Evening star., 1894-04-03
TAYLOR'S SELECTION
1t is Considered an Outrage on the
Citizens of the District.
PROMISES MADE BEFORE ELECTION
Many Indignant Expressions Of
Opinion From Those interested.


MAY NOT CONFIRMED
The appointment of Mr.. Taylor places one
member OF Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet at least
IN an embarrassing position. During the
last national campaign the democratic COM
mlttee found that no financial assistance
was forthcoming from the District of Co
lumbia, which had formerly been more than
liberal in contributing to the campaign
FUNDS. A gentleman who had been a resi-
dent OF Washington during Mr.. Cleveand's S
former administration and who is highly
connected with that now in power came
down to Washington to investigate the mat
ter. He found that factional fight had
split the District democracy asunder and
at first attributed the dearth of subscrip-
tions to that condition. Conversation with
| the leaders of both factions, however, dis
covered that their wrangle had nothing to
do with the withdrawal of their financial
assistance from the national campaign. The
emlssary was very plainly told that Mr..
CleVelandS s course in the distribution of
District patronage during his former ad-
ministration had been entirely at variance
with the good interests of the people and
and that the latter did not intend give
money to help re-elect a man who would
again disregard the wishes of the commu-
nifty in the filling of the offices. The visitor
made solemn assurances that in of Mr.
Cleveland'S reelection he would make no
appointments in the District otherwise
than as recommended by the democratic
leaders here. The high standing of the man
and his evident right to speak authorita-
lively for Mr.. Cleveland satisfied the local
party men and there was an immediate
loosening of purse strings and substantial
remittances were poured in on Treasurer
Robert B. Roosevelt at the democratic ma
tiOnai headquarters on 9th avenue Now
that the promises have been broken the
cabinet officer Will be asked to explain when
he returns to Washington.
Mr.. Tayior's Proposition.
Some weeks ago, Immediately after Pres
ident Cleveland informed Senator Palmer
that he intended TO appoint a colored man
to the Office of recorder of deeds, and when
every democrat of that approved complex
ion began a vigorous campaign to secure
the position for himself Mr.. Taylor called
upon one of the most prominent democrats
i'll Washington, VINO also occupies a high
place in the national councils OF the party,
and asked Tor ms support. he was informed
that he was not District resident in the
first place, and, if there were no other con-
Siderations, this would prevent any recon-
mendatIon of MIN to the President. There
upon Taylor proposed a trade. He told the
gentleman that If ne Would see the Presi-
dent IN his (IaylorS 81 behalf, and the nomi-
nation was made he CIaylor) would give
nm ali the patronage OF the Office ior dis
trlDution as ne saw hit. There was an in
stant explosion OF Indignation and Taylor
leIt the senuemans ONCE very much crest
1ailen and disappointed.
APpoin inieLI oeAerally Condemned.
The appointment OF Mr.. Taylor is general
ly condemned by citizens OF the District.
Without feeling any hostility toward him
as an individual it is felt that the Presi-
dent violated the pledges of home rule in
the platform of the party which nominated
MIN in Chicago. Mr.. Taylor is not a citi-
zen of the District of Columbia and it is
generally considered that there are local
democrats who could satisfactorily perform
the duties of the office of recorder of deeds
without going to the state of Kansas to
find man for the place If it was neces-
sary to give the Office to colored man the
citizens are confident that there are local
representatives of that race who would
compare favorably with Mr.. Taylor as to
ability and also as to the value of their
services to the democratic party. There
has not been heard one word Of approval
on the part of the citizens of the District
of this appointment, but, on the contrary,
there will certainly be a strong effort to
prevent his confirmat ton. Below are some
expressions of opinion made to Star re-
porters:
Representative Bynum Can't Under
stand IL.
Representative Bynum: Il can't under
stand it. ] am firm believer in the justice
of appointing District men to District Of
fees. The principle of home rule in ap-
pointments to office should be more closely
followed, / believe. in the District of Co.
lumbia than in the territories, for the rea-
son that the community here is stable and
! finished and the elements composing 1t are
established. Then, again, the recorders
/ office is supported entirely by the money re-
ceved from District people, and, if for no
other reason District man should have
gotten it. l don't know what Taylor repre-
sents. There is considerable colored ele-
ment in Kansas II some colored man like
Peter Clark of Cincinnati had been Sc
lected, the nomination would have repre-
sented something. 1 cannot see that Taylor
represents anything.
have vote" continued Mr.. Bynum, they
perform valuable services to the party
They are always ready and willing to work
and more than hearty in their assistance.
There is Lawrence Gardner, secretary of
the congressional committee, for instance.
I There is no man more valuable to the dem
ocratic party. He Is familiar with every
congressional district in the country and
more especially the doubtful ones. When
We go away, and need anything in the
shape of information, documents, and SO
forth, We always send to Gardner, and get
/ 1t. With proper treatment, the District
democracy could be made a sort of national
nucleus of the party, whose value would
become almost inestimable. Taylor's nomi-
nation, L repeat Is entirely beyond my
comprehension and understanding.
! There were some of my own friends"
concluded Mr.. Bynum, "whO wanted the
place, but l refused to support them be-
cause believed none but District citizen
should fill it,"
! Should BE n District Man.
! Henry A. Willard: II believe the recorder
! of deeds should be District man. don't
know anything about Mr. Taylor He may
/ be very good man and l have no doubt
/ that he is. The office, however, should have
been filled with material from the District
/ and If that couldn't be found then it might
/ have been proper to go outside. Yes, I am
/ IN favor of District men for District offices" &"
/ Mr.. Lawrence Gardner.
| Mr.. Lawrence Gardner is not in local
+ politics any longer. having determined to
| devote himself to the national democra tic
| organization many months ago.
/ MY position on the subject of home rule
/ in the distribution of District patronage" "
/ he said this morning lis too thoroughly
understood by the people of Washington