Evening star., 1897-01-20
N r. WILLIS FATE
~
Defeated for denomination by the
Bosses.
One RECOMMENDATION Did IT
Effect That Patronage Had On His
Political Fortunes.
AN NTER ESTING STORY

Said well-known Kentuckian to a rep
fesentative of The Star today:
'Oh the eve of a change of national ad
ministration, when the question of patron
age will cut so prominent a ligure. let me
give you story showing how disastrously
patronage sometimes bears on the fortunes
OF public man. Albert s. Willis, who
recently died in Honolulu, served ten years
in Congress from the Louisville district,
and, 1t is conceded accomplished more SUBJ
stantial things for his constituents than
any Of his predecessors had been able TO
do. He was an earnest, Industrious,
patient and capable man, who went to the
bottom Of things, and kept the interests of
his people always In mind. Among his
achievements, he secured the establishment
at Louisville of the American Printing
House for the Blind; the appropriation of a
million dollars for the erection of a new
custom house and post office there; the
opening free to navigation of the canal at
the falls of the Ohio, and large sums for
improving the Louisville harbor He had
been Of great service to his people other
wise, and when he offered for reelection
the last time was one of the most infiuen-
tial men in the House and chairman of the
rivers and harbors committee. One would
suppose that a constituency which had
been SO very well served, and which could
promise itself so much more from a man
who had shown such aptitude for leg.sla-
tion, would be at pains to keep him in
commission. But his constituency turned
him out. And for what? A post officei He
made a recommendation contrary to the
wishes and the pressure of the party man.
ayers in Louisville, and they beat him for
denomination at the primaries. That, of
cours :, in a district which was then over
whelmingly democratic, sealed his con-
gressional fate, and he passed of the scene.
The story is one of credit to Mr.. Willis
throughout. Mrs. Thompson, woman of
capacity and of nigh social position. was
the postmistress of Louisville and was
seeking reappoiltmeat. Her antecedents
were democratic. but she had obtained the
office from Mr.. HAYES and had held it
through The administrations of Gen. Gar
field and Gen. Arthur, and, having
quilted herself well in the place, she was
row asking reappointment at tie hands
of Mr.. Cleveland. then In his first term as
President. The decision lay with Mr.. Will
lis, the representative of !he district, who,
both because Of her good record in office
and because she was a woman, showed
disposition to recommend Mrs. Thompson
for another term. But the party bosses in
some local consequence, and they insisted
that 1t should be filled by some active
member of the party. great deal of feel
ing was aroused, and, on account of Mrs.
Thompsons distinguished connections, il
extended outside of the state. 1t was an
embarrassing situation for Mr.. Willis. He
knew what TIE threat of the bosses meant,
and he was anxious to remain in Congress
But he stood his ground and recommended
Mrs. Thompson: she was reappointed. ard
he was retired perm anently from a body
where he had attained considerable bromi-
nence and had served his people In all of
their larger affairs conspicuously we'll
This is a true story without embellish-
ments, and it speaks volumes in support
of the contention :hat patronage is a curse
to public men. They are much oftener
shared than helped by it. and many of
them in their hearts woull be glad to be
rid of 1T all Not imp:nbably, If Mr. Willis
could have escaped that little ward souab-
Bile, he would have remained in Congress
Tor years longer than he did. He was a
pathetic to think of his having been forced
out of Congress for the reason ami in the
way he was"