| OCR Text |
Show FALL 2013 UHQ pp 304-385_UHQ Stories/pp.4-68 9/16/13 1:25 PM Page 320 UTAh hISTOrICAL QUArTErLy that Glasmann would resign in the face of this indictment. Evidently the conspirators knew little about Glasmann, because he reacted to a political brawl by leaping into the fray with gusto. One month later, he journeyed to New York to attend the annual meeting of the American Newspaper Publishers’ Association, followed by a quick trip to Boston, where he represented the 30,000 Population Club of Ogden in delivering a pledge of $25,000 in investment capital to lure an iron company to Ogden. From there, he took a steamer to Washington, D.C., to meet with Assistant Postmaster General Hancock about the petition to replace him as postmaster of Ogden. Hancock assured Glasmann that petitions for removal were the rule rather than exception, especially when it came to high-paying patronage jobs such as postmaster. Hancock let Glasmann see the petition letters against him and assured the Ogdenite that the absurdity of the letters guaranteed his ratification by the Senate, but not that year. He imagined Glasmann’s commission would be granted in 1908. Hancock commented it was ironic that instead of shortening Glasmann’s tenure as postmaster, his enemies actually prolonged his term. Glasmann stood to serve six years, rather than the customary four years because the term started when Glasmann received his commission.57 When he returned home by rail on the Los Angeles Limited, he commented, “the three principal letters sent to Washington were suffering of ‘explosive insanity’ and that the form of insanity was Glasmanitis.”58 With that, Glasmann penned a term that he used more and more often to taunt his detractors. True to Hancock’s prediction, the United States Senate unanimously approved his appointment on April 24, 1908. As the election of 1908 drew near, Glasmann took a furlough from his postmaster job and headed for southern Utah to “spend the time” that amounted to political discussions for campaigning. Near the end of his tour, he made a stop at Pleasant Grove for a speech in support of Smoot, whom he knew was the only person who could make or break his chances of becoming a congressman.59 Glasmann agreed to perform his party duty by presenting a united front. The election proved successful for the Republicans, ingratiating Glasmann to the Salt Lake City faction, perhaps a sign of mending fences. After the election, Glasmann suddenly announced on November 23 that he planned to resign as postmaster, effective December 31. Most observers thought it foolish to give up one of the highest-paid government jobs in the state. An uninformed person speculated on his sanity, but those familiar with Glasmann knew he had a personal reason for the resignation. He would turn fifty in December and needed to get on with his life. The following October of 1909, Glasmann reluctantly accepted the 57 “Glasmann Remains in the Postoffice,” Ogden Standard, March 4, 1907. Ibid. 59 “William Glasmann Makes Great Speech,” Ogden Standard, November 11, 1908. 58 320 |
