The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-17

city OF the appointment OF Hewson
e. Lannan as United States Marshal
Of the District OF Delaware, to succeed
<he present Incumbent, H. G. Mahafiy.
The appointment, it was understood,
was determined upon several weeks
ego. and might as we'll have boen
made then, as later on. but II made
<hHn there was danger OF rejection by
&ho Senate.
II was made just at the right time to
avoid the rejection, which 1t deserves.
~ It was, when the name came up for
onniirmation, Senator Higgins prompt
~ objected and under the rule it had
10 lIe over until tho next day. but the |
ESnAte adjourning the same day the
App0intment was made, no action can
6e taken until the next meeting OF the
G1nats which will not be until next
December unless an extra session Is
sailed.
In the meantime Mr.. Iannan will
serve in the office to which he has been
appointed. The probability Is that in
me and he Will be confirmed as
Democratic Senate that excuses bank
enbezzler and continues him as
nember OF that agust body will have
very little scruples about confirming
objectionable partisan United States
Marshal.
When the news Of the appointment
came, Republicans said, There is re-
form in politics, for you, with VEN
Genance. while Democrats shrugged
their shoulders. smiled cynically, and
while not denying that Mr.. Lannan.
through vilest and most criminal par
tssanshlp was unworthy Of the office,
they seemed to think 1t wise that in
getting Mr.. Mahaffy out Of the office
on account OF offensive craftsmanship
they had gone one better. and left
Mahaffy far in the shade
Mr.. Lannan has been known as one
Of the strongest and yilest Dem ocratic
partisans OF the city. 30 we'll known
was he In this respect that his name
was proverbialfor emocratic trickery
and sharp practice, and In the appoint
ment Of patent Democratic revolving
Inspectors OF elections, Mr.. Lannan al
ways turned up sure winner.
His latest exploit was in the Twenty.
flfth District, Tenth Ward, and tho
time the State election in November.
1890. Lannan was inspector of the
slection and ran things with high
hand. Polling sheets were prepared
before hand, filled with fictitious
names. In order to help along the
fraud contemplated. In the mean
time 30 many votes were polled that
tho ballot box became cluttered and
was somewhat difficult to put ballots
through the oriiice IN the box with the
fingers.
But Lannan soon studied out rem
c edy for this He sent for a longer
ecrewdriver under pretence Of fixing
tho ballot box, and with this mechan-
X ical implement with which he was we'll
acquainted. he rammed the tickets
down In the ballot box. and then stir.
red the ballots around to loosen up
the double ballots snd make them fall
apart
His plan worked very successfully
but there was trouble when the votes
were counted out and IL was found
that there wers forty-elght more
ballots in the box than there were
votes polied according to the Repub.
lican clerks poll list which was the
only honest and reliable one kept
The finishing of the counting OF the
votes was prolonged away into tn,
morning hours.
IL was all the police could do tt
keep order outside and to prevent I
raid upon the ballot boxes. In this
emergency ex-Seeretary Bayard, wht
lived not far of, was sent for. TIL,
great man appeared and by his benign
smile. dignlfled bearing and suavity o.
manners, he poured oil upon til,
trouble and brought peace out of
chaos. But the forty eight double
ballots were counted all the same and
the Democratic majority in the Tenth
Ward was increased to that extent
Btill they were not enough to proven
the Republicans from carrying th
county by large majority.
From this time on Mi. Lannan wa
known by the name Of ''Screwdriver
Lannan, and from that time on Mr.
Lannan has been held In view by TIN
Democrats for the Office to which h
has been appointed. as reward 10
his success In rolling up the Demo
cratic majorlties, and for his iidellt
to pure Democratic principles. MI
Bayerd, 1t 10 said, strongly recon
mended Mr.. Lannan for the office, an
strong preponderance OF Demt
cratic backing went the same way
and all on account of that screw
driver" exploit. Senator Gray, 1t
said, weakened In his recommends
tlon OF the 'screwdriver" man, b,
was whipped up to the scratch as I'll
time came. to make the appointment
Now, we have nothing In the worl
personally against Mr.. Lannan. Gu
side Of his political tricks, he is agree
BILE, honest and affable, but we d
maintain that business honesty shou
be carried into politics. Presldei
Cleveland made the declaration du
Ing his first administration TIL
"public office is public trust" but
he was sincere then his sincerity III
been put to severe strain In the a
pointment of Mr.. LRnnan as Unitt
s tates Marshal for the District
Delaware.
THE secret instructions given
President Clevela nd to Commission
Blount to the Hawaiian Islands, ha
now come to the public. was to ha
down the American flag and to raj
The colors OF the Hawaiian IN onarch
As consequence Of this there need
no surprise If the next news does n
tell OF the reinstatement OF the c
Queen. II this Is to be the policy
the administration. the pendi
treaties between Russia. England a
Canada might as we'll cease. There
no use making burlesque OF the
treaties.