Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-06-16
HON. A. A.. TAyLOR's TALK.
His Remarks in the House ON the Post.
Office Appropriation Bill.

'Ni'" viii NC AouHu tHe hpecCn Ol
Hon. A. A. Taylor in the House on the
Postoffice Appropriation Bill, taken
from the Congressional Record June /:
Mr.. Taylor, of Tennessee-Mr. Chair
man: Before addressing myself direct
ly to the question before the House, l
desire to refer to a criticism made by
my distinguished colleage, Mr.. Enloe,
in a speech on Saturday just before adj
journment, to which I had no opportu-
nifty then of replying. In presenting
his objections to the extension of the
free delivery system to the rural dis
tricts, the gentleman argued that it
would create a new force of Office hold
ers, aud that the administration APP
pointing them, in connection with the
offices already to be filled, could never
be ousted and went on to say that al
ready the office holders of the country
were dominating Republican conven-
tions and debating their action, and
cited the recent Republican convention
which assembled in Nashville, in which
| was a delegate, as IN instance.
| admit, Mr.. Chairman, that there
were some federal Office holders in that
convention, and | am prepared to say
that they were gentlemen enjoying the
respect and confidence of the people
among whom they reside, honorable,
high toned, high minded gentlemen,
characteristic of the appointees gen
orally of President Morrison, from the
great Secretary of State down to the
humblest officer of the Government.
But the gentleman from Tennessee Mr..
Enloe) in his criticism seems to have
overlooked the fact, to which l now
call the attention of the House and of
my friends ON the New York delegation
in particular, that his party, the ''un-
terrified" rock ribbed" Democratic
party, held its convention only a few
days subsequent, at the same place and
in the same building, and that the prin-
cipal business transacted by that con-
vention was to pass q resolution in
structing the vote of Tennessee to be
cast at Chicago solid for Grover Cleve-
land.
The gentleman overlooked the fact
that the author of the resolution was
an ex-Federal office holder, and was
elected by reclamation to head the del
egation to the Chicago Convention, to
carry out these instructions, he having
held the position of First Assistant Sec
rotary of State under Mr.. Cleveland {:
tina IN ex commissioner of Indian At
fairs and an ex-pension examiner were
also chosen as delegates, that an ex-
United States Marshal presided as tenn
porary chairman that the head of the
electoral ticket chosen was an ex-United
States pension agent, and that the
whole thing was run by the ex-ofice
holding oligarchy of Tennessee. OF
course the convention instructed for
Grover Cleveland for President first,
last and all the time.
l only present these facts, Mr.. Chair
man, to show the utter Inconsistency
and fruitlessness of the gentleman s at
tempt to stir up prejudice against the
Republican administration in the minds
OF the non office holding classes of the
United States because some Republican
officials have attended some conven-
tions. But what | wish more particu-
larly to call to the attention of my
friend and this house IL is the fact that
if this amendment is defeated and the
appropriation for this free delivery serv-
ice is allowed to stand as recommended
by the committee it will not only be i'm
possible to extend free delivery into the
rural districts or to towns and cities al
ready entitled under the law, but it will
be impossible to carry out orders al
ready issued by the Postoffice Depart
ment establishing this service.
Mr.. Enloe-I was not present when
the gentleman began his remarks, and
| want to ask him a question in refer
ence to a statement he is reported to
me to have made before | came in, in
regard to the attendance at the con
vention at Nashville. l wanted to
know whether or not it was a fact that
the post masters generally and the fed
eral officers were there.
Mr.. Taylor, of Tennessee-Oh, l have
already stated, Mr.. Chairman, that
there were some office holders in that
convention.
Mr.. Enloe - Was the Presidents
brother there-the Marshal for Middle
Tennessee?
Mr.. Taylor-Well, l believe he was
but do not recollect whether he was a
delegate. 1 know that his headquar-
tiers is the place where the convention
was held.
Mr.. Enloe-I would like, then, to
know of the gentleman how many fed.
eral officials are on the delegation to
the Minneapolis convention from the
State of Tennessee.
Mr.. Taylor-I am not prepared to give
a direct answer to the g~entleman's ques-
ton. If l had time to analyze the del
egation l { could answer the question. l
do not believe there is more than one.
Mr.. Hopkins, of Illinois-How do
they compare with the ex-federal office
holders on the delegation chosen at the
Democratic convention = |