Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1884 — A WIDOW’S MITE. [ARTICLE]

A WIDOW’S MITE.

How Major Calkins Assessed a Widow Postmistress* “The Money Should he Sent Immediately*” A HIBTOBY OF THE CASE. To the Voters of Indiana, and all Others interested: I wish to make this statement to the honest Christian men and women of Indiana for their consideration before the election that is now pending : I am a widow, now 63 years old. In 1882 I was postmistress at Westville, LaPorte county, Indiana. I received the appointment through Gen. Pack-, ard, who was then our congressman, and in the effort to get it was actively assisted by my many Christian friends. During the campaign of 1882 I received the following letter from Major Wm. H. Calkins : THE ASSESSMENT LETTEB. LaPobtb, Ind., Sept. 26,1882. M. M. Duncan, Esq., J?. M., Westville, Ind.: Dkab Sib lu-as-much aa me expenses of the congressional campaign Will be very great, and my opponent will expend a great deal of money, I aball be glad if you will contribute to Mr. Aaron Jones, Chairman of the Congressional Committee, at South Bend, the sum of *12.00, to be used for legitimate campaign expenses only. In order to be of any use, the money should be sent immediately. Yours Kespectfully, W. H. Calkins. When this letter came to me I was very much surprised, for I had never been assessed by a congressman before. I was especially surprised because Major Calkins knew my circumstances. He knew that 1 had no male relative living, and that I had an aged mother then past eighty years old to support and also had to support a grown daughter, who was an invalid, and two small grand-children. This was no easy task for a woman of my age, with no property in the world but a little home, and that uader a mortgage. Under these well-known circumstances I think I had cause to be very much astonished when I re ; ceived such a letter from a man who was getting five thousand dollars a year from a generous government. To ask me to divide my little salary of three hundred dollars a year with him for use in politics was more than 1 could understand to be right. It was impossible lor me to pay the amount asked at that time, and as he said “it must be paid immediately” to do any good, I did not send the $12.00. In March, 1883, I heard that I was likely to lose the post office because I had not paid my assessment. This news came through two or three of Major Calkins’ especial friends, and I feared it might be true. As soon as this was known, my friends circulated a paper remonstrating against any change in the post office. The paper was signed by 206 patrons of the office, although only one day was given to the work of circulating it. It was sent to Washington by the first mail, but it seemed to avail nothing, and a new postmaster was appointed without the knowledge of the general public. Myself and unfortunate family were turned out almost on the charity of the world. I then had no way to save our little home., and to save further cost and trouble I. deeded the property back to the man who held the mortgage. I paid in principal and interest about 81,400 on our home, and lost every cent of it. lam now living in Chicago, working very hard, and keeping boarders to support my family, my aged mother and invalid daughter still being with me. I write this letter to let the people of Indiana know the kind of a man the Republicans have nominated for Governor. I have always been a Republican and am still in sympathy with that party, but I do not feel that the people of Indiana will vote for Major Calkins if they understand how he has acted. I have always been aided in various ways by my many Methodist friends, and I especially ask all Christian people to read and believe my statement in regard to this whole matter. If anybody doubts the truthfulness of what I have said, I refer them to Dr. T. Fravel, David Herald and James Sanders, all residents of Westville, LaPorte county, Indiana. I have sent the original letter that I received from Major Calkins to H. E. Wadsworth, editor of The Abgus, at LaPorte, Indiana, and requested him to keep it where anybody who wants to can see it. I hope if there is anybody who doubts that Major Calkins assesses office-holders, even if they are poor widows with large families to support, they will go and see the letter over his plain signature and written on government paper.

MRS. M. M. DUNCAN.

Chicago, August 1, 1884.