The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-10
NEARLY ALL PLEASED
Gen. Mems Appointment Suits
the Democrats.
A eAsELEss CHARGE EXPLODED
A Few of His Enemies Try to Biacken
Him-The Good Joke He Had on
the Postmaster General.

The supoirtn1ent of Gilbert s. Neem
20 the of4ee Of postmaster for this city
was the subject OF much talk on the
streets yesterday and some OF the old line
Democrats were inclined 10 complain
bitterly. saying that the general had
hardly lived in the state long enough
10 claim a residence and stiIi he is given
a fat government JOB In preference 10
those who have fought for the party
here for these many years without re-
ward and. what Is worse, without any
apparent hope OF reward. good many
hard things were said about the general.
bat a good many others say that the
appointment Is a good one and that the
general will come as near giving salts
faction all round as any Democrat IN
the city. which is saying a good deal when
II IS considered that the party is divided
and has many leaders. many of them
without any followers.
Some people have brought up an old
lawsuit Of Gen Meem while he was a
resident of Virginia as rejecting on him.
There is nothing secret ABOUT the suit.
9t was pending for years In the courts
there and was well known all over the
state. especially 10 all the lawyers. as IL
involved large amount OF money. The
transaction arose out of a loan Of 81. 90
made to the general on his estate. The
loaner attempted TO charge a usuriouS
rate Of interest Gen. Aeem offered TO
pay the principal. but resisted the pay
ment 81 the usurious interest After the
case was contested by the ablest lawyers
in the state the court of appeals srs-
tained the verdict Of the jury. which held
that the loener was attempting to charge
more than the rate of interest allowed by
law. The case was decided in favor Of
Gen. Meem. and ne Immediately paid the
full amount of the principal. which was
all that the court said was necessary.
That Gen. Mems conduct in this case.
as in MS whole life. was approved of in
the state OF Virginia is shown by the fact
that ne was strongly recommended for
postmaster in this city by the judge who
tried the case, the clerk OF the court,
every congressman from Virginia. and the
two United States senators from that
state. II is a strange coincidence that the
three leading lawyers OF Virginia at the
time of that litigation all now hold high
official positions at Washington City
United States Senator Daniels, w l..
Wilson. the postmaster general. who
strongly recommended Gen. Meem for
postmaster. and Holmes Conrad. the
solicitor general of the United States
When Il was brought tosthe attention of
Gen. Meem that certain people in Seattle
during the past year were writing up this
lawsuit and trying 10 give IL such color as
would lead one to infer that the generals
conduct in the case was not upright, Mr.
Conrad. who was one of the counsel In
the case. learned OF the matter. Though
Mr.. Conrad has held high official positions
in Washington City during all of Cleve-
lands administration he had never here
tofore recommended any man for any
political position. but he was sa indig-
nant al this undetermined attempt that ne
took a personal interest In the matter.
He immediately wrote the postmaster
general the following letter:
ITO the Honorable Postmaster GEN
eral: Gen. Gilbert s. Meem. OF Seattle.
who is an applicant for the office OF post
master at that place. is advised that a
certain transaction which was the sub
ject of litigation in the court OF appeals
OF Virginia has been made the subject or
charges affecting his personal character.
/ beg to say that have thorough krowl-
edge Of the transaction referred to- and
attest that IL involved no conduct OF Gen.
Meern not consistent with the character
OF an honorable and heightened gentle
man
II stand ready 10 support this opinion
from the records. Yours respectfully.
HOLMES CONRAD"
February !. 1895,
The above letter was Immediately placed
on file TN the posiofiice department, where
Il now Hes. When William l.. Wilson was
appointed postmaster general II was i'm
possible for any one 40 say anything TO
iniure Gen Meem. Gen. Mems high
standing IN the community in which he
lived was we'll known 10 Mr.. Wilson, as
Il was 10 all the Virginia congressman
who supported him.
Among the prominent candidates for
the Office who were unsuccessful may
be mentioned Charles II. Baker. D. f.
Durie, r. l.. Thorne. r. o. Graves, S. S.
Carlisle w J. Colkett. r. NJ Daulton,
J. Y. ostrander. J. NJ. Lyon. II. T..
Shields. T. f Drew and \. l.. cohn.
Nearly all OF them are Inclined TO take
the matter phnosophically and none
could be found who would say auSht
against the character OF the successful
candidate: instead, they all seemed 10
think that now the Office has heen given
away. that IS the end of Il and so they
take the matter ia good part and are
prepared 10 meet the general when he
arrives In the city and congratulate him
upon his victory.
IN connection with the appointment Of
General Meem a good story Is told in
connection with the letter of Endorsement
from Congressman William l.. VII
son of West virginia. TO Postmaster
General Rissell. After Mr. Wilson was
appointed by Mr.. Cleveland 10 succeed
Mr. B.sScM. General Meem called on him
asaln aq9. when tAe new postmaster gem
Graf asked him what Endorsement he had
the willy general drew forth from the In
ner recess of his long tailed coat a copy
~ the letter which the ex-conErsssnen
hal written 20 his predecessor Mr.. VIII
son appreciated a good Toxic and the ep-
polntment followed in due time.
II Is probable shat the general will not
4 take possession OF The Office until the
trst of the month. when the accounts will
be straiShto0ed zap j. &c usual 70 wait
untl The srd % the quarter before TAX
ting possession and thus the new candt-
/ date VIII start tn Immediately after the
quarterly reports have been 6led and Re
! has every1 hing IN shape for a elan
/ understanding 81 what he tas before him.
. But N- Davies has lpst started into The
neV quarter ard the general will rroh-
aely not be inclined 20 wait over two
mcnthS.
THE PAVING OF PIKE NTRFT-J.