New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-17
TENNESSEE REPUBLICANS.
LACK OF HARMONY, AND IT'S CAUSE.
COMPLAINTS OF coNGREssMEN THAT HOSTILE FED
EpAI nrrIcrps APE NOT REMOVED.

outlook in Tennessee pr asked TRIBUNE cores
pondent yesterday of Congressman Moore, OF the
Memphis district
ut would he better if we had harmony in our
ranks was the reply
"What is the trouble ~ Mr. Moore was asked
"Well, in Shelby County the difficulty is due to
some Of the Federal Office holders In order that
you may understand the matter | must go back
several years. One of the features of Presl-
dent Hayess Southern policy, as you may re-
member, was an attempt to strengthen the
Republican party in the South by giving
share of the Federal offices to liberal Demo-
Gratis" The appointment of ex-senator Key to
be Postmaster General was inspired by this idea
OF course the new Postmaster-General had an
ardent desire to promote the of the policy 10
which he owed his own elevation and the natural
consequence was the appointment OF a good many
Democrats and old line Wings political nonde-
scripts reay-as Postmasters in the Southern
States One of the appointments thus made was
that of Mr. Thompson, one of the Editors OF inc
Memphis Aralanche as Postmaster at Memphis. MI.
Thompson died of yellow fever i'll the epidemic Oh
1879. One of his bondsmen was President DAVIS oi
thc First National Bank of Memphis who was ana
is. a warm friend of Mrs. Thompson That sum-
mer Mr.. Davis was travelling IN tie Northwest
and was thrown into company with President
Davis suggested to the President that it would be
an appropriate and kind act to appoint Mrs. Ihomp-
son 10 the office made vacant by the death OF her
husband and upon this suggestion and without
consulting any of the leading Republicans ot Mem-
phis the President acted. Under the circumstances
we made no objection, but it afterward became
evident that Mrs Thompson was unequal 10 INC IT,
sponsibilities of the Office and an inspector WHO eA
amined the Office recommended change, but moth
ing was done.
after President Garfield's inauguration came 10
Washington and presented to him ana 10 fostiias-
er-eneral James that change would be tor the pes'
interests of the service, and would also ueh
the Republican party in Shelby County III ,no
first months of Garield's Administration three uii-
ferept post office inspectors carefully investigated
the affairs of the Memphis office; and after h'e Ut
six weeks thus spent, all of them concurred IN
recommending a change. The President and Post
master-General both thought that the office ought
IN he nIaced IN new hands but they naturally hesi-
tated about the removal of woman-especlahy
one whose husband died IN the service;
so the matter was postponed from tiiiio
70 time, and nothing had Deen uoho
when the President was assassnated. lhen'
for some time after President Arthur came ln' me-
of course felt averse to doing anything: ana, lor
sone reason which am at loss to understand he
has not vet taken any action. Now this is long
story and you are wondering what bearing IL has
unon Republican prospects in Tennessee VI course'
Mrs Thomson takes active part III politics, put
her two principal subordinates do. The Assistant
Postmaster Walter Jones. and the Chief Clerk,
Lafayette Jennings, while ooth are honihan' he
publicans are low credit men.
"The only hope of Republican success In Ten
nessee rests on unity in favor of maintaining 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 and Jennings IN the opposite d-
rection They have been very active, ana are using
.ber influence TO secure the election of delegates to
| the State Convention who will be, ike themselves
in favor Of partial reputation. They have
already broken up one local convention, and have
so divided the party that two opposing delegations
| ;ll no cent TO the State Convention They have
already done great deal of mischief, and there Is
| doroer of their doing great deal more. jennings,
am informed is neglecting his duties and devoting
his time to n careful and energetic canvass to pre-
vent the election of any State credit" delegates.
The next Legislature will be close at best. Shelby
| Comfy will send nine members, and they will
| hoId tho balance of power If the Republican
Marty there con be united in the Support OF
State credit they will be able to elect solid dele
cation of State credit men and thus virtually to
control the action upon the debt question; but, az
have explained. that cannot be done unless there
| abou soon he a change in the management of the
| Memphis Post Office"
The Tennessee Congressman evidently felt dsap
no;nted because of the failure of the President tC
| act promptly in regard to the Memphis postmaster
sb,n but he was as evidently disincined to express
for publication his opinion to the reasons of the
failure.
Mr. Moore and the other Republican Con
| gressmen from Tennessee have united in recon-
mending and urging the appointment as postmaster
at Nemphis of Charles w Schultz assistant cashier
the First National Bank Mr. sehulie Is an eA nor
soldier and is said to be gentleman OF the highest
respectabii:y and standing, socially ana Otherwise
| While Mr. Moore is inclined to be retlcent u ls no
secret that not only he, but most OF tne other ne
| nnhIcon congressman from the South, are much
dissatisfied because tho President s not more Promp'
in making removals and appointments on ther re,
| comnondation Several of them nave Dluntly SAID
lately that President Arthur appears TO be even
more anxious than President Hayes ever was 10 De
on good terms with Southern Democratic senators
and that in order to secure their support lot tne
| confirmation of his nominations he is Wiling tc
allow them virtually 10 control most OF tue south
ern appointments Some OF the kep9pilcah Iennes
see Congrcssmen have recently complained because
as they assert the President pays much less atteh
tion to their recommendations ana Wishes than Ut
does to those OF senator lSnam W. ildI'
ris Indeed. it is learned from source
which appears to be perfectly Trustworthy, that
President Arthur recently said IN reference
70 tbc Memphis matter that he did not propose to
send any Nomination. to the Senate that would not
be confirmed and he had been given to understand
that Senator Harris would strenuouSly oppose INC
onn6rmation of anyone nominated for the Memphis
post Office A Republican Congressman SAID, IN re.
gard to this that in his opinion the President meant
cose of onDosition from Republican Senators, he
could secure the confirmation of his appolntees by
the AID of Democratic votes.