Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-08
A MINISTER TO IA w Al !.
Mr.. Willis Appointed to Succeed Mr..
Blount.
Other Nominations Sent to the Senate
Minister Runyon Becomes
AmbassadOr.

The President today sent to the Senate
the following nominations:
Theodore Runyon Of New Jersey. ambas-
sador extraordinary and plenipotentiary OF
the United States to Germany.
Albert 8. Willis OF Kentucky, envoy ex-
traordinary and minister plenipotentiary OF
the United States to the Hawaiian Islands
Henry NJ. Smythe OF Virginia, to oe min
lister resident and consul general Of the
United States to Haiti
Ellis Mills Of Virginia, consul general a,
Honolulu
VIM. s. Carroll Of Maryland, consul gen.
eral at Dresden. Germany.
United States consuls-George j. Willis OF
Georgia at Port Stanley and St. Thomas,
Canada; John r. Mobley Of Texas at Aca.
pulco, Mexico; Henry r. d. MacIver OF
New York at Deni, Spain; @. X. Keenan OF
Wisconsin at Kehl, Germany; Henry c. c.
Astwood Of New York at Calais. France;
Leopold Moore Of New York at st. Chris
topher. West Indies; also nineteen POST
masters. a collector of revenue and ap-
praiser-au recess appointments.
The New Minister to Hawaii.
Mr.. Albert 8. Willis of Kentucky. who
was today appointed as minister to Hawaii.
to succeed Mr.. Blount, is we'll known In
Washington and is a favorite with all who
know him. For many years he represented
the Louisville district in Congress and was
one of the leaders Of his party. He was an
ardent civil service reform advocate when
in Congress. Mr.. Willis nomination revfves
an interesting story, showing upon what
slender threads sometimes hang political
success. Mr.. Willis was retired from polit-
ical life as an outgrowth OF an appoint
ment made by President Cleveland during
his first term. When Garfield was Presi-
dent he appointed Mrs Thompson. widow of
w. r. Thompson and daughter of Rev.
Alexander Campbell founder of the Camp
bellte Church. to be pcstmistress of Louis
Vile, KY.
She was retained by the Arthur admin
istration, and when Mr.. Cleveland came
into power the question Of the removal or
retention OF Mrs. Thompson came to the
front in Kentucky politics as one Of the
burning questions of the hour Represen-
tative Willis, backed by Senator Beck.
favored the retention Of Mrs. Thompson.
and Senator Blackburn opposed 1t. This
caused a split In the party and the nominat-
ing campaign for the Ffftieth Congress
coming on, the Courier Journal took up Mr..
Asher Caruth and supported him Its
candidate In opposition to Mr.. Willis, who
was charged with not being consistent in
his democracy In supporting the widow OF
republican for preferment under a demo
cratic administration. This became the
paramount issue in that district, and upon
1t Mr. Caruth came to Congress, where he
has since remained.
According to the records, Mr.. Willis his
tory Is as follows: Albert s. Willis OF
Louisville, KY, was born In Shelby county.
KY, January 2. 1s43. His early education
was received in the common schools and
he graduated at the Louisville Male High
School In 1860. Afterward he taught school
for four years, then studied law and grad
uated at the Louisville Law School In 1856
Since that time he has been continuously
engaged IN the practice OF his profession
In 1872 he canvassed the state for the dem
ocratic electoral ticket. In 1870 he wae
elected attorney for Jefferson county, and
aAla@ %1l L.,
career began in the Forty-ffth Congress
and he served In the Forty-sixth Forty
seventh, Forty-e!gth and Forty-ninth Con-
gresses holding high place in the party
Of chairman Of the committee on rivers
and harbors
Mr.. Willis Duties.
Mr.. A. S. Willis cannot strictly speaking
be said to succeed to the position made va.
cant by Mr. Blount. Mr.. Biount was ap-
pointed special commissioner and was
| afterwards appointed minister pleuipoten.
tiary as q matter of convenience. The
work for which Mr.. Blount was sent tc
Honolulu has been completed and the posi-
ton to which Mr.. Willis is appointed does
not include the special Investigation witt
relation to the treaty Of annexation The
fact that SO prominent a man as Mr. Will.
has been selected for this position is re.
gardsd as an indication that the position O,
minister plenipotentiary is not to be a tenn
porary affair as IT would, were Hawaii an
| nexed. but is to be of longer duration aut
this points apparently to a protectoratt
rather than annexation. Mr. Willis Is 8
man OF ability and possesses an anna bl,
and agreeable disposition, which made min
very popular member of the House an6
holds to him many close friendships. III,
was one Of the few southern men who ad
vocated the Blair educational bill or some
thing similar. His appointment to this no
| sitton Is received with very general favor.