Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-08-09
THE HON. JOHN S. WISE.
SIIRS UP PRESIDENT HARRISON
AND HIS ASSISTANT POST
MASTER GENERAL
CIARKSON


[From Washington Letter of the Baltimore Sun
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-Mr. John s. Wise,
of Virginia, accompanied by Mr. Grubb, who
wants to be postmaster of Richmond, called
at the White House yesterday and it is under
stood that highly sensational scene occurred,
In which some very plain language was in
obliged in by all the participants. As far as
can be learned MeSsrs. Wise and Grubb pre-
sented themselves at the Executive Mansion
primarily to talk over the Richmond postmas-
tership, which it seems had been tacitly as
signed to Mr.. Grubb as a part of the recent
compromise between the warning factions in
Virginia. Besides the President and Messrs
Wise and Grubb, First Assistant Postmaster
General Clarkson was present during the con-
sultatiOn, as all of the political cases arising
in the Postoffice Department have, so it is sta
ted, been assigned to his special care. 1t APP
pears that the meeting had been prearranged
and after the agreeable conferences other Vir-
ginia leaders had recently held with the Pres
dent there was nothing to indicate the ap-
preaching storm.
A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR MIR. WISE
Mr.. Wise at once proceeded on the assump-
ton that the appointment of MI. Grubb had
heen agreed to by the Malone faction and
sanctioned by the representatives of the repub-
llcan national committee specially detailed to
pacify the eontending factions in the Old Do
minion. The President, however, declined to
makea positive promise that MI. Grubb should
receive the plum, and referred to Mr.. Clark
son to know whether OF not such action was
contemplated when the compromise plan was
formulated. Mr.. Clarkson conceded with tbe
President that no promise had been made and
this brought out a vigorous reOinder from Mr.
Wise. incidentally he stated that he had re-
ceived letter from Mr.. CIarkson, in which
the latter had made specific statements as to
the postmastership at Richmond. This was
denied by the First Assistant Postmaster-(ien-
eral, whereupon MI. Wise, it is said produced
the letter in question from his inside pocket
and waved it defantly before the very much
chagrined official
HARMONY NOT YET ACHIEVED.
Then Mr.. Wise let loose his pent-up feelings
and proceeded to show to the President that
the promised harmony in Virginia was not as it
had been predicted it would be- but that the
anti-Mahone men would not be Modified by a
few beggarly offices, when the fat positions
were en-, being given, to the opposition.
Then followed heated conversation. in
which Mr.. Wise had to stand some hot person.
al shot fired at him by the President and MI.
Clarkson. The plucky Virginian did not
finch, but retorted to the full extent of his
well-known ability. He told the President
very plainly that he was tired of having the
statement thrust into his teeth at every turn
that he is now New Yorker and should not
mix upin Virginia politics. He remarked that
he still owns burial lot in Virginia and paws
his .poll-taX there, and added that the admins
Virginian on election day.
'AFRAID OF GEN. MALONE"
The President reminded him that his son
had Just been appointed a cadet at West Point,
and that fact ought to convince him of the
friendly disposition on the part of the admins
lstration. This personal allusion only added
fuel to the flames and in the plainest of An
glo-Saxon, accompanied by gestures with his
left hand, the now irate Virginian informed
the President that under no circumstances
could he permit personal courtesy to stand
III the way OF his duty to his constituents. He
said that he was in Washington to see that a
promise made to his friend Grubb should be
carried out, and he was met with a rebuff
coupled with the statement that if Mr. Grub
is not appointed to the position, it will not be
conferred upon Mahone man. That, he said,
was not acting fairly with him, and he did not
hesitate to say that the entire administration.
from the President down, is afraid of General
Malone: Continuing, he said that he would
be derelict in his duty to the people of his ma
tive State if he did not protest against snch
treatment, and more especially in view of the
much paraded assertion that all differences in
the republican ranks have been healed,
MR. BRADY REPENTs HIS BARGAIN.
But a few days ago, added Nh. Wise. a So
called compromise was effected, whereby MI.
Brady was appointed collector at Petersburg,
and now he heartily repents being led into
such an agreement, as it has placed him in a
false position before the people OF Virginia.
1t was further stated that Collector Brady is
seriously contemplating throwing up his po-
sition and going in with the anti-Mahone ele-
ment to prevent the accomplishment of the
ambitious designs of the willy General, who
wants to be United States Senator AGAIN
There was no attempt at mincing matters and
the President was told the exact condition of
affairs in the State, where so much is expected
next fall.
ANOTHER STORMY INTERVIEW.
S,,1> II,
| protracted interview at the Postoffice DEPART
ment between MeSsrs. Clarkson and Wise. in
which the latter was taken to task for having
dlVulged the contents OF a letter which was
confidential, This Mr. Wise justified on the
ground that he had been placed in a false no.
ton before the President, and it was merely a
question OF veracity between Mr.. ClarkSon
and himself.
MAHONE WANTS THE sENATORsHIP.
One result of the conference at the Postofce
Department was that Mr.. Wise vowed as he
left the precincts of the first assistants office
that he would not again intrude his presence
unless upon the special invitation of Mr.
C1arkSon.
1t remains to be seen what following Mr..
Wise has in this matter, and especially In
view of the fact that Messrs, Gr0ner, Lang
ston and Brady have accepted the terms of
the compromise effected by the national COM
mitteemen recently, General Malone is I'M
derSto0d not TO be DESTROYS of having the
nomination Tor Governor, but would be con-
tent to resume his place in the United States
Senate if a Legislature favorable to the Repub-
lican party is chosen in Virginia Surface
indications are that the present tiGat IS more
personal than political,
PINNING THEM FAITH TO THE GENERAL.
It is predicted that the Norfolk convention
will be conspicuous for the apparent una
nimity in favor of Malone, but it win also be
notable because of the absence of all of the
leaders who have opposed him. On the other
hand Senator Quay and Gen. Glarkson are
not iii favor of dealing with Wise, as they
pin their entire faith. SO far as Virginia Is
concerned, to Malone. They regard the
average Virginia Republican as chronic
seeker for office, and they believe that if the
administration is iudioious in the distrihu
ton of the federal patronage in that State it
will be found in the Republican column next
fall.
WHAT MIR. GARRISON SAYS.
First Assistant Postmaster General Clark
son, upon being questioned concernina the
matter acknowledged that tbera had been a
strong interview, in when MI. Wise, he said
talked in an unreasonable manner. 1t was
represehted to him both by the President and
MI. ClarkSon that it was their impression that
he had been contending for a principle when
10 nj.