The Political Boss of the Post Office

Wallace is in Washington City, and fourth-class postmasters and others who are looking for appointments may well tremble in their shoes. It is something to be a son-in-law of the chief justice of the United States, for the very name of Wallace is an open sesame at the various departments. When Wallace crooks his finger, the clerks all jump. It is generally understood by all the subordinates that Wallace is to have everything he wants, and all books and letter files are spread open before him at his mere request. Wallace has been here before, and that is why the under clerks all bow down and worship. With his smooth face and silk hat, he is the veritable modern Napoleon of politics. Woe unto the luckless aspirant in the Democratic ranks in Washington who may have thought he could get along without Wallace's influence and may have incidentally written his private opinion about the chief justice's son-in-law. He has been wondering all this time why his appointment has been held up. His method of operation is simple: he looks over all the papers on file, and if anyone has said anything derogatory to Mr. Wallace's fair fame, the defamer is turned down. Those who think Mr. Wallace a great man are elevated. One instance of this is the postmaster at Olney, King county. Mr. Wallace had recommended the appointment of Henry Hunter to succeed S. A. Kushman, removed for partisanship, and the appointment had already been announced before Wallace's arrival. Something in the papers here on file induced Wallace to withdraw his recommendation, and as the commission had not yet been issued, the matter is hung up for the present.