Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-20
THE DIRTY SLUM
or Republieanism in Memphis Opened by
Congressman William r. Moore,
Who Thinks His
Possession of the City POstOfice Essen
tial to the Success Of StaIwart-
ism In this District.

WASHINGTON, April 16.-"What is th'
political outlook in Tennessee asked (
New York Tibune correspondent yesterday
of Congressman Moore, of the Memphis dis
trict.
at would be better if we had harmony il
our ranks" was the reply.
"What is the trouble?" Mr.. Moore was
asked.
"Well, in Shelby county the difficulty il
| due TO some of the Federal ofice-holders
In order that you may understand The matter
| / must go back several years. One OF the
featuresiof President Hayes Southern poll
cy, as you may rene rnber, 7sasnzi attesspt 20
strengthen the Republican party in the
| South by giving share Of the Federal
| offices TO liberal Democrats The sppoint-
ment Of Ex-senator Key to be postmaster
| general was inspired by this idea. OF course
| the new acknowledgement had an ardent
desire to promote the success of the policy to
which he owed his own elevation, and the
natural consequence was the appointment OF
good many Democrats and "Old line
Whigs"-poliIical nondescripts really-as
postmasters in the Southern States. One
of the appointments thus made was
that OF Mr.. Thomson, one of the editors of
the Memphis AuaLdRche, as postmaster at
Memphis. Mr.. Thompson died of yellow
fever in the epidemic of 1877. One of his
bondsmen was President Davis, OF the First
National Bank of Memphis who was, and is,
a warm friend OF Mrs. Thompson. That
summer Mr.. Davis was travelling in the
Northwest and was thrown into company
with President Hayes, who was also visiting
that region. Mr.. Davis suggested to the
president that it wonld be an appropriate
and kind act to appoint Mrs. Thompson TO
The office made vacant by the death of her
husband, and upon this suggestion and with
out consulting any of the leading Republi-
rams of MsOnhis the nresidapt actad ITndar
the circumstances We made no objection, but
it afterward became evident that Mrs
Thompson was unequal to the responsibilities
of the office, and an inspector who examined
the office recommended change, but nothing
was done.
Alter President Garfeld's inauguration, 1
came 10 w Arlington and presented to him
and to Postmaster General James that
change would be tor the best interests OF the
service, and would also strengthen the Re-
publican party II Shelby county. In the
irst months of Garfeld's administration
three diff rent postofice inspectors carefully
Investigated the affairs of the Memphis
office; and, after five or six weeks thus spent,
all of them concurred in recommending
change. The president and postmaster
general both thought that the office ought to
be placed in new hands, but they naturally
hesitated about the removal of woman
especially one whose husband died in the
service; so the matter was postponed from
time t. time, and nothing had been done
when the president was assassinated. Then,
Tor some time after President Arthur came
ia, he, of course, felt averse to doing any
thing; and, for some reason which / am at
loss to understand, he has not yet taken any
action. Now this is long story, and you
are wondering what bearing it has upon
Republican prospects in Tennessee. OF
course, Mrs. Thompson takes no active part
IN r1nII hITf her fuvn
mates do. The assistant postmaster, Walter
Jones, and the chief clerk, Lafayette Jen-
nings, while both are nominally Republicans,
are 'low-credir men.
'The only hope of Republican success in
Tennessee rests on unity in favor of main
tanning the credit of the State On that
issue the Democrats are hopelessly divided;
and, if the Republicans boldly espouse it
and stand firmly together, they will win.
So far as the Republicans of my district are
concerned, there would have been no doubt
OF their doing this had it not been for
the strenuous efforts of Jones aud Jennings
in the opposite direction. They have been
very active, and are using their influence to
SECURE the election of delegates to the State
convention who will be, like themselves, in
favor of partial reputation. They have
already broken up one local convention, and
have so divided the party that two opposing
delegations will be sent to the State csnven-
ton. They have already done great deal
of mischief, aud there is danger of their
doing a great deal more. Jennings, am
informed, is neglectiDg his duties and devot-
ing his time 10 a careful and energetic can
vass to prevent the election of any State
credit delegates. The next Legislature will
be close at best. Shelby county will send
nine members, and they will hold the bal
ance of power. Ii the Republican party
there can be united in the support OF State
credit they will be able to elect a solid dele
cation of State credit men and thus virtu-
ally to control the action upon the debt
question; but, as have explained, that can
not be done unless there shall soon be
change in the management of the Memphis
postoffice."