The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-08
The POSTMASTERSHIP
MIS- DARBY WILL ACCEPT THE
APPOINTMENT
She Does Not Know who b VIII Ap.
poipt AssIstant-Why Wa Chad
bourn Ousteds-He Was Houndcd fns
10 Resignation for Political Motives.
French I'm Danger

TO HkeSlUndtkOh vi IN bHotItcSs
French I'm Danger
AS mentioned in The Messenger yes
terday morning, an Associated Press
dispatch from Washington Friday
night stated that President Mckinley
appointed Miss Mary c. Darby to be
postmaster at Wilmington vice Post
master VIM. H. Chadbourn, who re-
signed two weeks ago.
BY yesterday mornings mail Miss
Darby received official notice Of her
appointment. The notice came from
Postmaster General Emory Smith, who
informed her Of the presidents action.
Miss Darby was seen by a Messen-
ger representative last evening, and
she said the Associated Press an
nouncement of her appointment was
a surprise to her. It was a very agree
able one to her and she said that she
would accept the appointment, OF
course. She was notified to arrange her
bond, which is in the sum of $35, 900,
and as soon as it is forwarded to
Washington and approved by the post
office authorities, her commission will
ne u ~ it'll cIlC iAt5
said she would be able to get up the
necessary bond right away. She will
have the privilege of naming the as
sistant postmaster, but in reply to a
question by the reporter she said she
had no idea who she would appoint n
would not consider that matter until
she received her appointment.
On the 1st of March the Wilmington
office became a first class postoffice
and consequently the postmaster's
salary is $4,000 a year. Miss Darby has
been in the ~postoffice service for ten
years up to the 1st of August, having
served the first six months as delivery
clerk and the balance of the time as
money clerk. She was at her office yes
terday and was heartily congratulated
by people of all parties who dropped in
during the day
A SURPRISE TO THE PEOPLE.
The Messenger learned from good au-
thority on Saturday, July 29th, that
Miss Darby would receive the appoint
ment, but as persons who spoke for
her denied the truth Of the rumor,
publication of the fact was withheld.
The following special dispatch is
taken from yesterdays Washington
Post:
wilmington, N. c., August 4.-The
appointment of Miss Mary c.. Darby
as postmistress of Wilmington ONE
SD g 80 80 ~ 800 PNOPA~ NAA~
city, she having a few days ago de-
clared that she vas not a candidate for
the appointment, and intimated that
she would not have the office. She was
very indignant that her name should
have been coupled with the 'postofflca
squabble.' This was on last Monday.
1t is believed, however, that she will
accept.
while open opposition to her ap-
pointment is not likely, many will be
displeased, for the reason hat they
believe G.. z. French had something TO
do with the matter. French and Miss
Darby are special friends, she having
served as money order clerk during
FrenQhIs term as postmaster. Miss
Darby is thoroughly qualified to dis
charge the duties Of postmistress, hav-
ing been money order clerk for nine
consecutive years. She served during
the term of George l.. Morton, demo-
crat; G. z. French, republican, and
w. H. Chadbourn, the outgoing repub-
lican postmaster. Friends of Miss OAR
by seen tonight say that the appoint
ment was made at the request of Gov
ernor Russell, to whom, they say, the
matter of naming Mr.. Chadbourn's
successor was referred"
FRENCH A BUGABOO.
The following special dispatch, with
the subjoined statement, is taken from
yesterdays Raleigh News and OBJ
server:
wilmington, N. c., August .4.-The
republican authorities here say that
the appointment of Miss Darby is due
the matter of appointment was left
upon the resignation of Mr.. Chad
bourn. The Darby family has for a
number of years been a favorite with
the governor. Miss Darby has for
about ten years held the office of mon
nxr 1yln,~ n orly ~ fhn WI ,ort
office.
'"The following special to The News
and Observer from Wilmington receiv-
ed before the announcement indicates
a situation which will be greatly re-
lieved by the appointment Of Miss
Darby:
"The political pan in Wilmington is
red hot, n still heating. The citizens
have a. large petition addressed to
President Mckinley, protesting against
the appointment of G. z. French to be
postmaster here. Personally we are
friendly to Mr.. French, but there is no
use denying the fact that his life would
be in jeopardy should he return even
with a United States commission in
his pocket, and we think the only way
that he could serve out his term would
be for the president to send an army
of about the same size of Wilmington
so that every lnhabitant in it could be
watched; / doubt then his being per-
mitted to live. 1t is true the govern
ment could and would get the one who
killed him, but that would not restore
Mr.. French, nor would it save the city
from the turmoil and strife that is sure
to come if he should be appointed. No
one who is not here can understand
the feeling against him, nor can 1, al
though I am here, but it is a fact, and
sc surely as G.. z. French returns 50
surely will he die. This feeling is NOT
confined to the democrats, but also per-
meates the republicans, and one of
them is on the petition. No one be-
lieves he will be appointed"
WHY WAS CHADBOURN OUSTED?
The Messengers Raleigh correspond
ent writes us as follows:
Raleigh, N. c., August 5.-When
Governor Russell made his peace with
Senator Pritchard by appointing Bow
man, the senator's fathher-in-law,
judge, he did a stroke of business for
himself. The senator consulted with
the governor as to the appointment Of
the postmaster at Wilmington to sue
coed Chadbourn. George 4. French