Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-18
MIR. CRANES POINTED DENIAL.
The Liquor Dealers and the District
Commissionership.

To the Editor Of THE EVENING Star:
The following communication, correcting a
slanderous article that appeared in the Critic
| yesterday, was sent to that paper this morning.
The editor refused topublish it. Will you give
| ii place in your columns and thereby aid the
cause of truth and fairness? Yours truly,
]. H. CRANE.
Washington, d. c., Jan. Is, 1889.
| To the Editor of the Critic:
of the nomination of Mr.. VIM. b. Webb to
succeed himself as one Of the Commissioners
of this District, and the probability of his being
confirmed by the Senate, you make use of my
name in a way that cannot allow to pass
| unnoticed. You say:
"A delegation of liquor dealers and others
| called on Mr.. Cleveland on the Saturday pre-
| ceding the expiration of Mr. webb's term in
| advocacy of the claim of John H. Crane for
Commissioner. Mr.. Cleveland. after listening
| to their arguments for Mr.. Crane and against
Mr.. Webb, stated that he could not consider
the name of any outside applicant for the
place II Mr.. Webb would accept a reappoint-
| ment."
Allow me to say that there is not one word of
truth in this statement, and if you will call
upon the President he will, no doubt, confirm
what say. No delegation of liquor dealers"
| called on the President in my behalf last Sat-
urday, or at any other time. The only persons
that know OF who have spoken to the Presi-
a prominent business man from western New
York, who never sold a drop of liquor in his
life. They called one week ago last Friday.
One OF the Senators presented my name to the
President for Commissioner, endorsed by more
than nine-tenths Of the Wholesale merchants
in this District, also by many leading retail
merchants, builders manufacturers, real estate
dealers, insurance agents, capitalists, lawyers,
doctors, journalists, scientists, and prominent
citizens engaged in the most honored pur-
suits Of life, all of whom are noted for their
temperate habits. With the exception of three
or four hotel-keepers there was not retail
hquor dealers name on my papers. This
would hardly seem to bear out your statement
that MIR. Webb is endorsed by everybody.
You put words in quotation marks into the
Presidents mouth which he could not have
uttered at the time you speak of, or at any other
time, to persons addressing him in my behalf
A delegation, composed Of three well-known
wholesale merchants, called at the White House
last Monday to see the President for me. They
were unable to see him, but made an appoint
ment for the next day. Two hours later Mr..
Webb's name was sent to the Senate. l might
add that one of these merchants was sent for
by the President three years ago to name a
Commissioner, and that he named Mr.. Webb.
Another of the three is on Mr.. Webb's bond
The attempt to make it appear that l am
brought forward as the special champion of the
liquor dealers will hardly work in this COM
munity, where l have resided SO long.
The Commissioners of this District are execu-
tive officers. not legislators. They should fear
lessly and impartially execute the laws made
by Congress. If prohibition, high license or
low license be the law, then let the law be
executed, without fear or favor. but bothering
or blackmailing any class of citizens should not
be allowed.
Please try, when using my name, to be cor
rect In your statements. Respectfully yours