The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-24
BOMB SHBLL IN The CAMP
MR.. J.. e. ALBRIGHT TO GET THE
POSTMASTERSHIP

senator Pritchard Decides to Rend In His
Nomination and Informs His Friends
Here-The Opposition Astounded-Thsy
Say It IL . Slap in the Face for Governor
Russell
The unexpected has happened, and
there Is rejoicing in n wing OF the
republican party in Wilmington and
disgust and disappointment in the
other. The party for the past few
weeks has been considerably stirred
up owe the appointments to the col
lectorship and the postmastership.
1t seems that the c~ollectorship Of the
port had been promised to ex-Collector
John c. Dancy, II he wanted it, or it
was to go to some other colored man,
probably Jno. T. Howe, If Dancy did
not wan it. There was a strong fight,
however, over the postmastership, the
aspirants being ex-Postmaster G. Z.
French, and Mr.. j. E. Albright, a rail-
way postal clerk, who is running on
the Atlantic Coast Line between Will
mington and Norfolk. Last week Nj.
French went TO Washington to look af-
ter his interests, and Mr.. Albright and
C. P. Jockey, D. B. Sutton, A. L.. Man
ly, and John T. Howe were at the ma
tional capital in Mr.. Arbright's behalf.
The parties saw Senator Pritchard,
and Mr.. Jockey presented Mr.. AL
bright's claims in a strong speech.
Prominent republicans here laughed at
the idea of MI. Albright's friends ac-
complishing anything, bat Sunday
Mr.. w. S. Hyams, private secretary to
Senator Pritchard, informing his that
Senator Pritchard had determined to
send in Mr.. Aibright's name for the
postmastership. Letters to this effect
were also received by other republic
cans, and hence the rejoicing Of some
and the CONSERVATION of others.
Mr.. G. z. French, when asked by a
Messenger representative about the
matter last night, confirmed the news
about Mr.. Albright's selection and
said it was intended as a slap in the
face for Governor Russell. He said it
was understood that he was Governor
Russeu's candidate for postmaster, and
that settled it.
The men who have ranked as the
leaders of the republican party in Will
mington are astonished over the
thing, and they do not hesitate to say
that it will ruin the party. AS a piece
of poor politics, they declare it bangs
bob-tail. One remarked last might that
is vas a plot to destroy Governor Rus
sells influence in his own county, but
his friends would see thai "the chick
ems come home to roost' at the proper
time.
On the other hand, Mr.. A1bright's
friends claim to have a majority of the
party with them and some of them bit
terly curse the 'fbosses,'' as they call
the opposition. They are simply fall
ing over themselves in high jinks at
the overthrow of the old leaders.
Mr.. Albright is a young man about
80 years of age and is a son of the
late Mr.. J. E. Albright, once a strong
republican leader in Alamance coun-
ty. The elder Albright was post
master at Durham under President
Harrison's administration, and his son,
who is now to he postmaster of Will
mington, was his assistant postmaster.
Mr.. Albright, the postmaster to he,
is a clever man, n has been running
out of Wilmington as postal clerk
about five years. He has always stood
a high examination, and is acknowledge
ed to be a most efficient clerk.
Postmaster George L. Morton's term
expires today, but he will serve till Mr..
ATbright's nomination is sent in and
confirmed. The office pays $4,000 a
year.
Mr.. Albright says he intends to
make Wilmington a good postmaster,
and he will let it be known hat he is
in town.
AS to the co~l1ectorship, one of the
old guard said last night, he thought
there was little doubt but Dancy
would be appointed. He said he vas
disguised with the whole proceeding.
Look at the blundering politics in
it," he remarked. why, they have
given the postmastership to a man that
is not now to fifty people in Will
mington, and they will give the col
lectorship to a man who lives in the
western part of the state"