Evening star., 1895-06-06
ALERT AND ACTIVE
The District Democracy Awakens
From a Lethargic State.
APPOINTMENTS ARE IN THE AIE
Gossip About the Georgetown COL
Iectorship Revives Hopes.
POSSIBILITIES REVIEWED

For many months the District democracy
has been enveloped in lethargy of the most
| sluggish character. The hopes and aspira-
| tions which inspired its manifold bosom
VIXEN President Cleveland was inaugurated
| for the second time, and the eager, covetous
glances it cast on the many lucrative local
places under executive control were stiffed
| in the one instance and metamorphosed in
| to eXpressionless stares in the second by
| the continued disinclnation of Mr. Cleve-
| land to remove the appontees Of his pre-
decessor. 1t is true that c. H. ]. Taylor
vas made recorder of Deeds but this was
| more discomforting to the District democ-
| racy than any other thing that could have
| happened. The appointment of Mr. Ma
ncgue was not Sufficient to give the weary
and worthy anything more in the way of
animation than galvanic shock, and
Mr. Willetts selection as postmaster had
neen discounted SO long in advance that
lts announcement caused no sensation
whatever.
The arraignment and subsequent apotbe-
osis of Recorder Taylor made the dullness
OF the local democracy deader than ever,
and it had about settled down to the sad
conViction that nothing was to be expected
from MI Cleveland, when the announce
ment was made in yesterdays Star that
the president had called for Mr. Manosue's
resignation. The effect upon the somnolept
pertlon OF the party in this neighborhood
was electrical. The awakening into instant
ana vigorous animation can only be ex-
plaiied on the ground that the subject was
pretty nearly to the end of the nap any-
now BE this as it may, there is no gain
saying the statement that the District
democracy is very much on the alert today
ana mas lts eyes and ears wide open and
all its other faculties under full Command
Causes of tho NJo<opno.,~y,o..-
The main reason for this spring-like re-
Juvenation is. of course, the speculation
over the succession to Mr.. Manogue but an
additional cause for 1t may be discovered
in the belief that President Cleveland will
make one mouthful of the local patronage
cherry and appoint a register of wills and
district attorney at the time he makes a
new collector of the port of Georgetown.
The aspirants for the latter place were
up with the lark this morning, and their
chances We're being discussed later by their
friends and supporters. When Mr.. Ma
nogue was appointed his selection ended a
very close and pretty fight, the leading con-
testants in which We're Mr.. Oscar A Stew
ems Mr. William Hutchins (now superin-
tendent of the Georgetown branch post
once), Mr.. Henry Blunt and Mr.. B. Lewis
Blackford. 1t is said with apparent author
fty that while the struggle was in progress
Carlisle to Mr.. Lawrence Gardner, but he
declined it, it is said. because he was sup
porting one of the other candidates.
Opened an Old Fight.
The forces arrayed on the side of MI
Manogue and Mr.. Hutchins were the most
energetic of those engaged in the battle
The candidacy of these gentlemen was
really renewal of the open fight that oc-
Cured in Chicago. three years ago this
summer, when the question of who should
be the District member of the democratic
natioral committee was SO hotly argued by
Mr. Henry 70. Davis and Mr.. James l..
Norris MIR Norris who was victorious in
Chicago. was the leader of Mr.. Hutchins'
friends in the collectorship contest while
the white plume of Henry E. Davis waved
in front of the Marogue legions. TIE lat
ter won. and Mr.. Manogue's appointment
and subsequent course as collector are too
well known to need repetition here, and
the causes that led to the demand for his
resignation have been set forth fully in
The Evening Star.
1t would be only in the nature of things
for Mr. Hutchins and his friends to go to
the front again after the colectorshp, and
thus secure at a second sortie what they
We're prevented from getting in the first.
There is no doubt such en- outcome would
be gratifying to Mr.. Norris and the rest
of Mr.. Hutchins friends, but the latter is
not so anxious to be appointed as he was.
He was appointed by Postmaster Will
lett superintendent of the Georgetown
branch post office. The salary is a good
one and the office is protected by the civil
collector he would have less than two
years to serve before a republican would
come in and invite him to try the rest and
quiet of private life. That is the way the
political horoscope reads at this particular
time, anyhow. So Mr.. Hutchins doesn't
want it.
Candidates Who Are willing.
Mr.. Stevens Mr.. Blunt and Mr.. Black
ford do, however, and the friends of the
two first named gentlemen appear to think
that their particular candidate will get
the place without question. Mr.. Black
ford's friends, and they are many, say
nothing, but look intelligent when the col
lectorship is mentioned.
There is another factor in the fight in
its renewed stage, however, that may prove
more potent than any or all of the others.
Since it became pretty well understood
that Mr.. Manogue's departure from Office
had been decided upon a great many in
fiuential people have been quietly pressing
the name Of Mr.. John Boyle, a. leading
local democrat, as that of Mr.. Manogue's
successor. Mr.. Boyle himself is not an
applicant for the place and has filed no
papers in his own behalf like the other
aspirants, but it is pretty we'll understood
that he would not refuse the place If it
is offered to him.
The influence of Secretary Carlisle and
the customs officials of the Treasury De-
partment is also said to be in MIR. Boyle's
favor, because of his familiarity with the
practical and technical details of the Gus
toms service. gained by his years of duty
as treasury press reporter.
The Rcgistership Puzzle.
Other names have been mentioned in
connection with the prospective appoint
ment. and among them is that of Mr. j.
Fred Kelley. MIR. Kelley is not candidate
for the collectorship. however, but is prom
inently mentioned in connection with the
registership Of wills, now held by Col. L.
P. Wright, whose commission, given him
by President Harrison, expired many
months ago. 1t is generally admitted that
this place. If filled at the present time. will
go to either Mr.. Kelley or Mr. Dorsey
Clagett, former incumbent of the Office
At one time, three months ago, 1T was con-
fidently expected that Mr. Kelley's name
was about to be announced that of Col
Wrights successor. and the failure of the
President to make the nomination occa-
stoned much surprise among those who
knew what had occurred in connection
with the matter. Mr.. Clagett's friends