Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-11-06
.FERD HAV|S' PLUM
CITY OF PINE BLUFF WILL HAVE A COL0RED POST.
 MASTER.
\ Fight was Made on Havfs but the Endorsement He Had from white Men
 Saved Him.

Bluil next postmaster.
 The Republican State Executive Committee in session in this city last night, so decreed and Havis appoint ment by the president will be made
 Some of the liYeliest log-rollings seen in Little Rock in many days occurred yesterday when contend ing rival delegations came up from Pine Bluff to be in at the finish of the protracted struggle for the post office plum.
 On one hand there was Havis, a colored man. who had the backing of q great many white citizens of Pine Bluff: on the other hand were Alex. Perdue, J. ". Sanders and Capt. John Leher. whites. each of whom had strong claims for the prize. While a strong and persistent fight had been made against Havis by white Republicans and Demo- erats, he appears to have pursued the even tenor of his way and quiet ly scooped in enough white endorse ments as an answer to the argument that his appointment would be ob- noxiOus to the white citizens of Pine Bluff. Up to a month ago it looked like an even break between O. NJ. Spellman and Havis, but the former was provided for by Judge John A. Williams. who appointed him clerk Of the United States district court It then became appearent to all ob- servers of the situation that Havis had a lead pipe cineh on the coveted prize.
 About two hours were consumed in giving q hearing to the four can didates for the Pine Bluff office. Each Of the candidates were asked if he would be governed by the action of the committee and each replied in the affirmative, 1t had been rum0red that in the event Havis was endorsed an appeal would be taken to the President. After all the candidates had been heard the committee by unanimous vote recommended the appointment of Hayis, and the long fight was over.
 A representative of the Gazette was permitted to peruse the endorse ments submitted to the committee by Havis. Outside of the recom- mendations by the local Republican organizations of Pine Bluff and by what appeared to be about 90 per cent of the Republicans of Jefferson county, the endorsements 0f Havis from Democratic white citizens were voluminous. They include, either by letter or petition, the name of the following well known citizens:
 { IL E Goldsmith, eX-Mayor; John J M9rtin, county surveyor; R C| Thompson, wholesale and retail hardware; Col W P Grace, State Senator; H king White, Simon Bloom, II Strauss, NJ Cans, Jas N Scull, E E Bloom, II c Veil. E Wer theimcr. NJ Hanf, Ed Hanf,R R Samuel, A Samuel, Sr.,J D Snyder, F Franks, S Y Caulk, Wolf Nichol. L Bernath, " c Steel, T r Yining, NJ k Stewart, Jos Rosenberg, F NJ Rubenstein, A F preyfus, l. Roth, sam Fies, Fred Schneider, Sam Berlin, W H ScuU, H Bram, $ B White, Sol E Altheimer, l. l. Thompson, M Samuels, Charles Well, Capt H Garrett, B F Robin- son, Eugene Fies, Thalheimer Bros, Max Veil, Henry Bernath, Morris Schwartz X Bro. Jos s Altschul, Rabbi Frederick Becker, Father j NJ Lucey Gabe Meyer, John Roth, vice president Citizens Bank; Col Met L Jones, Jacob Frank and " B Lang ston.
 No protests against the appoint ment of Havis were presented at last nights meeting other than the ad- vancement of claims by the rival candidates, if such could be termed protests. A large number of prom nent white citizens of Pine Bluff were in the city yesterday and some of them were here to oppose Havis appointment, but they ap- pearcd to perceive the futility of making a fight before thecommittee.
 "The fact that Havis was strongly endorsed by Republicans did not weigh so much with the members of tbe committee, said a member last night, "as did the fact that he was so highly recommended by such rep resentatiye white Democrats as State Senator W. P. Grace, Judge J. W. Rocage, ex-Mayor L. F, Goldsmith and others. The issue was made that Havis would not be acceptable to the whites, and was made to turn in Havis' favor by the character and high standing of the whites who endorsed him. Every member of the state Committee has received letters from business men in Pine Huff showing that Havis was perfectly acceptable to them. These facts. taken in connection with Hayis fealty to the party, settled the ques- tien in his favor.
 1Y;a hnu livad in Pine BlHff forty