St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-28
MINNEAPOLIS.
WHY ED HESITATED.
Davenport Is in No Hurry
About Becoming a Census
Takep.
The Emolaments OF the Office
Are Not Large Enough
for Him.
He Has His Eye on Something
Which Would Pay Him
Better,
And He Has Good Backing for
the Place Which He
Desires.


Porter. 1t seems that E. J. Davenport,
supervisor of the Minneapolis district,
is to be allowed but $1,000 for labors to
extend over period from April to Sept.
l. lie claims that the district to be COW
cred is a large one, and III order to di-
vide it to the best advantage it will be
necessary to institute personal can
vass, which would entail a considerable
expense. AS Supt. Porter has stated
that each supervisor must pay his own
travelling expenses the amount left
would be exceedingly meager. 1t is
also fact that no Minnesota districts
will be allowed extra clerks.
Mr.. Porter has stated that he would
send out blanks to the supervisors in
about sixty days, and the work be at
once put under way. A vast amount of
the work, such as the laying out of the
districts, and the Subdlviding can be
done earlier than that, and all the plans
made ready so that the enumerators can
go to work at once as soon as the blanks
are received. A bill has been favorably
reported by the senate which will give
enumeratOrs in Jhinly settled districts
s. day and expenses, instead of the
former wages of 50 to Sc day from
which expenses had to be deducted.
Of course Mr. Davenport would like a
little more than $1,000 to cover all of
the expenses of taking the census in
Minneapolis, and that is one reason
why he is not overly anxious to accept
the place. But there is still another
which Mr.. Davenport has not men
toned. Some time ago it was stated in
the GLOBE that Davenport has been
casting longing eyes upon the chair
which j. j. Ankeny now occupies.
Davenport'S services during the last
senatorial campaign entities him to some
consideration, ana his being a young
Republican entities him to some more.
But Maj. W. ID. Hale
WANTS TO BE POSTMASTER.
and, furthermore, Senator WaShburn
wants Hale to be postmaster. 1t can
not be denied that Davenport has strong
backing for his aspirations. and could
make strong fight for an Office in the
new public building on First avenue
south before Hale can become post
master, without the kicking up of a dis
agreeble muss politically. Davenport
must be got out of the way. Hence he
was given the census super visOrship rs
a Sop.
Davenport knows that he has pull.
He is backed by the young Republicans.
Loren Fletcher looks wise and saws
nothing when Davenport's name is
mentioned, but it is certain that he is in
sympathy with Ed. Even Senator
Washburn, with all his independence
and chilliness, cannot afford to ignore
Davenport. In view of all these
circumstances, Davenport would be
very foolish to accept such. little
a = of tal fhl- A.
course if Ed could sit in his comfortable
office and get that $1,000, while the
expenses of clerk hire ct ceteras
would be paid for from Washington he
could we'll afford to do it. But Supt.
Porter has said no. Davenport has
said little anent the census business,
but he has done heap of
thinking and figuring-almost as
much as would be necessary in getting
up the census report-and the conclu-
sion that he has reached, is that he pre-
fers taking his chances in the fight for
the postmastership and letting the
census slide. He has carefully consid-
cred
HIS FIGHTING STRENGTH,
when it comes to ''show down., the
freezing out of somebody, and he is sat
isfed with the showing. The postoffice
is pretty soft thing. while there would
be little in the census job after the pay
ing of all expenses out of that 81 900.
Senator WaShburn may think that he
has disposed of Ed, but the latter is
still in the race, and promises to make
the party leaders do good deal of
hustling and figuring before the anx-
iOus oficeseekers, who are all looking
for the best of it, are satisfied with the
engendering of hard feelings which
might result dtsastrously later on.
That this is the real secret of Dayen-
ports feSitancy over jumping into the
census harness there is no doubt, il the
belief of leading Republicans may be
taken as any criterion of the real state
of affairs. One of the men who did as
much as ANYBODY for the success of
the Republican party in 1888. and to
whose energetic work Senator Washburn
owes not little for the toga which now
Grapes his stalwart pine tree frame,
was asked his opinion of the matter and
he conceded with the facts herein adj
vanced. On condition that his name be
not mentioned, as he explained il would
work great injury to himself politically,
he consented to talk ON the situation
and said:
Il don't blame Ed for not wanting to
accept the place of supervisor of the
census. Ed did good deal of work for
the party two years ago, and he de-
serves pretty good thing. He can get
it, too, if he really insists upon it. He
has strong support among the work.
ing members of the party in Minneapo-
lis, and If he goes after the postmaster
ship he will cut good big figure in the
contest. Ed has pretty long head
when it comes to political wire pulling,
I'D icn TO ,o aH 81,
small bone as this census business.
Loren Fletcher anu some other big men
in the party are favorable to Ed, and
their influence counts for good deal.
They look upon him as one of the hard
est workers in the party. and they are
men who are likely not to ignore one
who will get out and hustle when there
is something to be done.
wASHBURN SHOULD NOT
be too sanguine about getting Ed out
of the field so easily, and
until he is out of the way,
this postnasteiship business in not 60
ing to be settled so quickly or so hand
lily. For myself, l would much prefer
to Davenport being given the postoffice
than almost any other man who has been
mentioned for the place. The workers
are the ones who should be recognized,
and L beileYe That II Ed holds out,
puts his foot down hard,
and insists upon something good
he will get it. Now, remember, and
don't mention my name, but you can
put it down as a fact that what l have
told you is straight. and the real reason
why the census supervisor is in no hurry
to qualify. Of course, if Davenport
can't get the postoflice or something else
that is pretty good, he may take what
has been offered him, but l don't be-
lieve he will"
The gentleman quoted above but
voiced the sentiment of several other
Republicans who were approached on
this matter. One OF them suggested
that as there is any number of men who
would gladly become census Supervis-
ors. and whom the emoluments of the
office would satisfy, Davenport should
not be asked to take such little thing.
A federal appointment is about al that