Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-06-23
JOHNNIE 5sHAFsSLUoK.

menJ. JOhn Ii. Behan was endorsed
by the leading democrats Of Arizona,
including delegate Mark Smith, and
j. Henry Behan filed a lot Of endorse
ments, signed by his Democratic
friends in New Orleans and two Of the
members of the congress delegation of
his state. The appointment clerk of
the treasury, believing that these pa
pers all related to the same applicant,
so recorded them, and when the sec
retary came to consider the case he
found that Mr. Behan had a miscel-
Iaheous lot of splendid endorsements
from Louisiana aud Arizona, too. He
decided TO appoint hr. Behan, and in
asmuch as most of the papers seemed
to be from New Orleans he accredited
the new special agent to Louisiana.
After the appointment was anDounc-
ed, but before the commission was
made out Senator White Of Louisiana
heard of it and hurried over to the de-
partment.
81 never recommended this man."
he SAID to the chief. clerk, "and l
don'twant him appointed. He lives
in my town, New Orleans, and as the
senator l think know who is wanted
by the majority of the democrats
there. Besides, lave another candi-
date for special agent"
The chiefsclerk sent for the papers,
and picking up the application Of
Johu II. Bchan saa That it was dated
in Arizona.
SENATOR" he said, "a mistake has
been made. Behan should have been
accredited to Arizona. lie has en-.
dorsements from lot of good demo-
Gratis in your town, but he lives in
Arizona. u I'll have the correction
made, so as Ito charge his appoint
ment to- Arizona"
"But-hut-Major J. II. Behan lives
in New Orleans" said the senator,
evidently somewhat puzzied. Il
don't understand how he came to APP
ply from Arizona. Pm sure he was in
New Orleans 4 few weeks ago. Per-
haps be has gone to the territory since
[ Saw him"
Must be pretty rapid 'rolltics out
in the territory to push new man to
the front for Office 50 suddenly, COM
mented one Of the senator's constltu-
tents, who was present.
"Wen," finally suggested the sena-
tor, "charge him to Arizona if you can
dot
"Oh, that's where Behan properly
belongs" declared Chief Clerk Car
Isle.
And the senator departed.
Accordlnly the commission of
John II. Behan Of Arizona to be
special agent of the treasury was made
out and signed. Meanwhile the New
Orleans papers had been informed
that Major J. Henry Behan of their
town had been appointed to the office
be had asked for, although he was
charged to Arizona. However, that
made no difference to the major, and
he telegraphed to the department to
inform it that he would wait instruc-
tions at New Orleans. Chief Special
Agent Tingle was, therefore, directed
TO communicate with Special Agent
Behan at New Orleans and order him
to duty Then Mr.. Behan of Louis
ana received the congratulations Of
his friends.
But Mr.. Behan of Arizona, who hap
pened to beln the city, saw in the To-
cal papers that he had been appoint
ed, and the next day he called at the
department for instructions. Re was
asked, in the lrst place, how he had
managed to translate himself so sud
denly from New Orleans to Washing
ton. He was unable to comprehend
the question, and the telegram from
Mr.. Behan of New Orleans was shown
him.
81 didn't send it," he said. "Aust
be another Behan."
Then he went over the papers 10 the
Benan case with the chief clerk and
separated those of the Arizona Behar
from those of the Louisiana Behan.
"These are the wheat he said
pointing to his own, "and the rest are
the chaff."
Mr.. Carlisle was astonished, but The
mystery was explained. The books
showed that the two applications haC
been filed on the same day. Inas
much as Senator White had protested
against the Louisiana Behan and thu
Commission had been made ou
for the Arizona Behan thl
latter was told to-day TO consider him
SELF in the service. The LouisanI
Behan is still out Of Office.