The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-27
HENDRICKS AND HIS FRIENDS.
The Treatment They Received at the Hands
of the Cleveland Administration.

The Treatment They Received at the Hands
of the Cleveland ministratiOn.
Indianapolis Letter in Chicago Herald
Possibly the first case in which Mr.. Hendricks
took an active personal interest was that of Eb
Henderson, who applied for the coilec torshp of
internal revenue in the Indianapolis district.
Congressman Holman recommended w. d. H.
Hunter for the same position Henderson was
chairman of the Democratic State central com
mittee, and had done excellent service for his
party. while Hunter was the personal friend of
Holman. and had performed no service outside
of editing party paper in country town. Not
w1thstandlng the fact that the appointment of
Hunter would result in the removal of the col
lectors Office from this city to Lawrenceburg,
and take the deposits from indianapolis to Gin
cinnau banks, the commission was issued to
Hunter, and Henderson. though urged for many
other places is still chewing the cud of bitter
disappointment
Colonel Banister, who had received from Mr.
Cleveland the assurance that Hendricks would
be entitled to anything he wants" was among
the early applicants for place, and when he had
enlisted the personal influence of Hendricks he
naturally felt that the place was his. In a short
time, however. the coveted place was filed by
another. and Banister lowered his demands and
bent his energies for another appointment. This
drifted away from him also. and he was finally
compelled to take position in the Land De-
partment or nothing. As nothing the last
thing he wanted, he conformed to the conditions
and was finally installed, after much vexation of
spirit. during which he is supposed to have
learned that Presidents memory may some
times be as treacherous as that of ordinary poll
ticianS.
Another and even more signal case in which
the past requests of the Vice president were ig
nored without any apparent cause that of
his cousin, William Hendricks, of California.
He applied for the position of Superintendent Of
the Mint and had the recommendation of a
host of prominent Democrats besides that of his
Indiana relative. The applicant had been a cit
izen of California for many years, was an ex-
perlenced business man, ana was not wanting in
any qualification for the position. The Vice
president received a promise from Mr.. Cleveland
that nothing should be done in the matter with
out consulting him, and he confidently expected
the appointment to be made. His feelings can
be imagined when another was given the posi-
ton. and the President in explanation of his
failure to keep his promise, said that, in the
hurry of business, he had signed the commits
sion of the successful aspirant without thinking
of his promise. The relative of the dead states
man has never received any intimation that the
rush Of business" at Washington is over
The controversy over the appointment of a
postmaster in this city made douby humili-
ating to Hendricks from the fact that his recon-
mendation was opposed in the POstoffice Depart
ment, which openly encouraged Bynum to con-
tinue his contest. Mr.. Hendricks recommended
an old citizen of the State. man who had held
Office under three Democratic administrations
and who was known all over Indiana for his ster
ing honesty and unoStentatl0u feaItv to party.
Bynum recommended a man who had been in
the State but few years and who had never had
the opportunity even had he possessed the in
clination to do service for the party. The con-
fict of interest between the Vice president and
the Congressman from his own district led to a
great deal of newspaper comment in which both
were credited with saying things that neither
never thought Of When the controversy
was at its height the Postmaster general ad-
dressed note to Mr.. Hendricks, asking him to
withdraw the name of Mr.. Jones. Had Mr..
Villas grossly iusuited Mr.. Hendricks, the latter
could not have felt il more keenly Going at
once to the White House, he handed the officials
note to the President, and said:
"You and were elected by the same votes to
the positions we hold and want to know if the
Indianapolis postofice is to separate us.
Cleveland said nothing for moment but
leaned forward and bowed his head upon his
hands. Looking up. he assured Mr. Hendricks
his wishes should be complied with. and the
latter left the room. The next day the appoint
ment of Mr.. Jones was made. This was the
nearest approximation to an open rupture be-
tween the two statesmen, and there is no ques-
ton but Hendricks would have made war upon
the administration if Jones had not been ap-
pointed postmaster. He never forCave Villas,
and except upon one occasion. never recognized
the Postmaster general after receiving the note,
which, TO the day of his DEATH remained IN
answered