Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-07-06
JOLLlED BY THE PRESIDENT
Conference of Union Republic
cans With Mr.. Mckinley.
WANTED TO MAKE FOOLS OF THEM
Listened Attentively, But Did
Not Say Much.


Smyrna, June 29..-The appointment
Of William Michael Byrne as United
States district attorney and the Rev.
]. S. Willis as a census supervisor has
caused the Union Republicans to re-
veal son,e secrets which those in the
inner circles had been guarding for
some time and explain their hilarity
after the election last year and their
statement that after March 4th Con-
gressmati Hoffecker would be the sole
dispener Of Federal patronage in Del
aware.
Soon after the election, President
Mckinley sent for the Union Republi-
can leaders, and they hastily went to
Washing ton. Their interv lew with the
President, they said, was very satisfac-
tory; whilo Mr.. Mckinley did not shy
much, he listened attentively to their
statements as to the condition of the
Republican party in Delaware and
what was needed to bring the two fac
lions together. The Presidents ex-
tremely kind treatment caused thom
to lose their heads; they devoted the
latter half of the interview to severe
denunciationi of tho Regulars and
boosted OF what they would do il the
friends of Col. du Pont did not support
the Addicks nominees for Office. The
Union Republicans seemed to forget
that the Regulars had shown their
loyalty to the President in every posi-
BILE way, while the Addicksites were
drifting into the Quay camp, Just be-
fore the last Republican national con-
vention. The Presidents demeanor did
not change, and in parting with the
Union Republicans he said that when
he desired another conference he would
send for them.
The Union Republicans returned
home highly elated, expecting to re-
ceive all the Federal offices in the
State, and some of the most sanguine
believed the Regular postmasters would
be removed and Union Republicans put
in their places. The hilarity did not
last long, although some of the more
hopeful continued to claim until the
recent appointments were made that
Congressman Hoffecker would dispense
the spoils,
Soon after the conference, Congress-
man Hoffecker called upon the Presi-
|sdent. to press the claims of Union
Republican for office. The President,
however, suggested that Congressman
Hotfecker confer with Col. du Pont
CONCERNING the Delaware appointments.
This vas not relished by Delaware's
Qbly Congressman, and in plain words
he told the President that the people oil
Delaware had sent him to Washington
to represent them, and he. as the fep'
resentative of the Republican party Of
Delaware, did not propose to divide
honors with Col. du Pont. A few
days later, Congressman Hoffecker ano
Col. du Point met on street in Wash
ington, and the latter became angry
because the Congressman was at the
capital trying to secure Federal patron
age. Congressman Hoffecker talked tt
Col. du Point in the same manner tina
he had talked to the President.
The Union Republican leaders nov
say that the President only wanted +,
make fools of them when he invited
them to confer with him at Washing
ton, and some of the conservative. mem
bers Of the delegation are of the opin
ion that they did make fools of them
selves and threw away the patronag,
when they had it in their grasp. :,