The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-21


A FIGHT BEFORE THE PRESIDENT.
A leading Eastern Democrat writes: II
do not anticipate any attempt to thwart
Cleveland by the senator's or members Of
congress. and if they do they will be badly
hurt. The selection of Mr.. Bissell, Of
Buffalo. a. postmaster general, and of Mr..
Maxwell Is fourth assistant postmaster
general is interpreted by the New York
Ercning Post and the New York Times to
mean that the administration does not in
tend that the managers of the Hill
Murphy machine shall be allowed to con.
troll the Democratic organization in New
York state 'in their own interest and for
the betrayal Of the highest in the party"
The New York Erening Post says:
With Mt. Bissell at the head of the depart
msnt, recommending the three grades OF presi.
Dental pOstmasters-the recommendation being
in most cases substantially equivalent to .
choice BY the presidsnt-the cities and towns
will b. supplied with Cleveland men for post
masters wherever changes are madA
Mr.. Maxwell, the fourth assistant post
master general, will practically decide the
selection and appointment of the fourth
class postmasters who serve in villages
and hamlets. and it is expected that he
will put none but Cleveland men on guard.
thus leaving tho Murphy-Hill machine
with nothing but state offices for patron
age. This Is the forecast OF the situation
by the organs of the Mugwump anti-Snsp-
per Cleveland Democracy Of tho Empire
state. The New York Tribune. viewing the
situation from the Republican point Of
view, reports that tremendous struggle
is pending in New York state between tho
Hill Murphy and Tammany state machine
and the Cleveland machine. which must
inevitably result "in m absolute surrender
or . crushing defeat for one side or the
other"
The declaration Of war against the state
machine was made by President Cleve-
land when he boldly announced his oppo-
sition to the election Of Mr.. Murphy to the
senate on the ground that the Troy brewer
was not fit man for the place. Mr.. MUIR
ply was elected senator, but he is sena-
tor unable to dictate nominations or tie
up appointments. Murphy and Hill ex-
pected after the election to be able to tie
President Clevelsnd's hands in the senate
and compel him to give the Hill-Murphy.
Tammany machine in New York city and
state the Federal patronage. Hill and
Murphy, however. are not likely to be
able to successfully oppose Mr.. Cleveland
in the senate. Hill has thus far made
more enemies than friends in the senate.
and he will hardly succeed in preventing
any appointment President Cleveland may
choose to make. He will probably be
obliged to let these appointments pass and
make his fight against the Cleveland fac.
ton in New York state.
The senate's action on Maxwell will be
. test case. He was discharged from of.
flee by Hill and has fought him for years:
he will use all the power in his hands
against the Hill state machine, and Hill
will fight his confirmation If there is any
chance Of success. Failing in this. Hill
will work the state machine against tho
administration. This machine, including
Tammany Hall. has far more patronage
at its disposal than the national admins.
tration. The Federal pay roll in New
York city will not amount to more than
s., 0o0. 900, and more than half of this is in
the classified service, while the city paw
roll is over $i7, 0oo, 900, and the comparison
between government and municipal con.
tracts would be still more favorable to the
municipality. This Is true all through the
state. So that, If Mr.. Hill can maintain
his hold on the state government and
Iammany remains where he and his
friends believe it will have to remain, in
opposition TO the administration, the bat
tie between the two forces will be . tire.
mendous conflict.
Hill! made his declaration of war against
Mr.. Cleveland when he wen. ont of hi,
way to induce the New York presidential
electors TO indorse Murphy for the United
States senate, and he has since. through
Gov. Flower. eliminated from the xts.s
service every othceholder whose alleriance
to Cleveland Was known. Tammsnv will
etick by Hill because they know tina. NJ,
Tammany Hall if he would, and would
not if he could. Cleveland vas really
elected aithou, Tsmmany's assistance: he
knows that Tammany had TO support him
or be run over: he knows that the indie.
penden; opposition to Tammany Hall in
New York city has never been
SO deep seated since the dav.
OF Tweed; and Mr.. Cleveland IS
human enough not 70 forget that during
the four years he was out Of Office Tam
many Hal. was behind every effort 10
prevent the consideration of his name for
denomination. Tammany Hall. therefore,
canno. afford to desert HUI: Cleveland is
bound 10 sink the Tsnmany ah.p. and The