The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-21
POLITICAL BUNCo A NJ
NOW MpKINLEr,s OPPONENTS Sc
CURED OFFICE ~ TENNESSEE.

1OW hEh1NbEISS OBION EN1h SE-
CURED OFFICE IN TENNESSEE.
HAD Appointments Made Through Misleading
Representation to the Presidential Policy
That DiscourREen unsteAd or building
Up the Republican Party in the south.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2o.-A recent trip into tho
South and q weeks observation In Tennessee
developed some points OF general interest.
President Mckinley Is everywhere an Interest,"
ing, attractive. and popular personality. But
thore Is universal curiosity to know how It has
happened that some OF tho most active oppo-
nsnts OF his nomination now hold prominent
Office In the State, and assume to have chief
control of the patronage.
The case seems to involve q confidence gamo
OF largo dimensions. From tho first, Tennessee
was for tho nomination of Major Mckinley. Tho
leading Republican politicians OF the state all
knew him and liked him. He was personally
acquainted and warmly welcomed in the best
social circles OF tbs State. When the question of
his nomination arose there was but ono voice OF
any influence In Tennessee. and that was for Ma
3or Mckinley. A little knot of men OF the class
found in ovory State. who are in politics for rev.
cnue only. seem to have united to play n fine
Game on the friends OF all tae candidates. They
began by applying for and taking money for
work In tho interest of other candidates, and
next turned their attention to creating tho
tmpIoSolOu tnAI tennessee WAS n uOuDLTul
Mckinley State. There was no valid foun-
dalton for such belief. But these shrewd
operators succeeded in securing q stand
ing for 1t. Next they offered their services
TO save Tennessee from their phantoms. This
Was easy, since, II every trickster Of them had
united In an attempt to prevent a Mckinley
delegation at st. Louis, tho result would have
boon the same. Their only function was to
arouse apprehension whore no cause for It cx-
listed, volunteer their services as supporters
and defenders, and exult over their shrewd.
ness when the victory which they had foreseen
rs inevitable from tho first was declared and
gave them the chief control of the Federal
patronage. There never was a bunco game of
greater proportions played of upon the man.
ayers OF q candidate than this Tennessee
scheme. Every one there Is, Of course. conf
dent that the President could have known
nothing about 1t, but they have sharp criticism
for the managers who had Tennessee in hand,
and were mislod by these schemers. 1t is not
necessary to explain at length that political
operators of this class have no standing among
the respectable elements OF O State. Every one
understands that.
The political damage inflicted upon Tennessee
by the success OF this scheme can scarcely be
overestimated. Since Mr.. Harrison's campaign
the State has been advancing in Republican
directions. A change OF n few voters in the
western districts Of the State would have given
him the electoral vote. Protection has a strong
hold upon the State, and sound money a still
stronger hold. A largo Democratic vote was
cast for Major Mckinley by tho Democratic op-
ponents of free silver. This class and those
who advocate protection are among tho most
influential citizens. With thes, tendencies
among tho best elements OF tho Democratic
party, 1t Is felt to DO q matter OF vital Importance
by the corresponding class among Republicans
thai their party should be commented to tho
white population Of the State by a class of
oficeholders who omman general respect for
personal character. respectable standing. and
acknowledged fitness. Under such conditions
and such only the Republican party will grow
IN tennessee: by gathering strength from its
Just here enter considerations which are most
diseouraging to a large class Of southern Re-
pueliosns; 1t iss pnioriGnsteiy true that there
think that the best and only practical use of the
southern States in a nationa, election is to con-
votes have full weight with those of Now York
and the other great States, although it is per-
Few, il any electoral votes, can be cast by the
South. 1t Is natural for those who thus believe
appoint men to Office who will mako it their
business to organize o machine which can be
The Republicans OF Tennessee-meaning by
that, Of course, the respectable clsss,believe
ininistration should use ali means in Their "
TO build up the party in the state, and that
tne,r nrst step thSuld De- to see TINT the presi,
both tho character and standing and the de-
gree OF influence which every candidate for
Here, rs the country will understand, Is The
chief difficulty, Except in few Instances, com
act, he cannot personally know these very
essential things about II candidate: He must
those who are most discouraged over some very
bad appointments. which have been made there,
with and fully informed he would not have
made any of them. Tho full faith IN the Presl-
don't in this dire ton on, the part of the best yie-
ments o, his party in Tennessee is q matter in
which he may well take pride: But when men
Of this class. who thus honor the President and
thus believe in him. see persons appointed to
prominent office through misleading representa-,
tons. whose personal and social standing and
relations cannot stand discussion, the situa ion
becomes both perpleXing and embarrassing.
u was noticeable that the Republicans who
were most discouraged over the effect which
various prominent appointments had produced
were not t ose who had sought or wished for
oflse. They had had no candidates: and cared
on the higher grounds of an intense desire for
the sire rgthening and tho eiGyS,i1 IN Of me
mended to the white element by appointments
OF high order, there could he no suGh party
growth Re ever to secure success.
These citizens, could not understand. as well
tent TO which a President must depend upon
those who have his ear for his knowledge OF
candidates. IL they could witness the process
OF oficc.seeking they would wonder that any
president succeeds in making the majority OF
MS appointment good, instead or wondering
how a lew happen to be essentially bad. They
would soon become convinced that tho worst
enemies OF a President are not found among his
political opponents, or among those in his own
party who openly criticise any OF his acts or
policies, but that lar worse thnn these, in fact,
the worst Of all, are those who. possessing his
confidence. abuse 1t by inducing Inn to make APP
pointments which can never he q credit to an
administration and are certain in the md to
prove Injurious.
1t Is unquestionably true that a considerable
number of appointments have been made n the
SoIth. which, II the President had possessed full
tn'0rmation-that Is. hti been dealt with
honcstly-would never have been ordered.
But there is a fail confidence among Tenncs-
tee Republicans that The President is fast AZ
c"rtnining tho situation, and will avoid future
emharrHssllenis, not only in their state. but
clsew here IN tho south. Indeed, a President
could not wish to have more implicit confidence
prevail in. his doing right things when the real