The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-27
AN OFFICIAL AND PARTY DUTY.
Why Harrison Should Name Lamar's Sue
cessor-Gen. Clarkson's Precedents.

why Harrison Should Name Lamar's Sue
cessor-Gen. ClarksOn's Precedcnts.
NEW YORK, Jan. 26.-J. s. Clarkson,
chairman Of the executive committee of
the Republican national committee and
formerly Assistant Postmaster G eneral.
expressed himself forcibly tonight to
Press reporter concerning the efforts on
the part OF Democratic politicians and
newspapers to prevent President Harri-
son from appointing successor to
the late Justice Lamar. Mr.. Clarkson
said:
The Democrats, especially Mr. Cleye-
land, have no right to object IL Presi.
dent Harrison appoints successor to
Justice Lamar. No other President
Kept on making appointments OF all
Kind up to the last minute as Cleveland
did in the spring of 1889 He not only
did this, but President Harrison when he
came into power, approved of Cleye-
lano 8 action in very generous manner.
In the Postoffice Department alone were
ninety eight appointments of Presiden-
tial postmasters made by Cleveland in
February. Some of these were con-
hrmed by the Senate before the 4th of
MarcE, and some were not confirmed
until after the 4th. You know it takes
prac tically month after a mans ap-
pointment as postmaster aud he is CON
hrmed by the Senate before he can take
possession of his Office, and he has TO
wait for official notification, prepare his
bond, which is inspected and approved,
before his commission can be sent him.
when l was in the Postofllce De-
partment l early found there ninety
eight uncompleted Democratic appoint
ments, and as I did not feel that the
Republican party had elected General
harrison to commission Democrats as
postmasters, did not make myself in
dustrious in preparing such commits
sions for the President to sign. PRETTY
soon the Democratic congressman and
Democratic senators began to come to
the department to wrestle Republican
com missions for their Democratic post
masters. The ninety-eight Offices were
all important and all desirable, ranging
in salary from $1,000 to $1,000 o year.
They appealed to the President, and he
ordered the commissions made out and
signed them, and so sent ninety-eight
Democrats into Office on the commission
of Republican President.
These commissions were nearly all
sent in some time in April, month
after the Republicans were in power.
The postmasters are holding the places
yet, and will hold them until next
April, or until Cleveland can recommis-
sion them himself.
president Harrison took tho broad
ground that Cleveland had tho right to
appoint these men, and that it was his
duty to commission them. so in the
ninety eight Democrats went, and in
they have stayed during the whole of
Harrson's term
vi notice that the same Democratic
Senators and Congressman who besought
mo to have Republican com missions
issued wholesale to the Democrats are
now excited for fear General Harrison
may obey his oath and perform his duty
by appointing successor to Lamar 1t
Will be inexcusable on his part, and a
gross breach OF official as we'll as party
duty If he does not.
president Harrison has made re-
markable record in his judicial appoint.
ments. and there must be little or no
ground for the current superstition that
he would now like to appoint personal
1avorite or some Indiana neighbor to
this exalted place."