gentlemen as to my method ot proceedure I told them that as there were two or three candidates at Ann rbor all of whom were reputable citizens as far as I knew, I should appoint the man, other things being equal, who had the greater number of supporters among Republican voters who got their mail at that office. It was a very simple platform to occupy, and one from which I have not varied by a hair.- 1. When asked as to whether it was necessary to circuíate petitions or get letters, I invariably said that the manner ofgetting the expression of the people to me was one that I should not advise them upon. All I wanted to know was what the Republicans wanted, at the same time saying that the usual course was by petitibn or letters. I never at any time or relative to any office said to any one that I would be bound by the action of the "representative," or "leading" Republicans of Ann Arbor or anywhere else. I have always said, and everywhere, that other things being equal between the candidatee, I should in every instance appoint the man that the majority, or, if there were more than two candidates, a plurality of the republican voters receiving mail at a given office desire. In fact leading republicans are divided in their support of candidates quite as much as tho8e who are not " leading." -2, I have always held the nght, and do now, to refuse to recommend a candidato if there are good and sufficient reasons therefor; henee, the first statement in the article quoted by you that I stated otherwise is false. I quite well know the effect of Bossism on the parties. The day for it has gone by forever, and no man in this district, whether he be a Democrat or Republican, can ever again name postmasters " at his own sweet will " and suoceed in holding the people with him. They will have their say in these appointments hereafter, as they have had in this. The next statement, that Messrs. Dean and Beal paid me a visit asking for the appointment of Eugene E. Beal for postmaster, whereupon I changed front, is ako false. Mr. Junios E. Beal called upon me within a few days after Mr. Sumner and his friends had done so, and stated that he would be pleased to see Mr. E. E. Beal apppointed postmaster. I at once and promptly said to him that there was another candidate in the field, and that although he (Beal) had been a warm personal and political friend for years, I could not give away any offices and that I had fully made up my mind not to appoint anyone postmaster at Ann Arbor who had not the support of the Republican patrons of that office. His rereply was that unless Mr. Beal could get such support he did not want him , have the office. We did nol spend ten minutes in talking over tho matter, and the above was all that was said upon the subject of any relevancy whatever These two gentlemen saw me togfther weeks after the above stated talk with j. E. Beal, and they were but two of a dozen who visited me in behalf of both candidates, and all of whom were welcome and had a hearing.- 3 and 4. As to the third statement, that I yacated my firstposition and did not wish any meeting or conference, it, too, is false. I had never proposed any "meeting or conference," but had, on the contrary, refused to let one, two or three, or even half a do.en persons name thii postmaster at Ann Arbor I feit, and said, and now feel, that theRepublicans who elect supervisors, mayors, governors and congressmen, are abundantly qualififid to say whom they want for P. M., an office that comes more closely to them than any other; and in allowing them to express their wishes I have not stooped to ask whether they were blacksmiths, carpenters, lawyers or preachers, ot in. the laneuage of the Argus, "Tdms, Dicks and Harrys."- 5. In 8oliciting votes during campaipns we do not say to an audience, "One, two or three men in this town are better capable ofsaying what had better be done than you." On the contrary, we ask for their suffrages, cali them the "people," and desire the votes and influence of all of them. Why there should be one rule as to the treatment of voters before election and another one after, is beyond my comprehension, always has been, and I hope always will be. I never stated that I wanted letters in preference to petitions, and it is equally untrue that the principal men of Ann Arbor wrote letters in favor of one man exclusively. On the contrary, I received nearly two letters in favor of Mr. Beal to one in favor of any one else. These letters are on file, and subject to the inspection of anyone who has a right to examine them, save only those that are ruarked "Personal". If the above is true, it follows that the next statement, " few or none would write letters endorsing Mr. E. E. Beal," is likewise false. WhylsOiould announcethat letters would not suffice, if as the article charges, I were committed to Mr. Beal, when there were nearly two to one in his favor, is a conundrum that I leave forthe writerwho hatchedthe falsehood for political effect to answer. - 6 and 7. The next statement that I " demanded petitions" is false. I have said before and repeat that I never demanded either petitions or letters, but simply said to the parties that they must get the expression of the people to me as they saw fit, and that the usual way waa by petition or letter. The further statement that I gave anybody any start as to the time for circulating petitions is equally false. I said nothing about time except what I incidentally mentioned in your office, as to whenachange would likely occur,which was published at the time, and pon which it would seem both candidates proceeded to act. I saw neither candidate that day at Ann Arbor. I was not there upon P. O. business, but for the purpose of meeting some old soldiers, which I did.whose pension claims they desired me to hasten. The statement that the republicans who were surprised