The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-24
WERE TWO BIG SURPRISES.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE APPOINT
MENTs OF BLUM AND DEVEAUN.

Something Republican Politicians
Were Not Looking for and They
Do Not Believe 1t Net-SOmethinG
About Mai. HnnsOn's Attitude'
Probable That He Could Not Help
HimseIf-EROrtS May BE Made to
Oppose the Confirmation of De
veauN should His Appointment he
Sent to the Senate.
To say that the announcements from
Washington yesterday with regard TO the
distribution of the Savannah federal Offices
was a surprise to the Republican polite
fans here is putting it mildly. They were
shocked, if not dumbfounded.
The announcement brought out pictures
of fallen hopes. if not Of despair, to those
whose hopes had been based on founda-
tons they thought solid enough. Neverthe-
less they still maintain silence, and are un-
willing to discuss the situation until they
know that the action announced has been
taken. They are still inclined to question
the positive truth of the statement that it
has been decided that Col. ]. II. DeveauX
is to be collector of customs, and that Mr..
Harry Blum, Jr., will become postmaster.
If it is true they hope that something will
turn up to necessitate a change before the
time comes for the actual appointments TO
be made.
There has been remarkable amount OF
confidence on the part of the co.ored
friends of Deveaux that he would be
given the office, and many Of the While
Republicans have expressed the belief of
late, in view of all the circumstances,
that he would be the next collector, but
they were not positive. The friends of
Mr.. Joseph f. Doyle were confident that
the appointment would be his after Mr..
T. F. Johnson got out of the way and put
In his application for the postmastership.
Others We're inclined to the belief that Mr..
w. r. Leaken, who came into the race
quietly toward the close, had extraordi-
nary chances for securing the appoint
ment. But in spite of all that Mr.. Lea
ken and Mai. Hanson could do. it seems
they were doomed to disappointment, if
the Washington advices are correct, and
there is reason 10 believe that they are
well founded.
Mr.. BUNS friends expected his appoint
ment and they We're rejoicing yesterday
over the report. Before being too jubilant,
however, they think it better to wait until
the time arrives for the postoffice appoint
ment to be made, since that comes some
what later than the collectorship. The
term of the present collector expires on
Feb. 8, which gives reason for the eXpec-
tation that that appointment will be made
within a few days.
There was some little surprise expressed
with regard to Maj. j. F. Hansons atu-
tude, il it has been reported correctly. He
is better known in Savannah, it is said.
than in Augusta, and has more friends
here, yet it seems he accepted the aD-
pointment of Deveaux here rather than
that of Judson Lyons in Augusta What
contingencies may have brought this
about, it is impossible to say at present,
but Maj. Hanson's friends here were some
what surprised at that statement OF his
position. 1t may have been that 1t was
that or nothing, and that Mai Hanson
could not help himself, in which event
there could of course be no criticism, for
it is known that Mai Hanson has been a
staunch friend to Savannah, and that, in
Difference to the wishes of the business
people here, he has sought to avert the APP
pointment of Deveaux as collector of the
port.
There has been some little undercur-
rent of feeling over the probability of
Deveaux's appointment and there viii
naturally exist such feeling, if the APP
known citizen There has been some lit
tie talk of doing this or that, but 1 do
not believe any of it will take shape. If
Deveaux is made collector, there is moth
ing to do but make the best Of it,"
It appears from the reports that the re-
quest of the Cotton Exchange and the
Board of Trade in their resolutions. has
been ignored entirely. What the Presi-
dents reasons are for this action is I'M
known, but it is considered by all who
talk on the subject that Senator Hanna
IS at the bottom of it. Senator Hanna
has stuck by the regular Republicans
throughout, and except in one or two in
stances, where the appointments are cred
tied to Maj. Hanson, he has pretty well
carried his point.
Mr.. T. F. Johnsons friends were very
much surprised at the announcement that
Mr.. Blum had been agreed upon for the
postmastership. Mr.. johnson withdrew
from the collectorship race because of the
three-cornered fight which embarrassed
things all around, and when he asked for
the posImastership il was naturally ex-
pected by them that he would be the
choice. Mr. Blum has been in the race
however. almost from its inception. and
his friends have been working assiduously
in his behalf since he made his
has had the Endorsement of Mai.
Hanson and Mr. Lcaken, and IL may have
been ia the settlement Of questions at is
sue that his appointment was agreed
upon.
Many seem 10 think that the indorse-
rnents given by Savannahians to Col De-
Neaux for the Brunswick dictatorship had
great deal TO do with his appointment
in this case, that is provided it has been
settled that he is to be the collector He
Is the secretary of the Republican state
central committee, and has undoubtedly
been strong organization Republican
Whether anything further will be done
IN opposition to the appointment of Col.
DeveauX is not at present known. If the
appointment has been agreed upon there
is nothing left TO do. it seems, but to make
fight before the Senate. 1t may be that
the opposition TO Col DeVeaux will call
upon the Georgia senators TO do all they
can to prevent his confirmation Hereto
fore, however such steps have had little
effect, and the belief among Republicans
and many others is that if the appoint
ment is made il will be confirmed
RUNAWAY CAUSED by MOTOR CAR,
Two Ladies Injured ON the Waters