Omaha daily bee., 1885-01-15
COMFORTS STRONG BOX,
County Treasurer Poitevin Resigns
and ID. o. johnson Made His
Successor.

Crawford county has had a lively it'll
wrestle over the position of county treas
urer, a vacancy being caused by an ex.
oeption to the rule that office holder,
never resign. The Bulletin gives tn,
following details, Brother Keith, o
course, viewing matters from o demo
cratic standpoint:
The general pupllc was astoniohed last
week by the resignation of County
Treasurer Poitevin. That the step was
contemplated q long time ago was evi.
IDENTIFY known in republican circles. L,
is alleged that Mr.. Poitevin accepted the
office with the understanding that al
the expiration of his term he was To
step aside a d make room for the aspi.
rations of another republican. Were II
not q carefully guarded secret amona
u republican brethren, VIC might add
that some OF the forces that made posi-.
BILE MIR. Poitevin's election were gener.
ated by this understanding. Be that az
1t may, Mr.. Poitevin has seen fit to re-.
sign the Office, alleging inadequate pay
for the extra labor required under the
new law, as the reason. Aside from the
prospects of reelection and legislative
relief, there is little to make the office
attractive to any man who would not
violate the spirit of the law by speculat-
Ing on the financial resources of the
county. Mr.. Poitevin has been an off
cient and patnstaking official. He has
labored diligently, and faithfully guarded
the interests of the office. With no
public dissatisfaction, and against the
opportunities of the republican leaders,
he has taken a step somewhat embar.
rassing to the gentleman whose original
plans OF succession" are temperate if
not permanently upset. AS o matter of
course the gentleman selected by the
board to ill the vacancy will be nomi-
mated by his party next fall.
Aside from the question of competency
political considerations were weighed BY
the various wings of the republican party
IN the selection of q successor to Mr..
Poitevin. Every member of the board
FELT a nationsl convention filed with
motions, amendments and hypodermic
injections of political advice. They lived
through the ordeal, however. One wing
of the party, embracing the ohairmon of
the board, Mr.. Schultz, MIR. J. p. Miller,
MIR. Schluser aud others, favored the ap.
pointment of Mr.. l.. 7. Carr. While
not a candidate, in the sense of making q
personal effort to secure the position,
MIR. Carr was warmly urged to accept
the office by large number
OF men prominent in the
circles of bis party The personal oppo.
sition of Mi. Chambers, however, seems
to have been fatal to Mr.. Cars election.
Another wing of the party, under the
leadership of Mr.. j. Frsd. Meyers, was
equally anxious to secure the appoint.
ment of Mr. d. o. johnson, deputy
postmaster. Three ballots Were taken,
resulting in the election of johnson.
While Chambers opposition to Carr made
his appointment Impossible without a
democratic vote, Schultz's adherence to
Carr made Johnson's election depend
upon the came conditions 10th demo-
cratic members voted for johnson on the
final ballot and made possible his cleo.
lion.
Had The democrats elected their ticket
last fall no doubt come competent dem.
ocrat could have been chosen to succeed
Mr.. Poitevjn. In view CT the existing
circumstances there was at first some
reason to believe that one republican
vote might bs secured for some worthy
democrat, and Mr.. l. T. Roberts was
urged TO become a candidate but refused
to enter the field. Mr.. Charles Bullock
withdrew his candidacy, and thus with
neither of these gentlemen In the field,
the democratic members of The board
were actuated by no party consid erations.
That the democratic party of this county
were unable to control the selection of a
treasurer is another evidence of local i'm
potency, resulting from political self
abuse last fall.
Mr.. johnson has assumed charge Of
his duties and will no doubt labor dill.
gently to maintain the high standing of
the office and faithfully wear the onerous
responsibilities of his position. The two
Denison banks are his bondsmen and the
county deposits will be equally divided
between them,