into signing one petition when they desired to sign another, and thereby were guilty of " folly," I leave for you to settle with those republicans who signed the papers. I will not charge these with not knowing their own minds. In your editorial of Nov. 28th, yon stated that one of the candidates claimed thatl told him that the question must " be decided in three days by petition."' Thiscandidate hadeight petitions. The first beais date May lOth, the lat May 17th, the others May 14th and 15th. On May 28th, eleven days after the last petition bears date, I sent to him and the other candidates a letter, as follows: - 8. Dear Sir:- You have been.and are now a candidato for the office of P. M. at Ann Arbor. For several weeks the community has been canvassed by parties interested in behalf of yourself or other candidates, and I conclude Ihat all persons who so desire have éxpressed an opinión one way or the other. As this way of selecting a P. M , to wit, by the expressed wish of the Republican patrons of the office, is somewhat akin to an election, I must bring the contest to a close within a reasonable time just as we close the polls, and all parties abide the result. I believe that this re asonable time has now plapse d, ;uid the people sufficiently stirred up up m the question, and therefore notify you in common with the other candidates, that all letters and petitions must be written or in my hands by the evening of the 31st, as after that I shall prcceed to authenticate the political status of the signers and writers, as far as I am not acquainted with them myself, tothe end that the expression of a ohoice may be confined to the Republicans who are voters and patrons of the office. - 7. Very respectfully, E. P. Allen. Both candidates sent the letters and petitions required promptly within the time named without a hint that they wanted more time, and as a matter of fact, the petitions were, at the date of my letter of May 28th, for the most part signed. From the above it will be seen that not only is the statement that I confined the parties to three days in getting petitions, CONTISUED ON 4th PAGE. AI.I.EÜ'S LETTER. CONTINUED. false, but it also appears that the other statements made in the Free Press article that I had receded from one position to another are equally falBe, for the letter expressly states that " petitions and letters " bearing upon the question must be in my hands at a given time thatthe community might have a rest. That the time was abundant is ahown by the fact that over 1100 persons wrote letters or signed petitions for one or another of the candidatos. I undertook to verify these petitions and letters by Ketting the candidatos, and Messrs. Pond and Scott, their respective friends, together as soon as it was possible to do so and not inconvenience anv of the parties.- 9. We met and went through with the iiststintil 11 o'clock at night, when we adjourned, and the next morning on meeting again, one of the parties intimated that it was a great task to go through with these names, and several 3uggestions were made, all inafriendly spirit, when it was finally decided that Messrs. Pond and Scott should take the names and go over them carefully together and decide their politics, and where they themselves could not agree, "eave the matter to the signers, the person who should be appointed P. M. to pay all legitímate expenses for their time and trouble. At the same time it was suggested by one of the parties that they sipn a paper stating that they believed I had been strictly fair in the matter, whereupon I at once said that I - wished no certifícate of character from anybody. ïhis was tortured into the statement that I asked the parties to gi ve me such a paper. 1 wonder that anyone ■present allowed such a falsehood to run unchallenged. - 10. I bad the ñames carefully drawn off on memorandum books, alphabetically arranged,and forwarded the same to Mr. Pond by my son, with a note requestingthat he at once notify Mr. Scott, and have the work done. Mr. Scott soon after sent me a note declining to have anything fnrther to do with the matter, when I wrote hini the following letter: Yi-silaxti, Mich., Nov. 11, 18S9. My Dear Sir:- I am in receipt of your ' favor of yesterday, and while I do not Silame yon for not wishing to give so much time to what is an unpleasant matter at the best, will only state that I willnotbebalkedorthwartedinmyendeavor to obtain the political status of thesigners of the two petitions for the Ann Arbor P. O , and shall do what I have always said I would, give the office t o the man who kas the most backing. When I get throagh no onecan say I have done ■wrong in the matter without saying that ■which is not true. 1 am sorry that you ■did not go along with the matter, and give Mr. Pond all the aid you could, and yet I have no right to judge you and do iot. Verytruly yourB, E. P. Allek. At the same time I wrote Mr. Sumner as folio wb: Ypsilanti, Mich., Nov. 14, 1889. Dear Sir:- Mr. Evart H. Scott writes me that he declined to do anything further to ascertain the political status of the signers of the two petitions for the P. 0. at your place. I desire you to ask Mr. Nowland, who is familiar with the voters, to take Mr. Scott's place in helping Mr. Pond to go over the books. They are in shape so that it will be a comparatively easy matter. Please advise me whether you so request him. I name him because he was active in ■jirculating petitions as I understand.and .8 acquainted with the voters at large í that he can be of material assistance. Yonrs truly, E. P. Ali.ex. This letter was nevcr answered. If either candidate or his friends did not o over the names to ascertain their political status it is their fault, not mine. They certainly hadnotice and time. - 11 In conclusión, the letters and petitions in tliis case will be preserved, ready for the