The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-23
TnE NEW CENsUs sUPERvIsoR.
4 talk with Col. Latham as to His In
tentIons, Appointments, Stale Poll
tles .ke

4 Talk with Col. Latham as to HIS In.
tcnuons, Appointments, state Poll.
, ties, DC.
A reporter of the ISTELIrGENcER called
at the New Mcclure yesterday, where Col.
George R. Latham, the newly appointed
Census Supervisor, has rooms. We found
him lying down and suffering very much
FROM an acute attack OF bronchitis. Yet,
when we stated our business, he made an
effort to talk little, and gave US the fol-
lowing brief synopsis OF the proceedings
in Washington antecedent to his appoint
ment and the opposition he had to con-
tend with, which We think will be of a
very interesting nature. The Colonel is
one OF the old time Republicans, and as
he proceeded in his narration Of circum-
stances he very frequently digressed into
State politics and his connection with
them in the last twenty years, to show US
the animus and the reasons that excited
the opposition to him.
"Do you care TO give me little history
OF the proceedings incident to your ap-
pointment2" ,.....,.
"Well, to begin at the beginning. l
was approached last fall by some OF my
friends while was In attendance on the
United States District Court at Clarksburg
and told him that must attempt the Sc
curing OF the position. had not thought
Of it, hut concluded to go down and see
about 1t. When went TO see Mr.. Walker,
the Superintendent, he was very cold,
although l had been in the service with
him. then went to the President, with
whom / had also campaigned, and repre-
sented the status to him. He told me that
| In a consultation with Mr.. Schurz they
had concluded to allow General Walker to
make up the list Of appointments, but,
said he, l will give you letter to General
Walker that might have some influence.
He wrote mo very good letter to the
General, and, as was going through the
Treasury building, concluded to call on
Secretary Sherman and ask him to en-
dorse the letter. He took ii, read II, and
writing on it said, 4 have made this much
stronger ! also got Col. Fred. Seward to
endorse it, and armed with this went to
General Walker again. This time he was
as pleasant as basket OF chips and wrote
my name down In the list" ~"
"But Colonel, how did 1t happen that
your name did not appear in the original
appointments"
IL will explain that General Walker
sent for the West Virginia delegation and
asked them to submit the name OF q
Democrat and Republican from each dis.
triut. They named Laidley and man
named Morris from the Second, and Thos.
Sweeney and John W. Mason from the
First. These he could not avoid sending
in, butwhen they came to the President
he scratched Mason and substituted my
name. Some time after that | met Here.
ford coming from the White House in q
state OF feverish excitement, and he asked
me II knew that I had received the ap'
pointment, and said no. "Well," said
he, "the President will send in YOU
name" Then the opposition began.
"We!l ss to the oppositionT T'
'Mafin headed the opposition, but the
j. opposition 10 me was organized and hello
in force by Mason. The reason Of THU
!. was his own failure, The delegation had
united in recommending Mason. They
felt little hard toward the President fol
ignoring them and toward me for not ap
plying W tuetl. 4uo euthe uelekbtloL
, from this State In the House and Senate
solemnly obligated themselves to de-. A
me. happened to know great many
OF the Senators and went to work among
them, then, too, the. President knew me
we'll and stood by me all the time, and
took great pleasure In substituting my
name Tor Mason's. He and were In the
House OF Representatives together, and
presume he knew whether ! was the man
or not"
The conversation then took a political
turn, and we asked, "Colonel who will be
the Republican candidate for Governor
George @. Sturgiss, and DR.. Logan fol
Congress from this district. The former
regard as the most available and strongest
man in the State, from the fact that he Il
| the best organizer, and as against DR.. Lo'
gan is much more active man, although
there is not man in the State that stands
better than Logan. A thorough organizaD
ton will carry this State for the Republi.
cans, am morally certain OF that"
swell as 10 DR.. LogaA2n
\ "Dr. Logan can carry this district fol-
Congress, DIR. Logan can carry over l,00C
Democratic votes In this county. There
Is not manin the State stands better than
DR.. Logan, and the only reason prefer
sturgiss to Logan for Governor, is the one
| I have indicated. There is not man in
this district that will carry the vote that
Logan will" ~
"Yhat do you think Of the Third dis.
trictfn fE e 'h
| Ssuppose we elect Walker in the Third
district, and suppose he never casts vote
with us, we have got one. Suppose he casts
his vote with us, we have two, and further
when Walker is elected by us, that minute
bis connection with the Democratic party
ceases, and he will never vote another
Democratic ticket. don't see any reason
why we couldn't beat tho Democratic
party In that district, and II We can why
shouldn't we for the reason indicated"
"WhRt do you think OF the Republican
outlook in this Slater"
I'VE can carry this State"
"That seems an unqualified declaration
" know IL is, but say we can carry this
State. That was one oil the strong points
OF the opposition to me. Sherman, Blaine,
and others OF the leaders, are Of the same
opinion. am in favor Of Sherman. Yet,
when my papers went TO the Senate they
were In Blaine's hands, and they are
yet. Itold Blaine that a majority Of our
people were in favor Of hlm."
"But what are the National indica-
tions?"
II was satisfied two months before the
last National Convention that Hayes
would be the man, and he was. In the
approaching National Convention I would
love on the first ballot TO see square vote
between Blaine and Sherman. But think
Washburne is the dark horse. In my
opinion it has narrowed down TO these
three. will work as hard for one as l
would for any Of the others. Garfield will
hardly be before the Convention. Grant
do not think will be before the Conven.
ton. He can not afford to do It, for the
reason that he has reputation before the
country and before the world, and he can
not afford To make q contest OF this kind.
7 bo1 a ka1ly YpfIh NOnGI;nn Nth ar hnr, 7