The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-23
TWO FINE ITALIAN HANDS
Russell B. Harrison and Carter
Worked TO Defeat Mr.. Wal
ker's Appointment
The Inside Workings Of the Great
Campaign for the
Postoffice.
An Interview with James n. Walker
The Prince worked His Father
Against Everything.

For the first time tho inside history OF
the struggle for tho Helena p~ostofiice il
made public. In the subjoined interview
with Mr.. James Blaine Walker, the story OF
the treachery and double-faced dealing Of
Mr.. Russell r.. Harrison and Congressman
Carter is told as it actually occurred for we
assume that Mr.. Walkers position in this
community warrants belief in his state
ment. Az subsequently appears. Mr.. Har-
rison defying the wishes Of the republican
party In Helena and ignoring the deleQa-
ton in Washington used his influence with
his father and succeeded in defeating Mr..
Walkers appointment. When tue secretary
Of state asked for the appointment as a per-
sonal favor he was put off by the president
with the excuse that it WAS not time to
make the appointment. When the matter
was again brought up the president advised
the secretary Of state to consult with his
son Russell. IT is, OF course. needless to say
that Mr.. James q. Blaine il neither con-
sulting with nor asking fayors Of presi-
dents sons. The incident il related only
to show that the public view Of
President Harrison IS small potatoef
and few in q hill" is about rights.
No applicant under the sun ever had
stronger endorsements than Mr.. Walker.
He had the official endorsement of the state
committee. the county committee and Of
several past county committees He had
the greatest petition from property holders
ever known in this city; His appointment
was urged by Secretary Blaine. Postmaster
General Wanamaker, Sanders and Power
and for a time apparently by Carter. With
such backing the presidents appointment
Of anOtho man is an 1nheard of thing in
politics. In Washington it is we'll known
that a United States senator's request for
the appointment of a postmaster IN his OWE
town 10 almost equivalent to tho appoint
msnt. Mr.. Walker had the endorsement
of both Sanders and Power together with
requests for his appointment from men
high in official circles as tho foregoing list
shows. This was all for a position worth
700 q year. On the other side were hus-
sell b. Harrison, his father, and under the
%woodpile was Congressman Carter. Rus
sell Harrison said that he would keep his
hands off and remain neutral. Under these
very favorable conditions Mr.. Walkers ap-
pointment seemed a foregone conclusion.
He was defeated by Russell b. Harrison,
assisted by Congressman Carter.
When seen yesterday afternoon Mr..
Walker consented to tell the story from the
first. He said:
THE commencement of my campaign
for the appointment as postmaster dates
lTOJH LuS luhuRuTdUlOH VI l. TcSlQSUbI lbTElSOu
in 1889. ! was in Washington several days.
before that event and among other visitors
from Montana were Hon. L. II. Hershfield
and Congressman Carter. Mr.. Hershtieid
desired the appointment of territorial gov
ernor as also did Colonel McCutcheon, who
was backed by Russell Harrison. ! did
what ] could for Mr.. HershfieId and this !
understood WAS n reason why certain
parties secretly used their influence against
me afterwards. l had been thinking of
aaking for an appointment to an official
position n had a talk on that subject with
the secretary of state. He offered me q
consulship. Hershfeid and Carter both
advised ne to accept a position Of thisk kind.
Mr.. Blaine said that while he could secure
my appointment to 4 good consulship he
would advise me to stay here in Montana.
Then thought of the postofice and he said
the Inauguration and commenced work
ing to that end. 1 secured a
long petition and endorsements for the po-
sition from prominent citizens and the en-
tire republican organization in the state. ]
did nothing more at that time, for the com
Sanders and Power and Mr.. Carter en-
dorsed my candidacy for the Office in May,
1880. In March, 1888, / had a talk with Rus
sell b. Harrison in the White house. He
said that he personally favored my appoint
HCAbs u uAn DOblblOii 90 bhC SDidgAt >
son made it necessary for him to remain
neutral. understood this and appreciated
his position. He gave me to understand
that he would do nothing to oppose my APP
pointment, and therefore | was satisfied.
Afterwards an editorial, now we'll remem-
bered, appeared in the columns of the Her
aid, and this. / understand. was the real
cause of Mr.. Russell Harrison's fight against
me, ] was in no way responsible for the
editorial. ! do not kno who wrote it and
l never had the slightest intimation of its
appearance until i saw 1t in print
The fact that / was employed CD the Herald
at the time ID Mr.. Harrison's only excuse
for assuming that I had any connection
with the article in question. ! saw Russell
in Helena in April. 1880, and he reiterated
the statement that he would remain neu-
trail. Well. the two republican senators
we're seated and the end of Col. Curtis's
term arrived without the appointment of
his successor. In the meantime there were
influences at Washington working in my
interest. The secretary of state went to
the president and asked for my appoint
ment as u special favor and my application
with Mr.. Blaine's endorsement was filed
with Postmaster General Wanamaker.
Wanamaker also endorsed me-. When the
time Ind gone by and the appointment was
not made the president was again seen by
Mr.. Blaine. He made some trivial excuse
for the delay. Shortly afterward ] went to
uhu lohlsa bhtb =
b. Harrison was causing the delay. When
Mr.. Blaine again saw the president the lat
ter advised him to consult with his son.
Russell, about the matter. OF course
you cannot imagine Mr.. Blaine doing
anything of the sort. Russell Harrison
was at that time in Texas. ] t~elegraphed
to know when he would return and he re-
piled in thirty days. i decided TO wait for
him. lie came north, bus never stopped in
Washington, except for an hour, on his way
to New York. Realizing that an under
standing with Mr.. Harrison was imperative.
! went to Now York to see him.. / went
down to the Judge building and sent IN
my card, which lie answered by saying that
he would see me in "a few minutes. Ii was
10 o'clock in the morning and ] waited I'M
til 1:3O in tue afternoon before he consent
ed to grant me mn audience. However, !
was there to interview him, and | succeeded
in finding to my entire satisfaction that lie
was opposing my efforts to get the Office.
The excuse he offered was that ]
/ was connected by marriage with the
proprietors of the Herald and had been EN-
ployed OH the paper. He said the Journal
had no candidate and the Herald should
not have one. talked two hours trying To
convince him that ! had nothing To do with
the Herald except as an employc, and ]
made him show his hand. ] went back to
Washington and shortly afterward re-
turned to Montana. / learned in Washing
ton that Carter WAS not over-enthu siastic
In my cause. Power told me- that the pres
ident stated his son Russell had withdrawn
all opposition, and that Carter was the man
opposing me. This Is the history OF the
affair"