Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-07-20
a Clean Skirt.

LFrom the South Branch Intelligencer.1
The appointment of Huntington, a
bitter Republican partisan from this
district, to a good position in the
Government printing office, has oc-
casioned considerable feeling in our
county, where the people believe in
rewarding their friends. In the Gov
crnment printing Office arc $500 en-
ployees, and of this number not 800
are Democrats. It is the only large
establishment under the Government
where civil-servicc rules do not apply.
Mr.. Rounds, the Public Printer, is a
bitter Republican, whose four years
term expired in April last. He still
holds his office, and very few Dem
ocratic Congressman can get Dem
ocratic printer a position in that office,
and when they do he is sent to & Bot
any Bay" the most undesirable room
in the building, where the printer is
paid by the piece on =" lean'' work,
and makes half wages. Mr.. Dun
nington was treated better and given
place worth $1,000 year. On
whose recommendation was this ap-
pointment made? was leading ques-
ton; and prominent Democrat of
this county wrote to Representative
w. l.. Wilson making inquiries in re-
gard thereto. Public feeling was
aroused, and we were satisfied Mr..
Wilson would not receive the support
of Hamphirc in convention if he were
in any wise connected with the APP
pOintment. From urpersOnal knowl-
edge of the conduct and management
of the Government printing Office by
Mr.. Rounds, the following extract
from the letter in reply to our friend
cOnvinces us that no blame attaches
to Mr.. Wilson for the appointment Of
Huntington. The following is the
extract:
Gas to Mr.. Dunnfngton's appointment in the
Government printing office. had nothing i'll
the world to do with it. directly or indirectly.
nor any privity with it. nor cOnnivuncc at it.
gave him neither written nor verbal support.
aud have recommended nobody for appoint
mcnt in the printing Office but thOrOughyn!Eg
Democrats. 1t is scarcely less Just to charge
me with rcmissness in suffcrin" the appoint
ments to be made than with active particiPa-
ton in it. The public printer is 4 Republican, !
have no Intercourse with him. except as visit
his Office at intervals pressing applications
from our district. and know nothing and can
know nothing of his plans or designs except as
they are officially and publicly reported"
After the above had been put in
type we received the following letter
from Mr. Wilson, which fully satisfies
us that he has done his duty in this
matter, and that we, with others,
have hastily misiudgcd him:
House OF REPREsENTATIvEs.l
WAsHNGToE. d. e.: July y. l0oG.
Editor Irtieiigencer:
DEAR SIR In v0Ur last Issue I find an ar
tCIc commenting. in terms of censIrc. on MIR.
Dunnington's appointment to q place i'll the
Government Printing Office. and iutma:in%
desire to know if was i'll any way rcspoHslb C
for this appointment. / cannot believe this
desire arose from any doubt in vOET own mind.
but rather from n friendly wish that | sh0nld
satisfy any others who may he liable to crro-
ncous impressions.
Permit me- therefore. to say through your
columns. broadly and comprehensive rs
possible. that was not in any way. directly or
Indirectly. connected with this appointment or
privv to it at any stage. Since the new ad-
ministration came in there has been no time
that | have not been pressing Democrats Tor
places in the Printing Office. and have never
recommended. orally or otherwise. any but
Democrats for these places. With nearly seven
hundred Democratic applicants from our dis
trict my register. for miscellaneous govern
mcnt positions. not including local appoint
mcntS il is not likely that / will be looking
elsewhere for parties TO recommend. II is the
worry of my life that can do so very little for
the many score most deserving applicants OF
our own political household: but i'll this am
not behind other Democratic Congressman.
and our district will not suffer i'll comparison
with others in oar State or elsewhere.
Very truly. w. l.. WILSON.