The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-25
Congressman Willis Shows Himselfa Fighter,
and Expresses Perfect Willingness to
Assume All the Responsibility.
Lawyers Who Exhibit Their Weak Spots
When Placed in the Witness-BoX.
Romantic Story of Miss FOlsom's Great-Grand-
aunt-A Man Who Is More than Match
for acknowledgment Gossip.
THE LOUISVILLE posTorFIcE.

AN Appointments Which Has Caused . Vast
Quantity of Comment.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, April 24-Excepting. possibly,
the reappointment of the postmaster at New
York city. 10 act committedb by President Cleve
land has been so much commented upon in
Washington as the reappointment of Mrs.
Thompson to be postmistress at Louisville, KY.
Mrs. Thompson is ono of the most active Repub-
Hcan ladies in the South. She frankly acknowl-
edged that she had contributed largely to the
Blaine campaign. and heartily in sympathy
with that wing Of the last presidential contest.
1t is known here, now, that there was immense
influence brought to bear upon the President by
people not directly interested in the appoint
ment or men who felt that there would be
great influence through the party, to have him
bake the bit in his mouth and make an appoint
mont OF his own. It was the firm demand and
the steadfast stand taken by Representative
Willis, of Louisville, that drove the President
Into the action he did take.
Quite number Of times during the comments
npon this appointment your correspondent has
been reminded of the assertion made by Mr.
Beecher shortly after Mr.. Cleveland was inaugu-
magnificent mugwump said: ''Grover Cleve-
land has more nerve than any man ip public
life, and If he lives long in che Office of Presi-
dent Of the United States the people will come
TO understand It."
The bent of the comment upon the reappoint-
ment of Mrs. Thompson is testimony to Presi-
dent Cleveland's courage. It is well known
that there was very stormy scene at the White
House when Mr.. Willis last went there in behalf
of Mrs. Thompson's reappointment The Pres
ident urged Mr. Willis to withdraw that prerog-
alive which has been established at the White
House. and which permits Democratic congress
men to name the postmasters in their own cities,
and permit an appointment to be made indie
pendent of him. Mr.. Willis is one Of the
most courageous men in the country. He is
about fiftytwo years DID, very slender and phys
lcally quite frail He is pale faced and con-
bumptive looking, but he would fight buzz
saw and give it an hours start When he got
up before the President and told him that he
was willing to assume all the responsibility and
take all of those curses which he had been
warned against. and that he would assume moth.
Ing and never visit the White House again, and
hever lay claims to this administration IL he
was not permitted to name this appointment, the
President saw that there was no use to further
stand out and he succumbed.
The reappointmentofM Mrs. Thompson was made
10 please the Society OF Christians, church or
ganization at Louisville. the most clannish and
powerful organization of any in the State Mrs,
Thompson is leading spirit in it, and Mr.. Willisis
one Of its most influential members. 1t Is
said that he was moved by the
church as we'll as political influence
and that Mr.. Cleveland became more impatient
when he learned that there was some church in
6uence in the affair. The reappointment of the
postmaster at New York was simply an arbitrary
act of the President. He had number of in
fuential Democrats in the city to demand that
Pearson should not be reappointed, but none of
them made any thing like demands Of the char
acter that Willis made. Willis is chairman of
the House river ard harbor committee, and he
Just simply pitted his whole political existence
and his official influence against that Of the
President, and just drew the line at Mrs.
Thompson For the first time in the public
reer of President Cleveland, or Governor Ceve-
land, or Mayor Cleveland, or Sheriff Cleveland
he has been ''downed" He made a. pit for his
own fall when he said that Democratic congress
men should name the postmasters in their home
towns.