The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-05-25
SOUABLING OVER THE sPOILS.

The leading organs of the grand old
party" of this state are just now profound
ly agitated over quite an acrimonious SQUAD.
BILE that has arisen between the two Illinois
Senators on one side and President Harri-
son and certain Illinois Congressman on
the other, over the division of the spells
pertaining to this State. For month or
two frequent growls ana mutterings had
been passing between the contendiDg par
ties over mutual charges of interference
with their "prerogstives," but the matter
only came TO noisy open rupture when
Wilcox, the man put forward by Jas.
Cannon, of the Wabash 15th) district, was
appointed Internal Revenue Collector AZ
Springfield, over Dr. Calhoun, the man
whom Senator Cullom wanted.
The contention of Cullom and Farwell
is that precedent and the common law of
politics are, that Senators if they belong
10 the same party of the administration,
shall have the selection of the postmasters
and other important federal officers in their
own towns, and shall have nearly the same
scope In congressional districts represented
by the opposition. Thus Springfield,
where the Internal Revenue office is lCca-
Gated, is not only in Cullom's own town,
but in district represented by demo-
cratic congressman.
Yet In spite of this common law" the
President has appointed Wilcox, the man
recommended by Congressman Cannon, en-
dorsed by Payson and Gest, Collector at
Springfield, against the protests OF Cullom
and Farwell, who had recommended and
urged the appointment of DR.. Calhoun.
1t was not the first oifense. Several 9th
er appointments had been made at the in
stance of Cannon, Payson and others,
where Cullom had named different men,
and by precedent" was entitled to be
heard. But they were small affairs, and
not laid up against the President, who
was chsritably supposed to have ministered
uHNbItlbNHiI w JUG Nuuilbll Ei'llts
But in this Wilcox appointment there
could be no such charity. 1t had every
of an intentional and delib
crate snub of Cullom and Farwell. This
became a certainty when Cullom fastened
to the President and insisted that the ap-
pointment of Wilcox should be with
drawn, and the President CURLY and fatty
refused TO do so. Cullom and Windom,
the dispatches further say, had big row
over the matter, ending by Cullom declar.
ing at was evident that the administration
did not care for his friendship or support,
and though he should not on that account
abdicate any of his rights as a senator, he
should know how to take care of himself
ana asked no favors."
OF course, the fight Is only adjourned TO
the meeting Of the senate, when the ques-
ton comes up of WilcoX's confirmation,
and Cullom having the strong point of
senatorial courtesy" in his favor, 1t
wouldn't be strange If he and Farwell
didn't In the end lay out Wilcox and his
executive and congressional hackers
The plea in behalf OF the President in
this case Is that he Is cOntending for a
principle, involving his own prerogatiye,
against the claim of the senators that
they have u right to nominate certain
whether the President wants them
Or not; and credit Is attempted to be given
him Tor the exhibition of independence
aud "back bone' in the matter. But this Is
bosh. If the President had set aside both
Cullom's and Cannon's man and had OPP
pointed one of his own, Cullom admits he
would have no grievance, but he OBJ
jects to being snubbed In this way to graft.
fly the petty jealousy and spite of men like
Payson and Joe Cannon.