The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-28
TALK OF FEDERAL OFFICES.
MIR. w. r. LEAKEN FRESH FROM
THE SCENE OF OFFICE-sEEKING.

VIII he Kept I'm ONCE Until Their
Terms Expire The Week Has
Brought About n Change in the
Situation, as Maj. Hanson Returned
to WnshingtOn-Third Candidate
Talk in Connection With the Col
IectOrship President Mckinley
Seems Inclined TO Favor the south.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. r. Leaken returned
from Washington yesterday They have
been north for almost month and would
have returned much earlier had 1t not
been for the illness of Rev. DR.. Leaken,
Mr.. Leaken's father. who is well known
in Savannah. and who is now in his S0th
year
Mr.. Leaken went to Washington to act
as aide on the staff of Gen. Horace Por-
ter, grand marshal of the inaugural pa
rade and he and Mrs. Leaken had several
pleasant meetings with President and Mrs.
Mckinley. Mr.. Leaken stopped at the
Raleigh, which was, in some measure,
meeting place for Georgia republicans.
He also received calls from members Of
the Georgia delegation, including Sena-
tor Clay and Col. Lester.
Mr. Leaken had Endorsed Mr..
Marion Erwin for the district
attorneyshp of the Southern dis
trict and was 4hxious to see him plac-
ed, and he also had a desire to see Col.
A. E. Buck properly attended TO. When
seen yesterday by a representative OF the
Morning News, however, Mr.. Leaken was
not inclined to express any opinions about
local matters. His attention was called
| to statements in various dispatches from
| Washington since his absence with regard
| to his application for the position of as
| sistant district attorney. Mr.. Leaken de-
MES positively that any such application
| has ever been made, but states that Mr..
| Marion Erwin will be district attorney, and
| with regard to whatever position may be
| created such as that of assistant
! district attorney, it lies entirely
| with Judge Speer together with the dis
| trict attorney to be, with the Endorsements,
| of course, of the republican managers,
| Col. Buck and Maj Hanson.
| With regard to any reported trouble be-
| tween Mai. Hanson, Mr.. Leaken and Col
| Buck, MIR Leaken said 1t never had ma
| terialized to any extent, and that every
thing is now entirely harmonious. While
| different elements are pushing for their
respective candidates, not only President
| Mckinley but Secretaries McKenna and
Gary have definitely stated, not only to
| the public but to those who have called
| upon them from this district, that they
intend, as far as they can do so. to retain
| those democrats in office to the end Of
| their terms, against whom no charges
have been made, and who have good
records. 1t appears, therefore, that those
| in office now may safely count on holding
| their positions until their commissions ex-
| pire This state of the case Is being pressed
| upon the candidates more and more. and
they realize now that they have got 70
| wait at least, so it appears. The admin
istration does not appear to have any de-
/ sire to antagonize good democrats in the
south, at least it's policy would not indl-
cate so.
Mr.. Leaken in referring to the local sit
uation, said that it was useless to discuss
the relative standing of the applicants for
the collectorship for the postottice and
other appointments in this district, for at
tehst four to six months. Further than
this Mr.. Leaken declined to express any
opinion.
Notwithstanding what Mr.. Leaken, the
newest arrival from Washington, says
with regard to the situation, ii is relia-
bly, understood that the war between the
lily white republicans and the colored con-
| tingent has been Quieted for the time be-
ing and will result in the appointment of
either Mr.. Johnson or Mr.. Doyle, or some
third white republican not yet named, to
the collectorship. The name or the thlrd
party is vet in the background, as far as
any definite information is concerned,
though it is believed among the local poll
| tieians here that one of the two named
will be collector, while the other will be
given the postmastership. So far as Col.
j. H. Deveaux is concerned, il is reliably
reported that he has never yet filed any
| Gov hn that
| the matter was being worked for him
through Senator Hanna, who is quite
| friendly to him.
There appears still to be a blockade on
the two Savannah offices, but 1t is con-
fdently asserted that everything will be
settled in an amicable manner between all
parties concerned despite the announce
ment made a week ago that Deveaux was
apparently in the lead, which is said al
that time to have been absolutely cor
| rect.
Mai. Hanson is now in Washington con-
ferring with Col Buck, and expects to
remain there for some days. 1t is under
stood he was called there by some changes
in the Georgia situation, and that since
his arrival at the capital there has been
another change in the outlook. Maj. Han
son. il is said, will likely remain in Wash
ington until he launches Col. Buck upor
his mission to japan.
Despite the general rumor that Walter
Johnson Of Columbus is to be Col. Bucks
successor as chairman of the republican
central committee in Georgia, and ex-of
ficio leader of the party in the state, ev'
! erything appears to point to Maj. Hanson
as the party's coming leader in Geor
gia, and there seems TO be every indca,
ton that he Will be selected to fill thu
bill. Undoubtedly. there is not more
prominent nor a more able republican In
the state than Maj. Hanson, and there
are many who would be glad to see hin
at the head Of the party.
President Mckinley, 1t is said, has ex.
pressed himself as thoroughly satisfied
, with affairs political in Southern Georgia
= especially as to the desire of the countie.
, in this section for protection on their pro
ducts, and II is also reported that he ha!
an idea that before many years Georgia
will wheel in line with Maryland or tina
IL may do 50 by 1900 on this and other Is
] sues. 1t seems that his determination
against the wishes of the eastern and tn,
western republicans to hold democrats il
Office as long as TIER commissions exist
to uphold the civil service rules and e
2 make district appointments satisfactory 4
. the communities which are affected, al