The Irish standard., 1894-06-16
THE NEW POSTMASTER.

to finish last Tuesday when Grover
Cleveland sent the nomination of Mr..
Holbrook to the United States Senate
for confirmation. For some days prior
to the appointment it was known that
Mr.. Foote'S chances were growing
smaller by degrees and beautifully less
though up to the announcement of his
defeat he was apparently confident OF
victory. Each candidate had influential
support, those of Mr.. Foote being chiefly
Democratic politicians, while those OF
his opponent included Democratic and
Republican politicians as we'll as the
business men in general. AS between
Foote and Holbrook, the latter was de-
cidedly more popular from the start and
his appointment was hailed with delight
and warmly approved by citizens OF all
political compilations who knew his rec
ord IN this city as citizen and public
official. A few days before his nomina-
tion huge petition was forwarded to
Washington in his behalf, containing
the names of the most influential people
in the city of all political persuasions
and that settled the matter. It ap.
pears that from the beginning Mr.
Holbrook was III the lead with the Pres
ident, ex-Mayor Winston and others
having used their influence with him,
and Mr.. Doran, the national committee
man for this state, having kept neutral
and declined to endorse Foote. The inn
preston prevailed, however, that the
contest between the candidates was
much closer than it really was and that
"a dark horse would carry off the prize.
In consequence of this theory it was be-
lieved by many that either A. I. Ankeny
or Capt. O. G. Norman would receive
the appointment. Neither of these wor-
thy Democrats made any strenuous effort
for the post, though Judge Lockren, the
pension commissioner, is said to have
exerted his influence in behalf of his old
neighbor, Capt. Merriman, but without
avail as he had come in too late for
entry in the race.
Though Mr.. Foote was sanguine up to
the last, he took his defeat quite philo.
sophically, and declared he had been in
politics too long to count on absolute
certaintiee. He said that he would
rather have Holbrook get the appoint
ment than any other man, as he had
been in the field from the start and had
worked honorably for the position. Mr..
Foote recognized that his opponent had a
perfect right to get the appointment and,
moreover, no bitter feelings of rivalry
had existed between the two. He
laughed scornfully at the idea that DR..
Ames had contributed to his defeat,
though that irate son of Esculapirs had
gone to Washington and held an inter-
view with the president to withhold the
Office from Foote on accout of al alleged
interview in which Foote referred to him
as "a political dead duck" The proba-
bility is that the circular berating the
Democratic senators for their attitude
on the tariff had more to do with dis
suadinq the president from giving Foote
the fat job in this city than any opposi-
ton from DR.. A. A. Ames, thrice mayor
of Minneapolis, but now resident of
Philadelphia.
F. G. Holbrook is a gentleman who
will give entire satisfaction in the dis
charge of his duties as postmaster of this
city. Though he has been only twelve
years in Minneapolis and has figured
only for the past eight years in local
politics, he has given abundant evidence
of his qualifications for any Office in the
gift of his fellow-citizene. In 1886,
when ~ years old, he was elected city
comptroller and was one of the most
capable officials the city has ever had.
Four years later he acted as Mayor Wins
tons private secretary and last year he ran
himself for the Democratic nomination
for mayor but was defeated by small
margin. While filling the responsible
position of city comptroller he displayed
his efficiency as an expert and accurate
accountant, and when acting in the ca
pacity of secretary for Mayor Winston he
was SO affable and genial with all who
were brought in contest with him that
be made host of friends who are sim
cerely glad of the honor now bestowed
upon him by the President of the United
States. He richly deserves the prize he
has won and The IRISH STANDARD joins
in oongratulating him upon his victory,
and predicts that he will make popular |
postmaster and justify the confidence re-
posed in him by the entire community.
PROPERLY REMEMBERED.
At the recent convention in Liverpool
II the Irish National League of Great
Britain, the debt which the Irish race at
1ome and abroad owes to Mr.. Gladstone