The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-21
TEXAS REpupIl cANIsM AT A p1scouN1

It will be remembered that some month
or so ago the high republicans of the state
had q secret conclsve here in Austin, at
which a memorial to President Harrison
was indited. The meeting was held a
profound secret, yet at that time we pub
lished much of what was done therein.
That memorial has now been presented to
President Harrison, and special telegram
to the Missouri Republic of last Wedne5-
day gives these as the first two planks in
the memorial:
"That there being no republican repre-
sentative or senator in congress from
Texas, We have great reason to fear that
the mugwump and half hearted republic
ans who have affiliated with the democracy
during the past four years will soon seek
federal appointments through the solid
democratic delegation now representing
this state at the national capital"
The second plank reads: "That the re-
publican administration will be judged In
Texas by its federal appointments in this
state, and that the future of the republican
party here depends largely upon the char
acter of those appointments"
After giving further the substance Of
the memorial, the dispatch says:
Then is attached the names of all the
members of the republican committee.
The memorial is beautifully engrossed and
its endorsement, which is also signed by
the members of the committee, states that
1t was intrusted to Colonel DeGress and
N. W. Quincy to present to the president,
and also that they were appointed to rep
resent the committee on matters of ad-
vice pertaining to federal appointments
in Texas.
1t hence is matter of interest with our
people to know how this distinguished
and elaborate document and its bearers
we're received by the president-the OBJ
ective point of all this action. The Mis-
souri, Republic dispatch is very full on
this point and is to this effect:
About 11;55 to-day Quincy and DeGress,
with the important document in Cuney's
inside pocket, appeared at the door of the
White House. They passed the outer SEN
tinel and were intercepted by another at
the bead of the stairs. They succeeded in
working past him and were accosted by
a third sentinel at the door leading to the
room occupied by the private secretary
to the president. After good deal of
trouble they finally got into the private
secretary's room and after another little
parley succeeded in reaching the holy of
holies, or the room of the president. They
had exactly one minutes interview with
Harrison, and it is safe to say that he did
not hear single word they said, as the
two of them talked at the same time. They
were shown out politely but hurriedly,
and did not look very cheerful when they
appeared outside the White House por-
tails. This, perhaps, is the most unique
effort to control the federal patronage of
the state that has been made during the
whole period of the spoils system. Quincy
and DeGress hate each other. They are
political rivals. DeGress wants white
mans party in Texas, but he also wants
office. Quincy wants fully half the federal
offices in Texas for men of his race. At
the last republican state convention, held
at Fort Worth, Quincy and DeGress were
leaders of the rival factions that created
such disgrsceful scenes during the ses-
sions of the convention and had to be
kept off eventually by the police officers
of Tarrant county. They are hating each
other as intensely now as they did then,
but in the interest of policy and the spoils
they are concealing their wrath and each
pulling for his own share of the plumber.
We have nothing to do with the merits
of the controversy between Col. DEGREES
and Quincy, we simply reproduce the
whole article to show how our state
affairs are known abroad. But we do call
attention to the manner of reception of
these accredited agents to the president,
and think, if the Republics account of the
affair is true, that neither faction would
seem to stand much chance for a good
grab at the spoils-and if the republican
element of the state has not some other
resource there will be a strange division
of the loaves and fishes in Texas.
To- IL.