Telegram-herald., 1889-05-17
ISTHESLATEBRO
Candidates for Federal Offices On
the Ragged Edge.
TINE TRYI DC THEIR Strength
Alleged Certa mites Becoming Cncert4i "a
tiss-Ths - stskstes-eio ioerGyk Conts@
Getting " aFns-Ihe Postobiee a
Boae OF SontSntt0a.

Hlents Tor THIS city ana distficl htfe
virtually decided on. Il was positively
announced that Fred 5. Clark would
be postmaster, john Steketee Collector
OF Internal Revenue and K. A. Maynard
Collector OF Customs. The announce
ment Was made so positive that many
people indoTsed the programme IN
order 10 be IN the procession, rather
than because Il accorded with their
preferences.
The appointments hung fire, how
ever, owing 10 the Presidents policy OF
moving slowly except in clear cases OF
maladmlnistration or fragrant partisan
snip. and As the feeling OF gratitude 10
the County Committee became dulied
by lapse OF time, the sentiment IN fasor
OF the "slate candidates" as they were
called, lost much OF Its strength. Other
candidates came up. \ feeling arose
that certain ones were assuming Zoo
much authority. The enemies OF the
candidates began 10 work against them.
The candidates themselves committed
some indiscretions.
All these things have worked together
to create an opposition, which has now
become 50 strong that many weil-in-
formed politicians believe that neither
of the gentlemen named viii get the
plum he Is reaching for.
The opposition first developed against
John Steketee, and originated from
very trivial matter. Wm. MOerdyk, Il
representative liollander and capable
man, applied to him for the position of
assistant collector. Mr.. Stckctee said
that he had determined 10 give the
place to his son. Well" sand Mr..
MOerdyk, ''there are four places in the
office, let me have one of the Others"
Mr.. S,eketee had already assigned the
places to other gentlemen.
On his way home from Stcketee's
Office Moerdyk met friend. why
don't YOU try for the collectorship
yourselfY' asked the latter. Moerdyk
accepted the hint. Steketee's friends
had assumed that the office belonged TO
Grand Rapids. Moerdyk went To work
upon the theory that the Office belonged,
not to the city, but to the district, and
secured the Endorsement of
large number of the most prom
inent and influential Hollanders
in West Michigan, as well
as a good backing at home. Moerdyk
was a soldier with good record. lt is
charged against Stekctee that he was
Il Democrat during the Rebellion, and
was not in favor of prosecuting the
war. Steketee was put forward IA the
representative of the IIollandtrs.
MoeTdyk's friends charge that ne sepa-
rated himself from niS count v.4en
many years ago. Moerdyk is a.so a
wOlkingman, while Steketce is
capitalist. The contest has be-
come very warm, and both sides are
greatly IN earnest. The Office is at the
disposal of Senator Stockbridge, and
the friends of Moerdyk claim that Con-
gresham Belknap has pledged his sup
port To neither.
The opposition to Clark was slower
III It's growth, but Is becoming more pro-
nounced every day. Clark was Char
man of. the County Committee, and
reaped a large measure of the glory for
| the good showing made 10y the Repub-
icans at the polls. Had the appoint
ment been made soon after the election,
the opposition would have been 50
small rs not TO have been noticed. The
delay has given his opponents an oppOr-
tunity TO collect and mass their forces.
So far there is no one candidate upon
whom they have becnablc to agree, but
il Il now pretty certain that no appoint
ment Will be made until Mr. Blair's
commission expires IN the latter part of
September, and It Is probable that be
fore that time they VIII be able 10
reconcile their differences.
The opposition 10 Clark dates back to
the time when Judge Montgomery Te-
ceived the nomination for CircuitJ Judge.
Birney Hoyt had been Judge for some
years, and was candidate for re-
nomination. Clark was one of the
warmest of Judge Hoyt's supporters,
and after the convention headed
bolt, and worked To defeat
Montgomery hy running Uoyt on
a stump ticket MontgOmciy's
friends still remember this, and arc
now strongly opposing Cl3rk's appoint
ment \ good many old time RepubI-
cans. too. are a little inclined 10 resent
Clark being advanced 20 rapidly lD
the party councils, and thcr re-
sentiment is famed 10y an mag
! incd disposition on ms part to
dictate where 1t would bc more bcc0m-
ing TO ask advice. Considerable Inn
petus has recently been given TO the
movement against hlm 10y the disagree
meuts which have arisen among tie
officers of the Gable railway. Mr.
Bovine, President OF tho company, and
Mr. Blodgeti, who is one of The largest
stockholders, are agreed upon a policy
which the company should pursue.
Tins policy IS violently opposed by NJ.
Ilbbetts, the manager, and ln the
janglCs which have resulted. Clark
has sided with Tohetts. NJ.