The Hypocrisy of a Congressman
A local editor skewers John L. Wilson for firing a female postmaster purely for political patronage, revealing Wilson’s own history of groveling for Democratic appointments.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
It was a great victory for that great man, John L. Wilson, when he, as congressman from the great state of Washington, succeeded in having the lady postmistress at Montesano removed. Mr. Wilson stands forth with characteristic greatness in his telegraphic answer to the lady, when she asked to be informed as to the reason for her removal. His answer is that he 'wanted a republican' in the office. It is true the lady is a republican, but her great sin was in accepting the office from a democratic administration. When it comes to holding office, Mr. Wilson wants someone who would not deign to accept office at the hands of a democratic administration.
It would seem that congressional honors have caused this fellow to forget his own past history. There are people in this state who well remember that John L. Wilson tried faithfully to get an appointment from the same democratic administration that gave the appointment to this lady. He was receiver of the land office at Spokane Falls when President Cleveland took his seat at Washington. Did Wilson resign? Did he scorn the idea of holding office under the democratic president? Oh, no! He held on like grim death for some two years and when his term expired he belabored the democrats to let him have another term. He hired men to go forth in remote places and circulate petitions for him. All decent republicans and democrats in those days looked upon this Mr. Wilson with loathing and contempt. He was distrusted by republicans and despised by democrats.
“It would seem that congressional honors have caused this fellow to forget his own past history.”
Political patronage and the weaponization of 'party purity' remain common tools in civic discourse. This piece captures the sharp-tongued, no-holds-barred local journalism of the Washington territory, where editors held powerful officials accountable by digging up their hypocrisy.
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