Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-04-22
OTEmPORA, o MOREs.
wicked Low Tax Republicans
Who Vex the Soul of
Our N. &.
Special to N. Y. Tribune.

the political outlook in Tennessee p
asked a Tribune correspondent yes
terday OF Congressman Moore, Of the
Memphis District.
at would be, better if we had hsr-
mony in our ranks, was the reply.
what is the troubleg Z" Mr.. Moore
was asked.
well, in Shelby county the diff.
Guilty is due to some Of the Federal
office holders. In order that you may
understand the matter, ! must 80 back
several years. 0neof the features OF
President Hayes Southern policy, as
You nav remember, was an attempt to
strengthen the Republican party in
the South by giving share OF the
Federal Offices to liberal Demo
Gratis" The appointment ofex Sena-
tor Key to be Postmaster General was
inspired BY this idea. OF course the
new Postmaster General had an ardent
desire to promote the success Of the
policy TO which he owned his own ele
walton, and the natural conSe.
Quence was the appointment Of
good many Democrats aud
old line Whigs"-political monde.
ssripS really As PostmRsters
in the Southern States One Of the
appointments thus made was that Of
Mr.. Thompson, one Of the editors of
the Memphis Avalanche, as Post.
master at Memphis. Mr.. Thompson
died Of yellow fever in the epidemic
Of 1878 One Of his bOndsmen was
President Davis, Of the First National
Bank Of Memphis, who was, and is,
warm friend Of Mrs. Thompson.
That summer Mr.. Davis was travelling
In the northwest and was thrown
into company with President Hayes,
who vas also visiting that region.
Mr.. Davis suggested to the President
that il would be an appropriate and
kind act 70 appoint Mrs. Thompson to
the Ofee made vacant hy the death Of
her husband, and upon this sugges-
fion and without consulting any Of
the leading Republicans Of Memphis,
the President acted. Under the cir
We made no objection, bat
il 2fterE2rd became evident that
Mrs. Thompson was unequal to the
responsibilities Of the Office, and an
inspector who examined the Office
a change, but nothing
was done.
After President Gar6eld's inuagu-
ration, / came TO Washington and
presented to him and to Postmaster
General James that a change would
be for the best interests ofthe service,
and would also strengthen the Repub
lican party in Shelby county. In the
FIRST Of months OF Garfelds ad.
three different post
office inspectors carefully investigated
the affairs of the Memphis Office; and.
after five or six weeks thus spent, all
Of them coneurred in recommending a
change. The President aud Post
master General both thought that the |
office ought to be placed in new hands,
but they naturally hesitated about the |
removal Of a woman-especially one
whose husband died in the service; so
the matter was postponed from time
to time, and nothing had been done
when the President was asSassiuated.
Then, for some time after President
Arthur came in, he, OF course, felt
averse to doing anythingy 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 Tennes-
see. Of course, Mrs. Thompson takes
no active part in politics. but her two
principal subordinases do. The As
sistant Postmaster, Walter Jones, and
Chief Clerk, Lafayette Jennings while
both are nominslly Republicans, are
low credit men.
"The only hope Of Republican sue
cess in Tennessee rests on unity in
favor of maintaining the credit of the
State. On that issue the Democrats
are hopelessly divided; aud, if the Re.
publicans 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 Jenning in the opposite direction.
They have been very active, and are
using their influence to secure the
election Of delegates to the State Con.
veDtion who will be, like themselves.
10 favor of partial reputation. They
have already broken up one local con-
yentiOn, and have so divided the party
that two opposing delegations will be
sent 10 the State Convention. They
have already done a great deal Of mis-
chief, and there is danger of their do
ing great deal more. Jennings, I
am informed, is neglecting his duties
and devoting his time to careful and
energetic canvass to prevent the cleo
ton 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.
ancs Of power. If the Republican
party there can be united in support of
State credit, they will be able 10 elect
a solid delegation Of State credit men
and thus virtually to control the action
upon the debt question; but, as | have
explained. that cannot be done unless
there shall soon be change in the
management Of the Memphis post.
Office"
Invalids should prevent their dis.
ease from gaining ground BY using
Browns Iron Bitters. 1t stops decay,
keeps the blood warm, and gives the
emaclated form a new lease Of life.
5. Mansfield & Co., w. N. Wilker.