Letter from William Loeb to E. A. Hitchcock

- 4 - protection of my family's position and my reputation as an official and as a man. Charges that had been carefully prepared, - the re- sult of months of labor and instigated by an acknowledged and extend- ed conspiracy, I met promptly and defiantly. At the close of the inquiry my entire innocence was established in the mind of absolute- ly unbiased and in every way qualified men to whom the whole record had been referred by the Postmaster General. My life's work has been devoted to public service in the post office Department. For twenty- three years have I been engaged in that work, rising step by step from the position most humble to first place. No suspicion was ever cast upon my character. I have defended my reputation and my honor openly, and am now prepared to call to account any man or woman who casts reflections upon me in any form that may be designated, I fear no test of the truth, and respectfully submit that as an offi- cial and as a ritizen, I am fairly entitled to have the charges pub- licly disavowed if the Department concludes that they are unfounded. The decision, whatever it may be, determines not only my own fate, but of necessity passes judgment upon the men of reputation and courage who from the first demanded my right to an impartial hearing, and who, after full consideration, declared me innocent, and express- ed their unqualified condemnation of the disreputable methods by which it had been sought to undermine me. Apart from the merchants who have recommended me on account of my official work, the following, among many other men of standing in our city, have thr oughout endorsed and supported me: Amos M. Thayer, United States Circuit Judge. Adolphus Busch, President Anheuser-Buscl Brewery Association. S. W. Fordyce, Capitalist. D. M. Houser, Proprietor St.Louis Globe-Democrat. Charles Parsons, President State National Bank. Rufus J. Lackland, Capitalist. Chas. Nagel, Attorney. Geo. M. Tansey, President St.Louis Transfer Co. I. D. Kingsland, President St.Louis Manufacturers Association. Edwards Whitaker, Banker.