The Washington bee., 1897-09-04
NEGRO POLITICIANS IN A
FIGHT.
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST THE NE"
COUNSEL TO PARAGUAY.
from the Memphis, Tenn, scimiter.J

From the Memphis, Tenn, Scimi'ei'J
Republican circles in this city are all
agog since last Thursday on account Vi
a rather stormy meeting between ~,
seph I. Settle, prominent Cololeu
attorney, and one of the most piolili-
nent colored candidates tor the posi-
ton of surveyor of customs at thlS
port, and John N. Ruttln, Co!oIe9
school teacher who has been apPolhteo
consul at ASCENSION.
The consul at ASCENSION was de-
nounced as thief by Settle ana or
dered from Settles office. He lett the
office, saying something which I'M
pressed Settle as meaning that ne
would resent the insult offered him II
the offerer of the insult would come
out of the office and to the street. Set
tie followed Ruffin to the street, put
Ruffin, it is said, left without resenting
the matter.
After Ruffin had received his ap-
pointment he returned to this city from
Washington and was given a great re-
ception by the colored citizens. II
seems, however, that since he has re-
ceived the appointment he has oeci-
ded that the salary which goes win
it-$I 500 year-iS not enough for ms
services, and he has looked longingly
at the office of surveyor OF customs.
In conversation with Sclmltar re-
porter this morning Settle said: L
have always been very friendly TO
Ruffin and | have letters in my posses
sion in which he thanks me for obtain
ing the position he held as teacher IN
the public school here and in which he
pledges his lifelong friendship tor me.
in spite of this he betrayed me and at
tempted to inveigle me into contract
by which would prove unworthy OF
the honor or respect Of decent people.
He came into my office last Thursday
/ ann told me or gave me to understand
that he controlled the Endorsement OF
Gen. Grosvenor, of Ohio, and unless
agreed to the proposition he was about
to make he would see that Gen. GroS-
yenor did not indorSe me. He prom
lsed, on the otner hand, that II | did
agree to the terms of his proposition
he would obtain the Endorsement for
me. His proposition was this : that by
virtue of the Endorsements he was to
obtain for me | would be appointed
surveyor of customs at this port. | was
to divide the fees of the office into
thirtv-ninthS | was to take twenty
eight thirty-ninths and he was to take
the other nineteen thirty-ninthS. He
was to have the selection and appoint
ment of the three deputies IN the office.
,NSen this proposition was made me l
denounced Ruffin as a thief and cur
and ordered him from my office.
"Ruffin may not know that his prop
osition made him clearly ineligible TO
the office for which he has been ap-
pointed. In corroboratiOn OF this, L
want to show you this letter from Gen.
Stewart l.. Woodford, who was re-
Gently appointed minister to Spain from
the United States"
Settle here showed the SCimltar rep
resentative a letter from Gen. Wood
ford in which Gen. WoodfOrd stated
that he remembered when Settle NOM
mated him for ViCe-PreSident IN the
national republican convention at Gin
cinnati, and that he would take great
pleasure in securing an Endorsement
for him, but could not do so, because
the members of the diplomatic corps
were expressly forbidden to meddle in
politics in any way or to give any in
| dorsementS Ruffin is member of the
diplomatic corps at present.
Settle has been prominent in politics
since he attained his majority, and
while he has been true to his party, he
has never been such a partisan as tc
direct any enmity of the democratic
politicians or white people of this city
toward him.
Ruffin has not been very dilligent II
politics, because his position as teacher
in the public school forbade him tc
meddle in such matters.
1t is not known whether Ruffn'S al
legged middling will incapacitate him a:
consul to Paraguay.