Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-07-04
Mr.. COMSTOCK'S WISHES
conCsRNlho The OFFICES.
Not Satisfied "ith the Presidents Ac-
ton Some Ne" Candidates
From Grand Rapids.

SPECIAL o. the tIes Press.
WAsHIsGrOs. July Sin the procession
that wended its ~ay 10 the White House to
day and veil IN front we're Hon. {. &. CON-
stock aud Hon. Charles Ii. Taylor, OF Grand
Rapidz, for many years connected With tho
editorial statf Of the Free Press, Y. ". See
ley, of Grand Haven, and that old aud stall
sart Democrat. Hon. j. Z. Pat
terson, of Holly. Mr. ComstOek's business
With the President was 10 talk over
with him matters connected with the Fifth
District. The Pre- .ident wss 20 badly press
ed for time that the opportunity was not
presented to Mr.. COmstOck 10 say all that he
had IN has mind 10 utter he-srs. Comstock,
Seeley and Patterson arrived this morning
Mr.. Seeley l. one OF the candidates Tor the
CollectCTsfnp OF the port Al Grand Haven,
and Wilson, OF MuskegOn, Is no longer per
mitted 10 play lone hand. Mr.. Taylor hopes
10 be the ne II postmaster AZ Grand Rapids.
la answer To inquiries. however, he said: "A
few days since heard that my friend Ben
Iamln. of Grand Rapids, was down here TO
sell the President some culled lumber l
Will be franker than he anu state that my
mission here AT the present time Is TO nsh
and shoot ducks"
Mr. Taylor will call on Secretary Villas to-
MORROW and leave for home in the evening.
Messrs. COmstock and Seeiey are unable to
say when they will return, certainly not this
week.
MIR. Comstock is not exactly satisfied with
the way matters have gone IN his district
thus Far. He would have much preferred
I'D. Burlingame for Internal Revenue Col
lector than George y. Davis. In fact, Bur
lingame was Ms candidate. "A great deal
has been said about MIR. Burlingame having
offered MS services To the Republicans last
fall, " remarked Mr.. ComstOck 10 the repre-
sentative for the Free Press this evening. Il
do not believe there il word of truth III the
charge. have always considered him the
keystone in the order of the Fusion move
ment In the Fifth District. His influence
and acquaintance among the farmers of
Kent county Is very extensive, and he
Possesses great influence among them. 1t
Is true that he was paid s. per day for his
time. but the Republicans would have paid
him S25 per day for his services, but they
could not get him for any price they could
name'
What is the object OF my visit here at this
time | am here tor the purpose of getting
V. :. Seeley appointed Collector of the
port, James Blair made postmaster at Grand
Bapids and Maj. Kelsey appointed United
States Marshal. / shall not NEEDLE with the
Office of United States District Attorney
Yes, | am willing TO say who would be n
candidate for that Office If | were permitted
10 name him. | would present the name of
John Lawrence a weii-known attorney at
Grand RAPIDS"
what Is the nature of the charges against
Mai. kelsey"
Il am entirely ignorant OF their nature.
The Secretary of the Treasury will not per-
NIT me TO see them"
Have the Congressman receded from the
compact entered into at Detroit last SPRING.
hox-. 1cls 81, . a.
ing So We entered into that compact in
good faith for the express purpose of not in
terfering with one another. L wish IN addl-
ton 70 say that in the appointments recon-
mended by me In my District | have been
actnated solely with desire TO strengthen
the party. / have not in q single instance
permitted my personal friendship for lndivi-
duals to influence me in the least"
In relation 10 the charges against Mai
Kelsey, of Ionia, the Free Press correspond
ent has learned they are in substance az fol-
lows: First. that during the late civil war he
served in the Confederate army and had
charge of the railway service for Tennessee:
second, while serving In that capacity he
took occasion to pass Confederate cotton
through the Union lines, thereby making
vast sums of money. When these charges
we're repeated to Mr.. Comstock he laughed
heartily and seemed to take fresh courage in
being able to land Maj. Kelsey where he de-
sires TO place him. He is very enthusiastic
in his praises of him As a citizen and a man
OF ability. II is conceded that he was in the
Confederate service. bnt Mr.. Comstock
| thinks that inasmuch "a Mosby, the guerilla,
has been representing this country in China
50 many years that the people of Michigan
can afford 10 forgive Mr.. Kelsey.
Mr.. ComstOck reports an additional can
didate for postmaster at Grand Rapids in the
person of c. V. Calkins, real estate dealer.
and Mr.. Brown for the Office of United
States Marshal.
II is expected that Hon. |. VI. Weston. Of
Grand Rapids, will arrive here in a few days,
and il Is rumO-ed that Don VI. Dickinson and
W. q. Thomson will reach here Saturday.
If these rumors be true. Michigan matters
will again assume great importance.