November 2007 21
litically acceptable replacement, especially now that Endnotes
Blaine’s nomination made it clear Arthur would not
continue in office. Hatton’s appointment was almost
Portrait of Frank Hatton from The National Cyclope-
obvious with his three years experience as First
dia of American Biography, v. 4, 1895.
As-
sistant and several occasions when he had served as
1 See Vexler, National Cyclopedia, Dictionary of American Biogra-
phy, and Robertts, Chalmers, The Washington Post: the First 100 years,
interim Postmaster General. And it seems nobody re-
1977 for biographical sketches of Frank Hatton.
ally much cared who was appointed.
2 Reese, Thomas C. Gentleman Boss, The Life of Chester Alan Arthur,
There is no indication Hatton accomplished anything
New York, 1975, p. 314.
as Postmaster General beyond the routine of the of-
3 Reeves, op cit, p. 374-5.
fice, especially after Cleveland’s election a few weeks
after he took office made any policy development or
legislative proposals pointless.
Leaving office after Cleveland’s inauguration in
March 1885, Hatton headed for Chicago where he
assisted in reorganizing the Mail and took over as its
editor for the next three years. His next stop was New
York City where he and Robert Porter founded the
New York Press.
Finally, he returned to Washington for his greatest
triumph as a newspaperman when he and Beriah
Wilkins, a former Democratic congressman from
Ohio, purchased The Washington Post from its
founder, Stilson Hutchins in the spring of 1889 for
$210,000, less $35,000 for one of the Post’s presses
they sold back to Hutchins. Hatton and Wilkins man-
Don Tocher
aged the paper with such financial success Hutchins
admitted later he had made a fool of hinself selling
U.S. Classics,
the paper. Stamps
Hatton and Wilkin’s most successful promotion was and Postal History
to commission the “Washington Post” march its com-
poser, John Philip Sousa, the leader of the Marine
Band, introduced at a concert on the mall in June.
Recently acquired:
Although founded as a “Democratic daily journal,”
Stephen Suffet’s two gold medal winners on 3rd Class mail
Hatton edited the Post as an independent paper
And, Fumiaka Wada’s on Post Office Mail
. As an
unreformed Stalwart, he continued to oppose Civil
See all 400+ pages on my website:
Service Reform. He bitterly fought the reform poli-
http://www.postalnet.com/dontocher/
cies of Theodore Roosevelt, currently a member of
the Civil Service Commission. As the editor-in-chief,
ASDA Fall Mega Event, Madison Sq. Garden
he was a demanding employer, as quick to reward
NYC, Oct 25-28
work well done as to penalize inferior performance.
NEASDA MANIA, Clarion Inn, Albany, NY
Nov 17-18
Unfortunately, his promise of becoming one of
America’s most famous newspapermen was cut short
when he slumped over on his desk in his offiice on
ASDA, APS, USPCS, CSA, USSS
April 24, 1894, paralyzed by a massive stroke. He
Box 679, Sunapee, NH 03782,
died six days later, two days after his 48th birthday
CELL PHONE: 617-686-0288
.
dontoch@ix.netcom.com
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