The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-08-18
PTCKAVAY IN PITTSBURGH.
OUR DEAR GOVERNOR co. FOSTER
TRYING TO RUN THE POLL
TICS OF PITTSBURGH.
Governor Foster In the Role Of the UnIver-
sal MeddleF.

PTTTsBURGH, August 10 Charley Foster used to
enjoy the reputation in the old Tenth District OF
being man Of discretion and sound Judgement
but since his election over General Tom Ewing
| two years ago his vanity has been OVerdeVnloped
ard he thinks he is "bigger man than old
Grant" He feels that he has mission, and that
mission is to act as the guardian angel Of Presi.
| dent GRrfeld's Administration. H looks upon
| himself as Garhed's creator, and thinks that a
postmaster in Texas ought not to be appointed
without consultation with him. The State of Ohio
has become too limited for the exercise Of his
powers as general meddler In all appointments,
so he has stepped into Pennsylvania.
For twelve years q man named Davis has been
Collector Of Internsl Revenue for this district.
Davis is Welsh, and owns little Welsh paper
here Of limited circulation. His poltioa /
stock in trade consists of his supposed ability to
swing the Welsh vote OF Western Pennsylvania
and Eastern Ohio around by the tail and land it
alive and solid in the ballot box for the Republi.
can party After President GaTfield's inaugura.
tiOn the leading Republicans OF Pittsburgh urged
the appointment Of Mr.. Frank Case as DaViss
successor. Case is q prominent newspaper man,
and is great favorlte with the press. For many
years he has been secretary Of the Republican
Central Committee, and has been an able and
tireless worker he was supported by Don Cam.
erOn and Senator Mitchell, the united press Of
Pittsburgh, except Davis's paper, and by many
prominent WelEbmen, Davis saw that his case
was hopeless unless he could enlist some power
full outside II auence. So he appealed to little
Rees G. RiohF rds, the Republican nominee for
Lieutenant Governor. Rees is Welshman, and
Davis succeeded in impressiDg him with the be
lief that If he we're removed from the Collector
ship something less than one hundred thousand
Welshmen in Ohio would vote against Charley
Foster and the Republican ticket. Richards
hasteDed to Columbus and succeeded in inducing
Governor Foster to use his ilhuence with the
President to prevent Daviss removal, The two
posted off to Washington to plead for and pre-,
vent Davis's removal. Here they found a large
delegation from Pittsburgh urging Case appoint.
ment. Governor Foster told the President that II
Davis was removed before the October election II
would lose him many Republican votes in Ohio.
The argument was successful and Davis was
saved. This was on Friday, the day before the
President was shot, Frank case and his friends
called at the Treasury Department to pay their
respects to Secretary Window, when the secre.
tary said:
Well, Mr.. Case, you came within an hour Of be-
Ing Collector Of Pittsburgh"
How was thst, Mr.. secretary2" Mr., Case
asked.
"Why, II the Governor Of Ohio had remained
away from the White House, and had not made a
plea for Davis, your commission would have been
signedT
The Pittsburgh people returned 10 their homes
| hok ~ hair f,rrp
sasslnation Of the President did much to prevent
an open and lively war on Governor Foster. Ii
was breaking out when Guitesu's pistol sllenced
1t for the time. On the 81 Of July the Pittsburgh
Commercial. Gazette contained the follow ng edi
torial
MEDDLEsoME INTERFERENCE.
ut is difficult to credit the report which comes
from Washington to the effect that President Gar
field is convinced Of the justice and propriety OF
making change In the Office OF Collector Of In.
terDal Revenue for this district, but has yielded
to the solicitation of Governor Foster, of Ohio,
and consented not to make the change until
after the GubernatoriAl canvass has been made III
that State. With all due allowance for the claims
Of Ohio, with high appreciation Of the invalu'
able services rendered to the nation by Ohio men,
and with full knowledge of the kindly rela-
tions existing between the President and the
Executive Of the State from which he halls, we
submit that this would be carrying the Ohio
courtesy d little too far,
"The good people Of the State OF Allegheny
were not q little surprised when they saw 1t an
nOunced that Governor Foster, Of Ohio, and PEN
sion Commissioner Dudley, of Indiana, had
taken q hand in the Pittsburgh Coleetorship
fight, and were urging the retention Of Mr.. Davis.
They were more than surprised - they were
amazed and indignant. We wonder wnat the
Republicans Of Columbus would have thought
and said on hearing that Governor Hoyt, OF Penn
sylVania, had interfered In local contest over
Federal appointment for that clty2 There would
have been some pretty sharp and nlain talk, no
doubt; and Governor Hoyt would have been re.
minded that bis first aud highest duty was to
mind his own business and not medd 10 with
things which did not concern him in the least.
The interference Of Commissioner Dudley was, II
any thing, still more impertinent and of ensive,
because II Ohio men, with their well-known
power and proverbial license in Federal politics
may not be tolerated in their ohicious efforts to
influence purely local aifBirs In a neghborIng
State, there will be much less inclination to In.
dulge newly aedged Federal appointees from In.
diana when they undertake that game,
"a more Aagrant breach Of official courtesy
could not be imagined and both Governor Foster
and Mr.. Dudley owe an apology to the Pennsyl.
Vania Senators and Representatives In Cong ress,
who have charge of the appointment, for thei 7
Ill timed interference. They have no more right
to demand the r tention Of Mr.. Davis than has
the Governor.General Of Canada, and their
wishes in the matter should have no more weight
than II they had been expressed by the Governor
Of Maine or California. It s all the more sham Q.
tpl II, as alleged, Governor Foster has been In.
duCed to believe that II he can inAuen ce the
President to hold Mr.. Cases appointment in
allegiance until after the Ohio election, II VIII
make him some voteH among the Welsh citizens
Of his State. II he so believes he is labOring uu.
der delusion. The Welsh voters rank am ong
our most intelligent and conscientious citizens,
and are not To be Influenced by any such con sid.
eraionR II his election depends upon such
devices he must be in greater straits politically
than we have been led to believe hir1 to be-.
"The Preaidentis not to be blamed, perhaps, for
listening to these outside appeals He cou Id
hardly have been expected to rebuke or admon.
sh so close personal and political friend as Mr..
Foster, to say nithing Of the dignity and inHu.
ence which he carries about with him In the per.
son OF 0hlo's Governor But the President can