Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1884 — CALKINS’ REPLY. [ARTICLE]

CALKINS’ REPLY.

A Statement Adroitly Made, and Well Calculated to Deceive. In an interview with a correspondent of the Chicago Inter-Ocean,(Rep.) Mr. Calkins said: “The facts are,- that in August, 1870, Mrs. M. M. Duncan was appointed Postmistress, coming from

another State, and the appointment was made without the knowledge or consent of but a few of the patrons of the office, she buying out the former occupant. As far as she personally was concerned she discharged the du ties fairly well, but she had in addition to the office a small millinery and dressmaking shop, a stationery store, and was a skilled taxidermist, which occupied a large portion of her time, leaving the office to unskilled and inefficient help, causing more or less complaint, and in some cases complaints were sent to headquarters. She had two able-bodied bon-in-laws who were able to take care of her had she not been healthy and strong and perfectly able to take care of herself, and after her having the office thirteen years it was thought advisable to make a change. Her successor was a widow with three children of tender years, one a nursing babe' and the other two in the neighborhood of three to five years of age. Her husband was a wounded soldier and died from the effects of his wounds. The Postmistress herself is very frail, in poor health, with three children and no means except a small house and lot for which her husband paid S4OO and on which was a mortgage of 5150. As far as the assessment is concerned she probably did receive a circular letter, as all the other officers did, and, as a matter of fact, I understand she did pay 810 of the sl2, and when the removal was asked for I refused to act ti|l it had been returned to her, which was done by Aaron Jones, Chairman of the Congressional Committee. Her money cut no figure in the removal whatever. Mrs. Miller makes a competent officer and those who at the time favored Mrs. Duncan now say they would not have Mrs. Miller removed.