After President Hayes came into power General Butler tested
the President's willingness to permit him to control the patronage
of Massachusetts. He demanded the appointment of a man recommended
by him to the office of Postmaster at Methuen. The term had
expired. President Hayes carefully examined the matter in
person, got a list of the principal patrons of the office,
and compared it with the petitions. He determined to reappoint
the incumbent, who was an excellent officer, and a Republican
who had refused to vote for General Butler. The man whom
General Butler recommended had lost a leg in the War. He
had an artificial limb so well made that many people, even
those who worked in the same shop with him, did not know
that he had lost his leg. Butler went before the Senate
Committee on Post Offices to get them to reject President
Hayes's nominee, taking his own candidate with him. He had
the man leave off his artificial leg and come on crutches
to get greater sympathy. He made an earnest and angry speech
before the Committee attacking President Hayes. But he made
no impression, and the old Postmaster was confirmed and reappointed.
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