The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-19
And He Sent for the Indiana Man and Told
Him His Resignation Was Wanted, and
There Must Be No Delay in the Matter.
Filibuster Oates Threatens Ultimate
Defeat of the Direct-Tax Bill,
Unless Friends of the Measure Consent to Re-
funding of the Cotton Tax-Coy- Bern
hamer Decision Postponed Till Monday.
FAULKNER,s "REsIGNAr1oN.-

The Painful Story of the omcial Decapita-
tton af the Ripley County Man.
Special to the indianapolis JournaI-
WASHINGTON. April 18-To-night Chester r.
Faulkner, of Ripley county, related to the
Journal correspondent the circumstances under
which he resigned from the position. OF chief OF
a division in the Pension Office, yesterday The
resignation amounts 20 nothing less than re-
moval, and blame is laid by Faulkner, FIRST,
against Mr.. Nash. superintendent of the railway
mail service. and secondly, Secretary Villas.
Mr.. Faulkner has a son-in-law named Sands,
who lives at Milan, Ripley county and who is
railway postal clerk a run route in
Ohio. Some time ago Faulkner called on Super
intendent Nash, with Senator Voorhees,. and
urged that Sands be transferred to a run in Indi-
ana. SO that he could vote and work in that
State in the coming campaign, and be with his
family. After taking the matter under consid-
GRAFTON for time. Nash refused to make
the transfer, saying that the postal service was
not run for political ends, and that Sands was
better fitted for service the route which he
now WORKS Faulkner. upon receiving this in
formation, addressed personal letter to NASH
marking it ''confidential." in which he spoke in
very plain words his mind upon the subject nm
der consideration. He said that il it was the
policy of the administration to send many
Democrats out of Indiana possible and put as
many Republicans into the State as could be
kept there he would like to know it, and in
timated that it would not tend toward political
in the coming campaign in Indiana
Nash looked upon the letter as impertinent aud
referred il to the Postmaster-general, who in
turn referred 1t to Secretary Villas. Villas,
smartng under the quarrel he recently had with
Senator Voorhees,, immediately dispatched
messenger to the Pension Office summoning
Chief Faulkner 90 the Interior Department AS
soon as Faulkner entered Secretary Vilass Office
the latter handed him the letter from the Post
Office Department, and inquired IL he wrote it.
'T dictated this letter." replied Faulkner.
sand am responsible for every word Of it,"
.'Weu, then," said Villas, 81 want your resig-
nation. and immediately"
.sYou cannot have it." retorted Faulkner,
with impatience. "until have consulted Foor-
hees and General Black, who put me into the
position occupy"
.'You can consult with them, but you must
send me your resignation this week." were the
parting words of the Secretary as Faulkner left
the room.
This was during the last week of March. I'm
mediately Faulkner called upon Commissioner
Black and informed him of what had occurred.
General Black was very much surprised and a
good deal worried over the matter, because he
regarded Faulkner, officially and personally
very highly. Next day Genaral Black told
Faulkner that he had better hand him (Black)
his resignation, because he could use it to much
better advantage than if it were
sent directly to Seer etary Villas Faulkner
protested against this. saying that he did not
propose TO resign, and would hold his
however, Faulkner wrote out his resignation.
dated March %. and handed il to General Black,
who immediately forwarded it TO Secretary
Villas. Yesterday he was notified that his resiR-
nation was accepted, to take effect on the LIST Of
May.
Tonight the Journal correspondent saw Mr..
Faulkner, who stated that his resignation
written against his better judgment and that
he believed it would have been better had he
refused to resign and awaited summary removal.
s.1f Villas intended to kick me out" said Faux
ner, .'he would not have waited from the 2Sth
of March to the 18th of April The fact is. he
wanted to humiliate and humble Senator Voor-
hees. If the Senator had gone to Villas and re-
quested that be retained would have been
kept in my position Villas, no doubt, thought
he could bring Voorhees, around and heal
up the trouble that exists between them by re-
tanning as a personal favor TO the Senator,
but would not permit Voorhees, TO be humili-
ated. and would not have remained in my posi-
tion at the sacrifice of his pride. / am yet in
charge of the division, and will be until the end
of the month. when 20 out, and am glad OF
It. wanted TO resign last june but General
Black insisted that I should stay with him.
General Black and are good friends. but have
no respect whatever for Villas, and in this Sena-
tor Voorhees, and are together. Nash, the sn-
pc rlntendent of the railway mail service, vio-
lated the confidence reposed in i'm when he
made public document of my confidential let
ter to him.
There other troubles among the Indiana
Democrats in Office in Washington. Sol
Hannegan. of Terre Haute, who has
for a number OF years held a position as
door-kesper in the Senate by the grace of Sena-
tor Voorhees,, has been removed. Ned Price,
of Sullivan who was confidential clerk to the
Third Auditor, has been appointed to Prices
place. Price has taken Hannegans place. and
il is reported that Hannegan is fishing for
Faulkners position Senator Voorhees, and
Dick Bright are railing at Colonel Williams for
the displaeement of Price, ana Hannegan and
his friends very much out of humor ac-
count of changes in the force at the Senate.
There is a great deal of feeling in the matter,
and no end of trouble is likely TO follow.
OATFS'S THREAT