Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-11
SWAPPING THE FEDERAL PLUM.

Marshal Locke to Resign and Assume
a CIerkship in. the Custom House
Col. Wade to Succeed TO the Marshal-
ship-RumOrs of Changes to Take
Place.
Among the arrivals at the Screyen
House yesterday morning were United
States Marshal j. f. Bryant, of Atlanta,
and r. d. Locke. of Macon. A MORNING
News reporter understood that the APP
pearance of these two well known Repub-
licans, one representing the stalwart and
the other the half-breed wing of the party,
had some significance on account of the
meeting of the Republican Convention
here. aud undertook to discover what was
the character of the influence, if any, they
proposed to bring to bear.
1t was learned that Col. Bryant
was in the city to attend to some private
business, the only political significance
attaching to which was, that if he should
neglect to attend to it promptly certain
individuals, formerly his political sup
porters here, would make representations
at Washington with the intention of pre-
venting the confirmation of his recent APP
pOintment to the Marshalship by the SEN
ate. He was clOseted with a well-known
attorney during the afternoon, and left
last night for Washington.
Marshal Locke arrived on the morning
train from Macon. The object of his visit
was to confer with leading Republicans
i'm the city with a view of harmonlZing
the discOrdant elements of the party in
the First district. During the day an UNI
standing was reached, by which it is be-
lieved that the purpose of his visit will be
accomplished.
Marshal Locke is admitted by the Re-
men of the party in this portion of the
State, and is DESTROYS of taking an active
part in the Presidential campaign. He
is understood to be about to tender his
resignation as Marshal and to accept the
Marine Clerkship in the custom house
here, made vacant by the death
of the late incumbent, Mr.. Cox,
when Deputy Marshal E. @. Wade
will be appointed to the Marshalship in
his stead. His resignation will not, how
ever, be rendered until the Presi-
dent shall have returned to Washington.
In the event of Blaine's election it
is understood that Collector johnson will
be urged for reappointment, and that A.
N. Wilson will be put forward to succeed
Gen. McLaws in the post Office, the latter
to be offered as good if not better posi-
ton elsewhere. The reporter was led to
understand that Gen. McLaws had not
been approached upon the subject
of. the proposed change, but it was
intimated that sufficient influence would
be brought to bear on the Republican adj
ministratiOn to secure position for him.
A petition is now being circulated
among the business men of the city, and
is being generally signed, asking his re-
appointment, but it is not understood to
have any connection with the move con-
templated by the promotion of Mr.. Wilson.
1t was also learned that Marshal
LOcke's claims on Blaine rest principally
upon the fact that in 1880 he was one of
his staunchest supporters from Georgia. in
the National Convention, and voted for
him during thirty-siX ballots. He has al
so since that time taken an active part In
behalf of the Republican candidate for
President, and will in a few days take the
stump in this State. The re-
porter was assured that Wilson, johnson
and Wade fully indorse the propositions
made by Marshal Locke, and that they
are prepared to cooperate with him in his
plans to harmonic the different elements
of the party in this section of the State.