Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-25

1T ENDS AN INTERESTING FIGHT.
The appointment of Hugh G. Browns
as postp aster ends one OF the most in.
teresting contests for Federal office sver
known in Delaware. And 1t ends it in
a most unsatisfactory manner. too.
Tbs leading, and for long time
only. applicants for the succession to
Postmaster Moore were Winfield S.
Quigley aud Washington Hastings, both
Regular Republicans For awhile. DR..
E. G. Shortlidge and William II.
pierson wers in the race. bus soon
dropped out. Mr.. Quigley was sup
ported by Col. Henry A. du Pont, who
had been announced as the patronage
dispenser for Delaware under the Nc
Kinley administration. Mr.. Hastings
was supported by Henry q. Morse,
whoss prestige syringe from the fact
that be was boyhood friend and com
panion of the President. He was ALEC
considered winner by reason of his
good fight in lauding the Delaware
delegation for Mckinley at the st.
Louis convention. MIR. Browne, mean
while, was an applicant for the posi-
tion of United States district attorney.
Matters went along until after the
expiration of Postmaster Moore's term,
on July 10th, when the hitch between
Col du Point and Mr.. Morse began ia
be plainly apparent. Then the names
of Compromise candidates Began to be
whispered about, and Mr.. Browne q
name quickly bacame prominent. II
was not long before it came to be pretty
generally accepted as the winning
NAME The fine hand of ex-SenHtor
Higgins. it Is said. manipulated the
arrangements that resulted in Mr..
Browne carrying off the prize.
1t is understood that Mr. Browne ex
pressed his Willingness to take the
postmastership on ths assurance only
that neither Mr.. Hastings nor Mr..
Quiglsy could hays it. From the fact
that 10 has finally secured the office, Il
would esem that Henry q. Nurse hat
Withdrawn the opposition which ha wal
supposed to have to that appointment
| 1t also recalls the letter written by Mr.
| Hastings the other day, in which b,
said that Mr.. Browne knew that ht
| had not the support OF Mr.. Morse ant
knew that he could not have it.
Mr.. Hastings was right, then the Presi
dent has turned down Mr.. Morse.
| This result OF the appointment, politi
calIy considered, will not be encour
aging to the fortunes Of the Regula
Republican party. Its followers wer
| divided between Mr.. Quigley and Mr.
/ Hastings, and none of them desired tn
appointment of Mr.. Browne. In addi
ton, most OF Mr.. Quigley's supporter
had endorsed Mr.. Browne for distric
attorney, and they did not relish tn
idea OF him switching around am
throwing their favorite for postmasts
from the track.
IT is believed that Mr.. Brownies ap
pointmvnt as postmaster will leave th
way open to the appointment of vii
liam Michael Byrne to the office of dis
trict attorney. Thia ia said to be th
other part Of the Higgins plan wit
respect to Federal appointments il
Wilmington.
SKETCH OF HUGH C. BROWNE.
Hugh y. Browne ia son OF the lat
Rev. N: NJ. Browne, prominent mem
Der OF the Wilmington Methodist Epit
copal Conference, and at one time pre-
aiding elder Of the Wilmington dir
trict. He was born in Queen Anne
I county. Md, February 9th, 1867, wa
graduated from the Wilmington Cor
fersnee Academy at Dover in 1886, an
the following year was principal of th
Rising Sun, Md, public schools. Fo
year he was connected with the fri
of E. e. jackson & Co. of Washington
He entered Delaware College in th
/. junior class and was graduated frol
that institution in 1890, with the d.
gree Of A. B., taking the Greek prizt
After taking q special course in th
law department OF the Washington an
Lee University, Lexington. Va, MI
, Browne read law in Wilmington an
, was admitted to the bar of New CAST
county in 1891. He Is one of the tru:
tees Of the Wilmington Conferent
Academy.
, MIR. Browne has been active in pol
tics for SONS years. He was assistar
secretary of the Republican State Cou
! mittee in 1890, was elected secretary {
the State League OF Republican Clut
, the same year, has been secretary of {
, least two State conventions and Il
about two years has been chairman /
] the Regular Republican State Con
mittee.
/ Mr.. Browne was not at his Office t.
I day, having gone out OF town.
William v. Sipple, the new pos
, master at Milford. is prominent bus
ness man OF that town. He belongs
the Regular Republican faction.