The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-23
MR.. LATIMER AND PATRONAGE.
The Man who Denounced Cleveland, and
is Proud OF II, Wants to Know how he
Stands with the Administration
Postmaster Bissell Gives him .
Respectful Audience.
Especial to News and Courier. I

Especial to News and Courier.]
WASHINGTON, August 17.-Repre.
sentative Latimer made another cal
at the postoffice department yesterday
to urge the establishment Of a post
Office at Clemson College, with J. F
Calhoun as postmaster. AS Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Maxwell
seems indisposed to act promptly in
this matter, Representative Latiu,el
presented his case to Postmaster Gene
raj Bissell.
The interview was conducted on the
most friendly basis, and there was 6
general interchange of views between
the Postmaster General and Mr.. Lati.
mer. The latter stated very frankly
that he did not propose to indulge i1
any unseemly and undignified scram.
bic for the privilege of debating the
appointment of few fourth-class post
masters in his district. He simply de-
sired to know whether he is to be con.
suited on this subject, or whether hi.
predecessor, Mr. Johnstone, is to be the
referee in that district. He made il
perfectly plain to the Postmaster Gen
eral that he did not wish to stand in
the way Of the changes that are neces.
sary in his district. If the Postmaste,
General holds that Mr.. Johnstone is
the most desirable adviser of the ad.
ministration for that district, and can
better represent the people Of that dis.
trict in the distribution Of the post.
Offices, that fact should be known, and
the people of the district should be
notified to file their papers with Mr..
Johnstone.
Mr.. Latimer informed the Postmas-
ter General that the postofice patron.
age would cut no figure in the coming
election nor does be need it to secure a
reelection. There are a number OF
cases pending which demand immedi-
ate attention, and the department
should proceed to make the changes
without further delay and at the same
time let the people of the district under
stand who the Administration proposes
to recognize when recommendations
are necessary.
During the interview the financial
subject was touched upon, and Mr..
Latimer told the Postmaster General
frankly that he came to Congress pre-
pared to carry out the wishes of his
constituents without regard to the dis
tribution.. of the Federal patronage.
He insisted that the people he repre-
sents expect him to vote against the
unconditional repeal of the Sherman
Act and to favor the Unlimited free
coinage of silver at the present ratio.
Under these circumstances his duty is
perfectly clear and he will have to act
accordingly, regardless of the postoffice
patronage.
It is said that the Postmaster Gene
raj was perceptibly impressed by the
straightforward manner in which MIR.
Latimer stated his position, but he did
not give him any encouragement to
expect that he will control the post
office patronage in his district.
Mr Latimer says be has done his
duty to his constituents, and be does
not propose to plead at the postofice
department for any favors. He has
presented his case, and if the Postmas-
ter General wants to give Mr.. John
stone the privilege of controlling the
patronage in that district the people
who turned Mr.. Johnstone down will
know where they stand. Mr.. Latimer
is disposed to take an independent
view of the situation, which he be-
lieves will be appreciated by his people.
The other members of the delegation
are having but little better luck with
the postcfices in their respective dis
tricts, and in the meantime the resig-
nations are piling up to unnatural pro-
portions. Mr.. Maxwell says the South
Carolina cases will be taken up and dis
posed of after aW hile, and that is all
the consolation that is given the South
Carolinians at the postof1ice depart
ment.