Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1885-07-10
J WASHINGTON LETTER.
iFrom our regular eorre.pond.n..l J


WAsHINGToN, July 6, 1885,.
In half hour after the commission
OF the Republican collector at the
port of New York had expired, q
Democrat had been appointed in his
place. The appointment came near
ly three days before it was expected
and created considerable surprise in
political circles here The .quid
nunes and the politicians have now
had time to pull themselves togeth-
er, and stare at the situation, and
their comments are rs diverse as
their political biases. The Republic
cans take a William Walter Phelps
view of the selection, and say it is
good for the country, but bad for
the Democratic party.
They are unable to see how much
wiser a politician President Cleve-
land is than was President Garfield,
when he created schism in his par
ty by appointing Mr.. Robertson TO
that same Office four years ago.
The manner of man Dir. Hedden,
the new collector, is, cannot he bet
ter stated than by quoting from the
letters of those who most intimately
know him. In letter to the pr esi-
dent, Bates, Reed and Cooley, prom
inent New York merchants said !:
"We take pleasure in testIfying to
the excellent business qualities, in
tegrity of character, and high COM
mercial standing of Mr.. Hedden,
among the business men Of this city.
and to say we are sure his appoint
ment as collector at the port will give
great satisfaction to the best husi-
ness interests of the city. We be-
lieve Mr.. Hedden to be thoroughly
competent in every direction, man
of thorough-going system, and order
in the dispatch of business, and a
gentleman who will do honor to the
appointment, if he is so fortunate as
to receive this favor at your honds. -
Daniel Drake Smith, one of the
oldest merchants in New York wrote.
.sHis father a lawyer, studied in the
Office of Alexander Hamilton, and
filed an honorable and distinguish
ed civic Office in this city more than
half century ago, and was repre-
sentative of the city on the opening
of the Erie canal. do not hesitate
to say that from personal knowledge
of collectors of this port since 1882,
but one incumbent as well as not 9
single one better qualified, in my
opinion to fll the place than is Mr.
Hedden. Mr.. Hedden has always
acted with the Democratic party"
Mr.. Edwin Livermore throws thi:
LIGHT on Mr.. Hcdden's political fat.
and other characteristics He is al
unassuming man, a. genuine New
| Yorker, athorough Democrat through
all the time have known him, calm
ly waiting for return to constitu
tional principles of government. III
has been respected and admired b.
by those even in authority who diff
iered with him politically. His cx
expert testimony has always bee
sought and approved in mercantil
appraisement, and other custor
house matters. There are few mel
chants letter qualified by taste an
education than be for the Office.
Gen. John B. Woodard's lette
adds this: Mr.. Hedden was borniI
! this city in 1928, and entered t.
employ of Wetmorc, Cryder & Co
in l847. He was employed at ono
! to attend to their custom house wQr
and had general supervision theree
! during his whole business career
E The firm never employed custol
: house brokers, owing to his thoroug
: acouainta nce with the requisite d.
4 tails. He became partner with tt
# house in May 1859, and was pract
calIy the managing partner Of IL
house from then till the dlssolutlo
= in 1884,
Mr.. Hedden is not afraid of th
Office as may be inferred from a r
mark made on Saturday. he SAT-
= 81 am thoroughly familiar with ever
department of the custom house, al
know the duties of every man in
from the entry clerk to the collecto
1 am no politician but my sympathi
are with the county Democrats, al
L 90 into the ofIiee unpledged al
unbiased. No man and no body
men will find it possible to rule me