Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-06-25
Olympic Mining Record.

Two weeks or ten days ago a Re-
publican State Committeeman, ac-
companied by the Chairman of the
Republican Campaign Committee in a
northwest county, were here to inter-
view Col. Heustis, the tO-be Collector
of Customs at Port Townsend. They
were, of course, after plums for all
their friends, and cousins and aunts.
After the departure of the politicians
a we'll known newspaper man of
Olympia called upon the Colonel, and
asked him if he had any information
of interest to the public to give out.
"Well, d-n it," said the Colonel,
"I suppose everything of political
nature is of some interest to the pub
lie, for the d-n public is largely
seeking Office"
"Have you," said the newspaper
man, decided on any changes in the
personnel of the customs force in this
district?"
"On any changes2" said the Col
onel, surprised. why, d-n it, with
the exception of three or four, who
are Republicans, won't leave d-n
mothers son of 'em in Office. What
do you think I'm after? Glory and
pelf? Not by d-n sight. Pm 60
ing to provide for my Republican
friends, every d-n one of 'em can"
"Well, but Colonel" said the news
paper man, chow are you going to get
around the civil service provisions?"
"D-n the civil service provisions.
Pm going to get around 'em by ignor-
ing 'em; just as Speaker Reed gets
around preliminary stumbling blocks
by jumping over 'em, whether the
enemy likes it or not"
"Well, you know the Republican
national platform pledged the party
to a strict observation of the civil SER
vice law"
"D-n the national platform and
its pledges. Amt you old enough to
know that platform pledges don't
amount to a d-n? That plank was
put in the platform for a sop to the
Democrats in Office, and if we'd
resolved against life tenure in Office
Mckinley wouldn't have come within
a thousand miles of the White House.
1t was the Democratic office-holders
who helped us out of the mire, d-n
'em, and that's all there is to it. I'm
a spokesman, d-n it, and / don't pro-
pose to leave Democrat in the
Puget Sound customs district"
"Well, Colonel, have you decided
on any immediate changes?"
eyes, d-n it. 1 have given my
word to appoint certain ones at Port
Townsend. You might put it down
about this way:
A. J. Mayo. Walter Bowen. Kicked out
A. Francis Learned. James Causten. Kicked out
w: II. Learned, G. H SchOonmaker, Kicked out
Billy Learned. James Jones Kicked out
Geo. II. Jones .Chas. Miller...... Kicked out
"And that's all Port Townsend will
get. 1 expect they'll kick, but the
town is not entitled to that many
offices. The customs house should
never have been there, anyway, and
so far as their being entitled to the
collectorship, its all bosh. Like send
ing heather to the South Sea Islands,
its an act of Christianity, d-n it, to
appoint man outside of their town"
Jefferson county, 1 understand,
was one of but two or three counties
in the State which gave Republican
majorities in the late campaign" said
the newspaper man, "and 1 should
think the Republicans there should
receive every consideration at the
hands of the party?"
"D-n considerations and d-n the
Republicans of Jefferson county. They
are nothing but an office-seeking set,
and so far as the principles of the
Republican party are concerned, they
don't give d-n for 'em. It's Office
they're after, and I've given them now
more than they are entitled to, d-n
'em."
"Well, Colonel, have you any OBJ.
jections to naming the Republicans
now in the service who you propose to
! retain?"