The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-06-17
The Oflicial PAPER of San Juan County.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18th, 1897.
THE CUSTOMS COLLECTORSHIP.

A recent Washington dispatch to the
Post-Intelligencer says that Estate
Senator Fred C. Harper, of San Juan
county, is by all odds the most extern
sively Endorsed applicant for the posi-
ton of collector of customs at Port
Townsend. He has stack of papers
on file in the treasury department, sent
there by Senator Wilson few days ago,
which is nearly foot high. These pa
pers contain Endorsements of all the Re-
publican members of the Legislature,
nearly every ship owner and master
on Puget sound, wholesale and retail
merchants in many of the largest cities,
and about half of the Republican press
of the state"
1t is further noted, however, that
the Endorsements do not include that
of Senator Wilson, which has been
given to Col. Heustis. of Olympia, ac-
companied by letter written by the
secretary of the Republican county
committee of Whatcom county, in
which it is stated that Senator Har-
per's Endorsements were obtained,
largely, prior to the knowledge of the
fact that Col. Heustis was to be an APP
plicant for the relationship. The
knowledge that such letter has been
filed at Washington has aroused con-
siderable feeling among the Republi-
cans of Whatcom, who are practically
unanimous in their reputation of it,
as is shown by the following extract
from a Whatcom dispatch published
in the Pr. Monday:
at is safe to say that his letter does
not represent the sentiment of a cor
poral's guard of the Republicans of this
county, among whom are many OF the
senator's strongest friends and sup
pOrters. His Endorsements include the
names of the chairman of the coun-
ty committee and nearly all the mem
bers of the executive committee, as
well as the county member Of the state
committee, all of the Republican papers
of the county, Maj, Cole, who was
chairman of the state convention; State
Senator Dorr, ex-senator Edens and
others too numerous to mention.
at is only few weeks since the gen.
tleman named Gallaher' wrote to Sen-
ator Harper soliciting his Endorsement
of his application for Federal position
in Alaska. Mr.. Harper did not send
the Endorsement, but wrote Mr. Gala
her very nice letter, in which he
stated that he would call upon him
soon and talk the matter over. Upon
the receipt of this letter Mr.. Gallaher
wrote to Mr.. Harper expressing his en-
tire satisfaction, and also stated that he
wished him success in his candidacy.
1t is now apparent, however, that he
must have obtained greater satisfac-
ton elsewhere.
ut is simply not true that at the
time Senator Harper obtained his in
dorsements here the candidacy of Col.
Heustis was not known. On the con-
trary, it was known weeks before the
candidacy of Senator Harper was an
nounced."
If Senator Wilson has convinced
himself that he is no longer "in it"
politically in this state, he has nothing
to lose by using the great influence
which his position gives him in behalf
of an intimate personal friend as
against man so generally and strong
ly Endorsed as Mr.. Harper. But if he
still has aspirations for the future and
desires to aid in unifying and strength
ening the Republican party in West
ern Washington, he will do well not
to look upon the federal appointments
in this state merely as personal per-
quisites of his Office, to be used by him
ad libitum without regard to the wish
es of so many and so influential leaders
as have expressed themselves in behalf
of Mr.. Harper.