Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-06-25
The Harrisopburg Muddle.

lne ddrTtSOApuIS MuuC.e'
To the Editor of the AIezandrin Gazette;
There is beauti.ll fight going on oyer
the postoffice ofthe thriving town of Har.
risonburg; as the ladies say it's perft city
lovely.n The republicans are divided
amongst themselves end the democrat, are
chucklng with unconcesled delight.
1t seems there were three applicants for
the position. &. P. Funkhauser, who waa
the candidate of Malone and was backed by
the former political idol of Rockingham re
publicans, Judge Paul; D. s. Lewis and
Jas. Sullivan, who represent the sIckers.
Sullivan was the former postmaster here
and was removed by Cleveland. He and
Lewis were supposed to be in league-if one
got the position the other was to be hrst as
sistant and vice versa.
Funkhauser was generally thought to be
ahead in the ra, ), with Lewis close at his
heels, both men having influential friends in
there respective wings of their party But
recently it has been known that Sullivan
was endorsed by Gen. Roller, whose princi
pal claim to consideration and renown con.
sists In the fact that he was overwhelmingly
defeated for Congress last fall by Col. Chas.
OFerral. Roller several weeks ago, stole
march on Malone and Paul aud urged
the President the immediate appointment of
Sullivan, in recognition of his, Rollers, dis.
tinguished services to the party in this dis
trict So it came TO pass that the citizens OF
Ha.rsonburg were amazed to learn
one fine day that Jas. Sullivan had
been appointed postmaster. Great was the
wrath and CONSERVATION of the Ma
honeites and the citizens generally were sur
prised and dsgusted. Funkhsuser is
thought to have been very badly treated,
though it is said bis application for the 90.
sitlon had never been brought before the
President or Postmaster General, which
helps to account for the Presidents oomplais.
ances to Roller. The object of the latter,
who is known to have aspirations for future
and greater honors, was to appease the kick,
ers and secure their support for himself a
personal grudge against Lewis, the other
and more acceptable kicker candidate, pre-
vented Roller supporting him. side
i:ht is thrown on the Generals motives by
the rumor, generally believed. that one of
his brothers is to be Sullivan's first assistant
at salary of 81 900 year.
A few days ago Roller and his candidate
were thrown into CONSERVATION by sum-
mons from the Postmaster General to come
and answer to grave charges which had
been brought against the latter Then
there was "hurrying to and fro and
swearing and hot haste" Roller and Sulli.
van started of to Washington armed with
the written certificates of fifteen or twenty
prominent republicans" of the kickers'
wiug, Of course, to the effect that Mr.. Sulli.
van was high-toned Christian gentleman
of strictly temperate and moral habits, q
man without fear and without reproach.
The charges are supposed TO have been
brought by the friends of Funkhauser, In
stigated and perhaps led by the redoubtable
Paul himself; their nature has not been
made public.
Whatever they were, the sffidavits of the
prominent republicans aforesaid seem to
have sustained their hero, for the virtuous
Sullivan telegraphed back to them that he
had "beaten the mud elingers," end re-.
ceive6 his commission. 1t Is reported that
Cheap John" said to some republicans who
expressed to him the dissatisfaction OF
Judge Paul, that he regretted that so distin'
guished republican as Paula man whose
services, ETC., etc.-sbould be displeased at
the appointment of the postmaster OF his
own town; he didn't think 1t worth while 10
mention the dissatisfaction OF the demo.
Gratis, that the charges brought were very
grave, that the regulations had their weight,
that, in fact, he had no further time to
waste on the CT g; he could not and would
not reconsider tine appointment; If
the people of Harrisonburg are dis.
satisfied they have only themselves to
blame and proceeded to deliver brief Sunday
school lecture on the Importance of citizens of this
great and glorious country selecting and endors-
ing the best men, "The responsibility of appoint
ments rests with the people. and not with the ad-
ministration.n tolerabiy neat way OF removing
this blame of the appointment from MS shoulders
to Rollers. ,-
So the matter rests. 1t is well known that Ms
hone and Paul are wrathful and it is thought that
Boiler has over.reached himself and cooked h's
political goose. The democrats look on serenely ;
they can stand it for four years. b.