Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-04
WHO SHALL APPOINTs
A Question of Courtesy in One of the Ohio
Districts as to Who Shall Fill the West
oni

A Question of Courtesy in One of the Ohio
| Districts as to Who Shall Fill the Yves
Point Vacancy,
! CLEVELAND, o., Jan. 3.-Cnngressnna1
Townsend is in hard luck over his ap
pointments to the military academy a
| West Point. 1t has been usual to hold {
competitive examination, the winner IL
which was recommended to the presiden
for appointment. -Four years ago an OK
animation of this kind was held and The
upshot of it was that Clarence Edwards
son of VIM. Edwards, Townsend's business
partner, was recommended, notwithstand
ing the fact that he stood third on the lis
of those examined. Trifing technicalitief
were brought in and made to swamp the
first two, one of this city and the other
country boy. At any rate young
Edwards got the appointment,
and the district growled over
the questionable tactics for months
and the Democracy reduced Mr.. Town
sends majority in 1880 by using the facts
in the case against him. In June next
Edwards does or does not graduate report
says the latter-but a new man must fill
the gap. Last week Townsend presented
the name of Harry E. Adams, son of
Fitch Adams, an extensive paper dealer OF
this city. Young Adams is bright fellow
of fine physique, we'll known and esteemed
here. He is at present in an Eastern col
lege. Mr.. Townsend's congressional term
expires in March. The vacancy comes in
June and plain folks are again criticising
Mr.. Townsend's course.
Democratic congressmen-elect, Marden
A. Foran, Townsend's successor in the
Forty eighth congress, was understood to
strongly object to this way of doing bust
ness, and to consider the appointment one
that he should make. With this in view,
your correspondent called on Mr.. Foran
and asked him for some expressions on the
matter. Said he: 81 was very much sur
prised at Townsend's action. AS matter
of fact there is no vacancy now, nor will
there be until June, 1888. Therefore, by
appointing, he has plainly usurped the
right of his successor Of course the pres
ident appoints,b but is generally directed by
the choice of the congressman"
"The choice, of course, is yours" sug-
gested the correspondent.
''Most assuredly. Mr.. Townsend's
term expires in March, and the
vacancy comes three months later.
l have no one to favor-no axe to grind
but I did and do propose giving the
young men of the district chance in a
competitive examination, the winner in
which is my choice. I shall follow out my
programme too. There are about thirty
young Clevelanders, among them two
colored men, who have come to me and
have my promise for a fair show. That
show I am determined they shall have.
Mr.. Townsend seems to have disregarded
all precedents and customs. Appoint
ments on his plan, will, it seems to me,
have tendency to lower the grade in the
army, and instead of picked young men
aristocratic snobs will be sent to
West Point. Competitive examinations
are the only means of keeping
up the standard of loyalty and
honor. The successful candidate
in an examination in which
attainments and honor carry the day
must be of this order. If Mr.. Townsend
wants to have an examination, am per-
fectly willing that he should go ahead, but
in any event I am determined that such
an examination shall be held. and if neces-
sary shall carry the matter into congress
and fight it through"
Mr.. Townsend is still out of town and is
said not to be willing to explain.