Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-25
A REMARKABLE EXPLANATION

A REMARKABLE EXPLANATION.
The following astonishing bit Of inior-
nation is taken from the Lntsliigmcer's
columns regarding the Why and wherefore
of the appointment Of Gen GOFF's brother,
Mr.. CHARLES GoFF, to succeed Mr..
GEORGE r. TINGLE. in the face Of Gen.
GorF's Endorsement of the claim of hIr. F.
H. SMITH, of Hancock county;
The President expressed
desire to do something personal for Gen.
Cot. but there was nothing that he want
ed OF personal character except one OF the
half dozen Indian inspecioTships for his
brother. When il was ascertsined that be
could not be given one OF these places Gen.
Got dropped the matter. Meanwhile the
President spoke to Secretary Window, Of
the Treasury. abont his wish to do some
thing for the General, and after considers
ton Mr.. Window decided TO tender the
place held by Mr. Jingle to Gen. Colts
brother.
The General had Endorsed Mr. F. H.
smith, OF Hancock county, for this place
snd had several times been with hum to
see the Secretary. Ii appears that for
some reason Mr.. Window was not favOrs-
DIV impressed with Mr. Smith, and be so
told General Goff The Secretary, lust
prior to General Goff's departure a few
dsys since, told him that he would sp-
point his brother, Charles COT, to the pc
.ition held by Jingle il he thought the
former would like It, General Gotf sAid
that he had Endorsed another applicant
and the appointment Of a brother OF his
would embarrass him.
Mr. Window assured HIM that he did
not think that Mr. Smith WAS the best
man for the place and requested Gen. Go1
10 withdraw mis- Endorsement OF Mr.. Smith
and he would at once appoint his brother
Gen. Goff replied that he could not do that.
/ He had indorsed Mr. Smith in good faith
and be was anxious to secure the appoint
ment, and lie must insist on letting his in
/ dorsement Of the Hancock applicant stand;
/ he would not withdraw his Endorsement to
secure a place for his own brother. Tue
Secretary then told Gen GOh that Mr..
Smith would not get the place,
and even If he declined to withdraw
bis Endorsement Of Mr. Smith the
appointing power would appoint another.
/ III ais brother would accept the place be
should have it. Accordingly the Secre-
tary addressed a letter to Mr. Charles G'ff
| rendering him the place. Mr.. G0fi arrived
here This morning and was given the APP
pointment to take effect on the first OF May.
Had Gen. GoFF seen this matter prior to
its publication we are sure it would never
have appeared in print. 1t placss the
General in a most embarrassing position
and will necessitate considerably
more satisfactory explanation from him
than Is contained in this gsuzy article
Il is uncomfortable that General GoFF
should give his endorsement to Mr..
SMITH for the position and then allow his
own brother 10 take it. There must be
some other explanation of the matter than
the astonishingly fimsy one above quoted,
which is not only ridiculous but worse
than if nothing at all had been said.
If Secretary WINDOW did not think Mr..
SMITH qualified to fiji the place land We
disagree with him there inasmuch as we
consider Mr.. SMITH fully competent in
every way TO fill the position and regard
him as every inch Mr.. CHARLES GoFF's
equal in that respect), why did not tne
Secretary, knowing GoGF had endorsed
Mr.. SMITH, take some one else besides
GorF's own brother, and not place the
General in so awkward a position2 Had
the appointment even gone out of the
State, bad i: gone any where, TO any
body except to GoFF's own brother, it
would have been infinitely preferable to
all concerned.
The InteVigeHca's explanatory" article
places General GOFF in the worst possible
predicament The plea made for him by
the laundering writer that he could not
prevent his brothers. appointment is ride
ulous 10 says that the President and
Secretary WINDOW were anxious tC
"do something" for General GoFF
lis it doing something" fol
aim 10 80 telrfuly embarrass him in his
own State, placing him in the position oI
one who not only does not stand by HE
friends bat knifss them for the benefit OF
his Own immediate relatives? OF course
such an explsuaiiOn is no explanation at
all A word as to ;he true situation from
Gen GorF would have made it clear tC
| Secretary WINDOW that it was out of th'
question to appoint Gen. GoFF'S brother
in the face of the Generals endorsement o.
Mr.. SMITH There were plenty of othe
places where Mr CHARLES GoFF could be
cared tor within the gift Of any Of thu
several Cabinet officers, Of which it wal
only necessary for the pr. sident TO crool
his finger in order tina. Gen. GoFF'
brother might have one.
In the light OF the Iptellgencr's dispatch
the whole sdair is inexplicsble and places
/ GoFF in a position before the public and
toward Mr.. SMITH which no man would
care to occupy.