The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-08

OF course. il is only right and Just that 70
the victor belongs the spoils. and Is lar
as / am concerned l never SAID one
word against you personally, but, on the
contrary. have said several in your be-
half. Our county committee made ds-
ma1d on Mr.. Erwin 20 remove all hepuo-
iicans, and as I am the secretary OF the
committee / had TO do II. There was not
any put-up JOB on you or anyone else, nd
as Tor some people there not paying any
thing 20 the Democratic fund, allow me 10
say 20 you that everyone there Viii pay
some or our committee know the reason
why"
Mr.. Embree is poor man and has
large family 10 support. He did not feel
Ike contributing $50 10 send representa-
tive Democrat TO Washington 10 urge the
passage of the tariff bill or some other
Democratic measure. lie wrote 10 Repre-
sentative Wilson stating the case and TAR
nishirg evidence that his successor, h. l.
Watson, was 4 Confederate soldier and
originally from the same state as Judge
Erwin, the Yakima agent, ana HoAe
Smith. The q. A. r. post al Naila halia
also took hand and protested against tAe
change. The immediate result OF this was
that the commissioner Of Indian affairs
disapproved the action Of Agent Erwin
1t was fOolishly supposed at that time
that this ended the matter, but 1t did not
by any means. Agent Erwin, when he
notified Mr. Embree of his dismissal, told
him that he had no fault 10 find with him
and that he had always done his duty On
receipt of the commissioner disapproval
he Immediately telegraphed and wrote TO
the interior department. that "Mr. Emoree
was not removed for political reasons only.
but that he has been negligent OF late in
the performances of his duties and has
failed to carry out instructions. A tele-
gram from North Yakima signed by Henry
J. Sniyeiy and other prominent Democrats
was also sent 10 Hoke Smith, urging that
the change be approved. 1t was also
urged that Watson. the Democratic black
smith, was not from Georgia, but had been
a resident of Washington for five years.
In the meantime Embree had been fired
bodily and had gone to Walla Walla.
Watson had moved his family out TO Fort
Simcoe lat great expense" as the agent
put it. This was strong point urged for
the approval of the arbitrary change. No
opportunity was afforded 10 Embree to
answer the groundless charges that had
been made against him. Commissioner
Bruning, notifying Representative Viii
son. emphasized the fact that he had no
longer any discretion in the matter by
saying: II am directed by the Hon. Sec
rotary Of the Interior To approve the
change permanently"
This. as briefly as it is possible to give
it, was the substance of the large budget OF
correspondence which Mr.. Wilson read to
the house. 1t was a good story, and it
was listened TO on all sides with evident
interest.
ut seems to me, commented Mr.. Will
son, as he concluded his reading, "a great
injustice has been done this old soldier,
and especially is this true In the demand
made on him for money by the chairman
of the Democratic county central commit
tee of Yakima county. Why, Mr.. Speaker,
AIaric and his Goths would have blushed
with shame at demanding money from
any old man, Union soldier, out of his
$40 per annum."
Loud and long continued applause on
the Republican side of the house inter
rupied him for moment. This is civil
service reform with vengeance" he went
on. And this agent, sent to our country
to preside over the Indians, permits the
Democratic county central committee TO
assess an old Union soldier, and when he
fails 10 pay that assessment turns him out
of Office. and puts in Confederate. Do
you wonder that l insist upon this plank
OF the platform?
II think the amendment have offered
is in the interest of the service; think il
is in the interest of the Indians; | think
il Is in the interest OF good government,
and if We are not to have it adopted, why.
let US send the last poor. feeble plank of
the Democratic party out TO sea with the
others that have gone before"
The plank went out to sea, for the
amendment did not prevail.