Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1899 — Frank B. Meyer, P. M. [ARTICLE]

Frank B. Meyer, P. M.

Saturday evening universal astonishment was occasioned in Rensselaer when the Indianapolis News brought the information that Frank B. Meyer, the druggist, had been recommended by Congressman Crumpacker for postmaster in Rensselaer. And as a chronicler of the public news, we are compelled to say that the disappointment of the people was nearly as widespread as their surprise. For one thing it was quite generally believed that Mr. Crumpacker would follow in this case the precedent he established at Hammond, and appoint Mr. Robinson’s widow to the office. It was known that she intended, if appointed, to keep the office under the management of the most competent arid experienced hands; and it was known, further, that the condition of the estate was such that the post-office would be a very desirable help at this time. Thus the appointment of anyone except Mrs. Robinson would have greatly disappointed a very large proportion of our people, in any case. In Mr. Meyer’s case, however, the disappointment extends further than mere regrets that Mrs. Robinson was not given the appointment. Rightly or wrongly, there is a wide-spread feeling among Republicans that Mr. Meyer> who was born and bred a Democrat, and has been such most of bis life, is still largely so in sympathy and personal conviction. In support of this view, they specially point to the fact that directly previous to and all through the great campaign of 1896, Mr. Meyer was an enthusiastic and persistent advocate of free silver, and although the general impression that he voted for Bryan that year may be wrong, there is no question but that his influence was all against us, at that time. Personally Mr. Meyer is an excellent business man, and he will conduct the post-office in a business-like way.