inspectior. of all fair minded men who have anv wish or right to know the facto. I have named for P M the man whom the majority of the Repubhcan volers who expressed a choice, and who get mail al that office asked me to name. If any one disputes this the proofs are open for hisinspection 12. I have not held that because a man was a mechanicorlaboring n not therefore capable of judpng what he wanted, and should not be heara. I have not ianored any Repubhcan who desired to express hw opinión. If this is undemocratic then I am guilty but I am willing totake the 8ober Becond thought of the people upon the question. The statement in your editorial comments that the Free Press article : was oupposedto be written by "a leading Republican I have the best reasons for thinking is amistake. Certamly.no "leading Republican" would fire frora behindgambush like the bushwhacker, or stab in the dark like an assass n. The article was a senes of misstatements of my acts in as fair a outest, as far as I am concerned, as could possibly have been carried on It was put in shape by a Democrat whom I wel know. It was a determined attempt upon the part of the Argus and tree Press to cause a quarrel in Kepubhcan ranks. Tta BiibiPíít was so manifest that no one should have been deceived by ït. It will feil of its purpose. People in Washtenaw County have known me from childhood. I have done no secret work, and have not a scrap of paper, letter or petition that lam not wilhn to submit to any three reputable citiwsns of Ann Arbor, who may desire to examine them and report whether what I have stated be the tnith or not. The only condition that I shall imposeupon any siu:h committee is that the writers of" letters wherein they ask that their names be withheld, ehall be respeoted. People who write letters regarding so important a matter have the same right to ask forsecresy as they have when they cast their ballot at the polls, but I am "willing to go so far as to put their requests in the keeping of three reputable citizens asabove stated, for the parpose of having them say to my fellow citizens of Ann Arbor whether I have been corrupt or taken a straight forward honest course such as every man ought to take both in business and politics. Very respectfully, From E. P. SOMB NOTES ON THE ABOYE. 1 We are assured that Mr. Allen nev'er made the statement to Mr. Sumner, or Mr. Scott, or to any of Mr. Sumner's supporters, that ever carne to nis knowledge, that he (Mr. Allen) should appoint the man having the greatest number of republican supporters. 2 We are assured that Mr. Allen did state to a number of leading republicans that when the time carne he would meet them and learn their choice, and that that man would receive the appöintment. 3 Messrs. Scott and Sumner say that Mr Allen said to them that Mr. Junius E Beal had never asked for anything, and that he made this remark atter the time Mr. Beal had gone to Europe. 4 This is just what Mr. Sumner and his'friends claim- that Mr. Beal's side knewjust what was wanted, and Mr. Sumner had no knowledge from Mr Allen until he received his letter of May 28th, demanding that all letters and petitions must be handed in on May 31, and that petitions would be regarded. 5. Mr. Sumner's friends would like to know to whom, if to anyone, Mr. Allen said this. 6. It is claimed that Mr. Allen did ridicule the idea of petitions, and that when the question was asked him, Do you want letters?" he replied, "Yes. When I have a man in black and white I know just where to find him." 7. It is claimed that some of the letters endorsing Mr. Beal " bear a later date than May 31, and some have no date," but we consider that of no particular mportance. 8. Mr. Allen charges Sumner with having only ei'iht petitions. This is explained by the fact that whenever Mr. Sumner filled a page with names, when commencing a new page he would give it tlie date of the day it was started. He might have put fewer names on a page and had a hundred ptitions in that wy if he had deemed it necessary. 9. Mr. Scott wrote Mr. Allen that he would not take the responsibility of deciding as to who were Republicans and who were not.but proposed toleave itto a committee consialing of one from each ward and township as had been previously agreed upon. Mr. Sumner and Scott invited several of their friends to be present, and if the public desire to know the cordiality with which they were received they can ce tluly informeel. 10. Mr. Beal asked that the parties present sign the paper referred to, to which Mr. Scott replied that he himself wanted " no certifícate of character for the part taken in this matter, and probably Mr. Allen eould take care of hi niself," to which Mr. Allen replied, he could take care of himself. 11. The reason given why Mr. Scott declined to act farlher in this matter was from the alleged fact that Mr. Allen had placed a copy of Sumner's petition in Mr. Pond's hands when hehad refused the request of Mr. Sumner that Mr. Scott be allowed a copy of Beal's petition. 12. The question Í3 now pertinent as to who decided this matter as to who has a majority of Republican signers, Mr. Allen, Pond or Beal? Sumner says he has no knowledge whatever as to what h8 petition is considered worth. Some of our readers may think that Thb Register is a champion of Mr. Suraner's interests in this matter. That is notso, and never has been, except in that he may be the choice of his party. The Register has no candidate except any good Republican who is worthy of the position and satisfactory to the patronsofthe oflice. .Snch an one can have its cheerful support. No one desires the harmony and prosperity of the Republican party in this city and county more than the editors of this paper, and they believe that a little good management and generous feeling wouldsoon result in the supremacy of that party heie, as was formerly the case.