Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-15


esting Review Of the Situation.
Special Correspondence q Gazette andJournai
Washington, April Is. The matter
of Federal and departmental appoint
merts for Delaware is being held 10
allegiance by President Mckinley until
a responsible Republican or number of
Republicans OF the State can be chosen
to act 10 the capacity Of referee, Ordi-
narily, OF course. a Senator or member
OF Congress- would control the State
patronage, but the fact that the party
is not represented in Congress- obliges
the President to 60 TO the State for a
man who can be relied upon TO dis
tribute offices in manner calculated
to rebound to the best advantage of the
administration. In Southern States
which have no Republican representa-.
tive in Congress, it is almost invariably
the custom for the Republican national
committee to control the patronage,
but the Delaware situation makes il
Impossible for this practice TO be fol.
lowed. The President will take the
subject under careful consideration in
the near future. and will select a man
upon whose Recommendation all an
= -Ctuba DOSE
ma5tership to the maFHhalship or col
lectorship will DO named.
a prominent Delaware Republican
called at the Postofiice Department YES.
terday and urged the Fourth assistant
Postmaster General to appoint a capdi
date for fourth. class postmastership
IN the State. pointing out that the
candidate was nunerously endorsed
and that the tern. of the Democratic
incumbent had expired. lie was
informed that the orders Of the
President were to delay all action in
the matter of postoiiice appointments
until a referee had been chosen, and
that no change would be made in the
Offices until some man had been dele.
gated to investigate all applications
and pass upon the eligibility, general
qualifications and political standing of
each. The official intimated that such
policy would be pursued as regards
all other appointments The Federal
judgeship, it is believed, is being held
up by President Mckinley for this
reason.
1t is impossible to predict with any
degree Of accuracy from which faction
OF the party Mr.. Mckinley will make his
selection OF referee, but majority Of
those here who are keeping close watch
OF the situation in Delap are are in.
clined to believe that a Higgins man
will be CHOSEN; or, 10 case of board,
one controlled by the regular orpapi
zation OF the party. The Addicks
people are relying principally upon
Senators Quay and Penrose of Pennsyi.
yania TO put them in favor with the
administration and bring about the
selection of an Addicks man for
referee, but the indications are that
MIR. Quay and bis colleague will pre-
serve strict neutrality IN the contest
and allow the fight to proceed without
interference. Pennsylvania Congress.
man is authority for the statement that
Quay is done with Addicks and his
followers. Mr.. Quay" said this Con.
gressmaD, has wined his hands of the
whuie contest anil 10 the future will be
q party to none Of it's fights. . With
Mr.. Quay out OF the cpnteat IL is diff.
cult TO perceive how MIR. Addicks can
bring enough pressure to bear upon the
standardization to win out in this fight,
inasmuch as Quay and his followers
haTo practically been his only friends
in Congress. On the other hand, II is
conceded that some of the most conf.
DENTAL advisers OF the administration
in the Senate and House are in sym
pathy with the Higgins faction, and
that they will exert their influence TO
the end that that branch Of the marty
control tho States patronage. The
chances of controlling appointments
are acknowledged to be in favor of the
Higgins people.
1t 10 argued by some, however, that
the administration will make a strong
effort 10 effect harmony and bring
about an understanding whereby the
appointments can be divided on a
basis Of equality. The scheme, bow.
ever, is generally regarded as imprac.
tieable. No results are expected in
this direction.
: Directly in line with this scheme a
plan il suggested which meets with
favor among many OF the friends of
Addicks here. 1t ia that the Higgins
people control all appointments in New
Castle county, whore they poll large
majority OF votes, and allow the Ad-
dicks faction to dictate patronage for
Kent and Sussex counties, where tho
latter developed the greater strength.
This inca will be fought. however, by
the Regulars.
1t ia understood that the names OF
hesoThi OeidWdre hepubllCdns Will be
placed before the President for selection
HIS referee this week. Among those
most prominently mentioned are Robert
y. Houston OF Georgetown, Gen. James
II. Wilson Of New Castle, Hugh q,
Browne anu Henry @. Morse OF Will
mington, of the Higgins faction; ana
OK Congressman j. Is. Willis and State
Committee Chairman J. Frank Alice,
friends OF Addicks. Mr.. Morse is a
closs personal friend OF President Nc.
kinley and is conceded to have excel
lent aropsects of being selected as
referee.
Ths many peculiar features Of the
contest have attracted considerable
attention among Congressman and the
public generally, and the result is
awaited with unusual interest,
M,