Evening star., 1897-04-01
c L A Y " A N S
His Former Colleagues in the House Pleased
at His Appointment.
Believe Tint He Will Make an Ex-
ce1lent Commissioner of Pensions
No Stranger to Washington.

The appointment of Mr. H. Clay Evans
of Tennessee to be commissioner of pen
sions Is very gratifying to his former col
leagues in the House. and to the new men,
bers as well, most of whom have personal
acquaintance with Mr.. Evans through his
connection with national politics for the
last few years The position which Mr..
Evans will occupy In the future will bring
him into close personal relations with
nearly every member of the House, for the
pension bureau is the department where
the average representative has the most
business to transact with his constituents.
1t is conceded on every hand that Mr..
Evans is admirably fitted to occupy the po-
sition which the President selected for
him. In these days, when the business of
the pension bureau has grown to such
enormous proportions. the office of COM
missioner is considered a highly important
one, and the selection of a man to fill it is
usually matter of considerable concern
to the appointing power.
No Stranger to WashinstOn.
Mr.. Evans is no stranger to Washington
public life, as every one knows. He first
appeared prominently in national affairs
when he came to Washington at the begin
ming of the F'ifty-first Congress as re-
publican representative from the state of
Tennessee. He brought with him the rep-
utatlon of an orator Of considerable abil-
lty, man of affairs and a hard worker
His record in Congress fully sustained this
reputation. Mr.. Evans was made mem
Der of the committee on post offices and
post roads, and by his conspicuous work
IN that committee attracted the attention
OF Postmaster General Wanamaker. When
an occasion arose, late in the Harrison ad-
ministration, Mr. Wanamaker called Mr..
aGSiS in, Il
the great business of the Post Office De-
paItment, and President Harrison ap-
pointed him first assistant postmaster gen
eral.
tired from power Mr.. Evans returned to
tennessee and engaged actively in the pol
lucS OF MS own state. He was the republi-
can can candidate for governor, and his friends
cialfn was elected. Many of the most
prominent democrats in the state conceded
MS election. He was counted out of the
once, however. and was compelled to see
MS democratic opponent. whom he felt he
hdu lalrIy defeated, assume the gubernato to-
rial chair. To this day Mr. Evans is IA
Hlharly addressed as governor by his
associates In Tennessee, who claim that he
was by right. If not in fact at one time
governor of Tennessee.
Put Forward for the Vice Presidency.
MI. Evans continued to engage himself
earnestly in politics, and was recognized
as one OF the leading, if not the princiral
supporters of Maj. Mckinley among south
ern republicans. At the ST Louis conyen
ton Mr.. Evans was put forward by his
iriends Tor the vice presidency, and re-
celFed large and fiattering vote Vrher
'he campaign opened he threw himself on
ergeucaiy into the contest, and worked
nard throughout the whole campaign in
several states for the republican ticket.
Mr. Evans is / gentleman of engaging
personality, and possesses the fac-,Itv nf
making rnaR,ng friends easily and holding them