The Washington bee., 1896-11-07
THE RECORpERSHIP.

property in the District of Colum-
bia. From the time the late Fred
erick Douglass was transferred
from the marshals office, who had
been appointed there by President
3. B. Hayes, to the office of re-
corder of deeds by James A. Gar.
field there has been a national
scramble for that office by outside
politicians. These scrambles have
been political disgraces which have
reflected no credit upon the parties
who have used this office as a polit-
ical menace to those who have had
opinions of their own but dare not
express them for fear that this
great office would sll from under
them.
Mr.. James G. Matthews, of Al
bany, New York, succeeded MIR.
! Douglass, and he made one of the
best recor iers the district ever had.
Mr.. Matthews failed of confrma-
ton when he was first nominated
SO President Cleveland again sent
his name to the senate and again
he WIS rejected. Nothing could be
done but to nominate another man,
so James A. Trotter, of Hyde
Park, Mass, was nominated to sue
ceed Mr.. Matthews and the senate
Immediately confirmed him after 8
little contest.
After the defeat of Mr.. Cleye-
land by Mr.. Harrison, Hon. B. K.
Bruce, of Mississippi, was nomi-
mated, who subsequently, became a
district man and who made very
acceptable recorder, giving full sat-
isfaction to all who had business
with the office.
After the defeat of Mr.. Harri-
son, strong fight was made by re-
publicans and democrats to have a
district man appointed, but no in
fluence could be brought to per-
suade Mr.. Cleveland that a home
man would be acceptable to the
people although 2OO,OOO residents,
which is the entire population of
the district wanted a district man
appointed, but to the surprise of
the people, gentleman, scholar,
statesman and citizen was succeed
ed by a man called G. Fl. j. Tay-
lor, of Kansas City, Mo-, and was
asked at the time, he was inducted
into office, by Lawyer j. H.Smyth,
who was present at the time with
the editor of this paper, whether
the chair which he was about to
take was large enough for him. 1t
was subsequently shown that not
only the chair but the office Was too
large for him. So it can be seen
that the office has been thrown into
disrepute by attempting to make it
colored corner for Afro -Ameri-
cans. The people of this city
don't want any particular office set
ap rt for them they are bro4d and
liberal enough to declare their cit
izenship and qualification for an of
flee over which there has not been
so much scramble and one that has
not been disgraced by the importa-
ton of people who have no stand
ing at their own home or in their
own state
The Bee suggests and it will
make the declaration and it is its
opinion and the opinion OF the citi-
zens of Washington that the dis
trict marshalship will be acceptable
to them and the registry of the
treasury, an office that was once
filled with dignity and trust. The
fact is we are entitled to q cabinet
portfolio and when we ask for these
| minor PAGES we expect to get them
even if one of our number is not
appointed in the cabinet.
At any rate we do not want the
reco .der's office to be considered a
colored corner. We appeal to the
dignity of the American race and
the patriotism of the President
elect. We shall discuss this ques-
ton fr,m now until the President
outlines his policy SO far as the
people of this district and Afro
Ameri cans are concerned.