Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-09
Strong Move Being Made for a De-
trolt Man.
ENGINEERS BACKING Mr.. MADDEN
Opposition to the Appointment Of
an Outsider.
LOCAL BOR VIEWS

While there has been an apparent lull Tn
the fight for the postmastership among the
local candidates, the friends Of Madden.
the Detroit money order clerk. who are
urging him for the position, are most acc
tive.
1t is learned upon excellent authority that
no later than last week a delegation from
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
came TO Washington and had a conference
with the President upon the subject. This
delegation represented, it is said, that the
position was the only thing the brother
hood had asked, and ii was very much IN
earnest. They pointed out what power
the organization had been in the last presi-
Dental campaign, and intimated that tho
brotherhood would be very much chagrined
If its candidate was not appointed.
To fortify Its position, the brotherhood. it
is said, has communicated with its MEM
bers in all sections of the country, and
a result the President is being deluged with
letters urging the appointment Of Madden.
1t Is said these letters and representations
are leaving an impression upon the Presi-
dent, although he has not indicated what
he proposed to do in the matter.
BE Mistake.
A prominent citizen of Washington ana
well-known eastern politician discussed tho
situation at length with a reporter OF The
Star today. He said:
This Brotherhood of Engineers is maxi
ing a dead set at the President, and it
would not surprise me If they landed tho
plum. The President will make a great po-
litical mistake If he violates the home rule
plank in the platform which elected him.
The postmaster at Washington should by
all means be a citizen of the city. He has
to deal directly with the people. and his
compensation comes directly from the reve-
nueS which the District people provide. I
remember when the question of appoint
ing a postmaster came up under President
Cleveland. He was in favor of appointing
an outside man, and in fact, had made u
selection, and was ready to make the nomi-
nation. In discussing the matter with a
well-krown correspondent the day before
he intended to submit the name the latter
showed him conclusively that while the
post office at Washington did great deal
of business for the government. the latter
paid nothing in revenue, and the stamp
buying community really supported the Of
flee. Millions of letters were handled year.
ly by the post office upon which not one
cent Of postage was paid. President tleYe-
land investigated the matter himself, snd
found the arguments of the correspondent
well founded. The next day he sent to the
Senate the nomination of the present post
master"
Labor's View.
Mr.. William Silver former president %
the Building Trades Council of this city,
said he was sure that IL the members OF
organized labor societies of the District
were asked to express their views on the
application of Mr. Madden they would be
unanimously opposed to his appointments
as postmaster of Washington. For himself
he would regard the selection of any other
than local man for the place an insult
to the business men of the city and slur
upon the city's good name.