Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-23
Hanna's Man Demas.

kNeW 1OiK 1lmeS.)
From Washington there come reports
that Henry Demas whom the President
nominated TO be Naval officer at the port
Of New Orleans. seems likely 10 be con-
| firmed without much more opposition
than that offered TO the confirmation a
few days ago, of the candidate FOR Com
missioner of Fish and Fisheries forced
upon the President by Senator Elkins. We
say forced with elaboration, for il IS
incOnceivable that the President believed
that there was compliance with the law
in choosing a man for Fish Commissioner
whose qualifications are in no sense re-
sponsive to The law regulating the APP
pointment OF that officer.
Demas rendered some service to the Nc
kinley men I'm the St Louis convention OF
1896 Mr.. Hanna regarded that service
OF so much Importance that he not only
promised to put Demas in Office, but also
TO give offices TO a. Il. Wimberly and w.
l.. Cohen. The protest against the ap-
pOintment of any of these men began
when they were first mentioned, and II is
continued until to-day. About the only
hope the prOtestants can reasonably rest
upon is that the two senators from Lou
isiana. although both re Democrats may
be able TO assert successfully that sena-
torial Comfy" that has sometimes de-
feated the confirmation OF men who ought
not TO be defeated.
There has not been very much Demo-
who have not yet been nominated. The
objections to their occupation Of office
comes from Republicans. and IL comes in
very ineligible shape. fortified by all the
forms of law employed TO add weight TO
evidence. Every member of the Senate
has received a pamphlet Of thirty-three
pages OF history OF Demas and Wimberly
and Cohen. If the half Is true that is
told of these men, the wonder is that the
President should be able TO select them
70 viii vi 70
that benefit of Executive clemency that
il would be absolutely necessary TO ex-
tend TO persons properly confined at hard
labor in expiration OF their offences against
society. And the President is fully ac-
quainted with the objections TO Demas
and the other Hanna favorites.
The charges against Demas, Wimberly.
and Cohen are backed up by affidavits
setting forth that they are and have been
unfit, bribe-takers and bribe-
givers. lottery agents keepers Of saloons.
the resort of disreputable persons, gam
observation-disclosures, drunken. quarrel
some. and without social or commercial
standing The names attached to the
charges against the men are well known.
To be sure, they are the names OF leaders
In a faction Of the party opposed TO that
OF Wmberly, but even that fact ac-
does not seem 10 justify the
President in defying the expressed opin-
ion OF decent citizens OF New Orleans that
the Federal officers In that city shall be
persons with whom respectable men can
afford 10 do business.
The Senate may render a service to the
President by rejecting nominations Of
his sort sent FOR approval upon the die
alton of senators who have mortgages to
redeem. There are better men and Re-
)ubllcans In Louisiana than those selected
'or official honors; but there are probably
10 worse or less fit men than those pick
ID out by MT. Hanna for the President to