The San Francisco call., 1897-05-29
SAN FRANC|SCO'S
POSTMAS TERSH|P
John T. Dare Believed to
Have the In side
Track.
Congressman Loud and John
d. SpreCkels Can Name
the Man.
Uncie Ben Mckinley May Upset
Calculations, but the POSSIBLE
ity Is Remote.

senator ferklnS, John ~. SprecKelS ana
Congressman Loud, has good reason to
believe that John T. Dare will be appoint
ed Postmaster at San Francisco to sue
ceed Frank McCoppin, deceased. No
definite agreement has yet been made be-
| tween the trio, but John T. Dare has the
inside track and will probably be appoint
ed. The most prominent candidates are
General Samuel W. Backus, ex-Postmas-
ter OF San Francisco, w. w. Dodge,
Charles f. Bassett and B. F. Mckinley.
Senator Perkins said to THE CALL cor
respondent tonight that he would indo-se
any good man who was named by Con-
gresham Loud and Mr.. Spreckels. 1t is
believed that Senator Perkins choice is
Charles +. Bassett, but that he will not
oppose the choice of Messrs. Loud and
Spreckels, provided their selection is
good one. 1t may be stated. furthermore,
that Mr.. Spreckels and Congressman an Loud
are working together and that they will
have no trouble in uniting upon good
man.
John L. Dare and W. w. Dodge were
candidates for the Apprasership. 1t is
we'll known that Mr.. Spreckels was In
favor of Dare for the place, but now that
! there is vacancy in the Postoffice il is
believed by those on the inside that Dare
will be made Postmaster. Ii is under
stood that Mr.. Spreekels offered the post
mastership to w. W. Montague, but that
gentleman wired that he could not ac-
cept it and recomme ended w. w. Dodge.
OF course there is posi- oility that Sen.
ator Perkins will not agree to indose Mr..
Dare, but as he has expressed his deter
mination to support any good man recon-
mended for the place it is believed that he
will fall into line. There is, too, the bare
possibility that Uncle B. F. Mckinley,
with his little petition, may upset all cal
culations, but this possibility is too re-
mote TO be seriously considered. The
Californians here do not seem to know
much about Uncle Mckinley. They say
he has never been prominent in politics.
Congressman Loud tonight received
telegram from Charles Bemis, saving
1.-The people here are for b. +. Mckinley
or Postmaster"
Californian in conversation with 7 HE
CALL correspondent said that Uncle Nc
Kinley's appointment woulo be a rank in
stance OF nepot;sm. "Not exactly nepot-
ism,' said he laughingly, '.for a strict
literal definition of nepotism is favorit-
ism for nephews' B. f. McKnley's ap-
pointmeht would be a case of favoritism
for uncles and might therefore be called
unceism."
There has already been one case OF this
kind, however, under President MeKin-
ley's adm inistration. He appointed his
cousin, Osborne, as Consul General to
London. B. F. McKinley's friends cite
many cases Of nepotism. notably the one
above and President Cleveland's appoint
ment of his wife's cousin, Ben Folsom, as
Consul to Sheffield. Then, too, they hunt
some ancient history wherein it is recorded
that President J ohm Adams appointed his
own son, John Quincy Adams. as Minister
to The Hague.
Congressman Loud learned at the Post
Office Department to-day that there is a
disposition in the department to allow the
defea ed Republican candidates for Con-
gress to name the postmasters iii their
districts in cases where they we're de-
feated by small majorities. The Repub-
lican United States Senators are usually
allowed to make appointments in those
districts now represented in Congress by
Democrats, and if this determination of
Perki ins will not be allowed the privilege
of selecting the postmasters in the dis
tricts now represented by Barlow and
Castle (Populist Democrats), but the de-
feated Republican candidates. Bowers and
McLachlan, will name the men. 1t will
be different in the Second District, how
ever, for Grove Johnson was fairly
showed under by DE Vries; besides. it is
understood at the department here that
Mr.. Johnson is no longer resident of tie
Second District, but has removed to San
Francisco.
Senator Perkins is naturally displeased
and, it is said, is inclined to hold Mr.. Loud
responsible for this policy of the Postoffice
Department.. There is no doubt that there
is spirit of rivalry between Senator Per-
kins and Congressman Loud. The latter
has strong pull at the Fostofice Depart
ment, for he is chairman of the Commit
tee on Postoffices and Postroads of the
House OF Representatives. and in this ca.
pacity is able to grant many favors re-
quested by the department, or not to- as
suits his pleasure.
preventative Loud had another inter-
view with Assistant Secretary Spalding
at the Treasury Department to-day con.
corning the new San Francisco Postoffice
building. Mr.. Spalding sent for the su-
pervising architect and instructed him to
rush the work. Mr.. Loud is very well
pleased over the prospects.