Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-14
l.. IL. DURHAM, OF MARYvILLE, SAID
TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN.
WILL TAKE CHARGE JULY l.
HAS LONG BEEN A ci8sE ER,EyD OF
II. c. kEREFs.. X
Text of the Letter in Which Major
Warner Stated Hi. Position With
Reference 10 the Western
Missouri District APP
Pointmenfs. 90. .-

Washington, Feb. 13.-(Special) The claim
is made that the president gave 1t out cold
yesterday that he would appoint Ed r.
Durham, of MaryvilIe, United States mar
shai for the Western district OF Missouri.
For years Mr.. Durham has been prominent
In Missouri politics and all the while close
friend of r. c. Kerens. II is understood
that he was promised the place by Kerens
soon after the election. The indications are
that he will take charge of the office at
the end of the fiscal year.
The letter in which Major Warner stated
his position with reference to the district
attorneyship and other Western Missouri
positions was written to Judge "A c.
Thompson. 1t is. in part. as follows,
You will recall the fact that, when, in
Washington week ago Saturday, 1 men,
toned TO you the offer Of United States
district attorney for this, the Western dis
trict Of Missouri, that had been made me
by the president Not being candidate in
any sense. the offer was unexpected, and
from that fact was the more compliments ary
especially as 1t was coupled with the ear
nest wish upon the part of the president
eeept p ,bis n ds,rc d ew OF the 9TH
at that time give definite answer, and
at the suggestion of the president, took
the matter under consideration.
The position is one that would suit me-
being in the line Of my profession, and in
the discharge of its duties would not be
taken Out Of the state. Yet don't wish
ever tempting 1t might be, that would give
the impression that it was accepted at the
ed In this you. and every other true friend
of the administration Will agree, II Ia a
TACT that In this world a man can get along
without hs ~ selatiyes but not Without irieds
Upon my return home thought 1t best to
call into council a number OF my friends
VINO y, o., are, and always have been. the friends
ment ! have implicit confidence. r stated
TO them frankly the offer. that had been
be- aa Snd sse R9I,iSn %sd
ing 1t II 1t tnterfered with Recommendations
had heretofore made, and. especially with
Duncan and Mr.. Charles f. Washburn, who
are candidates, respectively for the posi-
tion OF collector of internal revenue for
this s,a District and postmaster Of this city.
AFTER going over the ground thoroughly
and getting my views the unanimous opin-
Ion was that. the postmastership at KAN
sas CITY was purely local. this being my
ment should be conceded without question
and without regard to the contests for the
appointments in this, the Western, district;
trsct, viz, United States marshal surveyor
OF the port at Kansas City and collector of
internal revenue, that, as I had made the
fight for Captain Duncan, this should be
also conceded by those who are fighting for
other candidates.
That Captain Duncan and Mr. WASH
burn are representative Republicans and
are emfnently fitted for the positions for
which they are respectively recommended
the original friends Of the president. Meth.
er Of them is an eleventh hour convert
What / want is that, whatever is done, I
would be in such position that when the
time comes for action l can rally around
me earnest, intelligent. andi trlIe workers
A man standing alone can do little. Mr..
you. and it may be, although 1 am not ad-
vised at present. that the Hon ]. ]. smith.
OF Sweet Springs, will be with him. Neither
TI %bsn snese s gentlemen is seeking any position
at heart, and think their statements
should be given full faith and credit
The president read the letter aloud COM
ary to Major Warner. When he had heard
what MI. Half and Judge Smith wished
The acceptance of this office by Major
Warner will neither retard nor advance the
interests Of any other candidates. l am
to think that view it in any other wav.
i made him this tender as direct personal
compliment to him, without regard to any
know that he would accept. but hoped he he
might. 1 have wanted to find something
that ina was more nearly commensurate with
his merits. This position is in his city, II
will enable him to remain there, and I
have thought he might be willing. I would
want to take him outside of Missouri. He
Is needed there"
The president went on to speak At some
ing, and of the desire which he felt. to
have him closely identified with the admin,
tstration. He said that he was; almost al
while he was in Europe but had heard that
the condition of his health might have
sDr Ra.ed 70 DO Th had
make the offer of the place. -Lll