The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-10-03
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, Sept. aS, 1901.

lneOdore Roosevelt had scarcely
seated himself in the Presidential chair
before he was besieged by men who. de.
vote large share of their time to
seeking Offices for their friends and ad-
herents. Close upon the heels of con-
gratulations and pledges of hearty sup.
port have come opportunities for the
designation of this or that man for
this or that position in the public
service. And, though he has not yet
been Chief Magistrate for two weeks,
Mr.. Roosevelt finds that questions of
policy are accumulating at rate that
promises to make them mountainous
by the time Congress is ready to be-
gin its season of legislation.
One of the leading problems will in
volve the Philadelphia rostmastership.
Both Senators Quay and Penrose are
said to be unalterably opposed to the
present incumbent, Mr.. Hicks. As
Senator Penrose has already presented
his card at the White House andlhad
an audience with the President, it ais
presumed in political circles that he
made known both his opposition to
Mr.. Hicks and his nomination of
successor. The present Quaker City
postmaster has administered his Office
IN an emlnently satisfactory way, but
this is a minor consideration in the
opinion of some of the Republican
leaders of the Keystone Common
wealth, for they contend that Sena-
torlal courtesy gives them the inalien-
able right to name another man when
the term of the present official has ex-
pired. Even the Postmaster General
admits that the Philadelphia office has
been raised to the highest state of eff
ficiency by Mr.. Hicks, but when the
combined efforts of the Senatorial rep
resentatlves ofthe state are put forward
to decapitate the incumbent and when
1t is considered that the approval of
the Senate is necessary to confirm a
candidate, 1t looks as though even a
strenuous man would have to yield to
the pressure.
Then comes the Collectorship of the
port of New York to worry the Ex-
ecutive. The late President reap
pointed George r. Bidwel For fear
that Mr.. Roosevelt may select another
beneficiary, Messrs. Platt, Woodruff
and Qulgg have become most uncom-
Portable. Inasmuch as they were par
ticularly influential in forcing the
present Chief Magistrate into the
second place on the Republican nat
ional ticket, with view to sidetrack-
ing him as a Presidential possibility,
they now fear retaliation. 1t is said
that they have sent whole detach.
ment of messengers to the Capitol,
each generously supplied with olive
branches and carrying message to
the effect that it would please them
greatly to have the hatchet permanent
ly inferred. There will be nervous
galaxy of Republican leaders in the
Empire State for some time to come.
1t is reported that the President re-
ceived the floral tributes and the mes
sengers of goodwill with great court
esy, but that he failed to indicate his
position in the momentous matter.
There is no way 10 compel action
or to secure pledge and the New
York combination fully realizes that
fact; SO they must wait as patiently as
they can for the arrival of that time
when action must be taken. In the
meantime, the row of notables on the
political anxious seat are furnishing an
interesting spectacle.
Despite the tragic changes at Wash
ington, interest in Democratic presi-
DENTAL possibilities for 1904 has not
been even temporarily eliminated. II
Is significant fact that Republican
leaders who drop into the Capital from
time to time-and they are coming
now in droves--discuss the matter
with quite as much speculative energy
as their opponents. Democrats are
silent but confident. They know that
the crisis will bring the man. A great
party is never without conspicuous
champion, and there is such quantity
of good Democratic timber to be
brought into requisition when the
time arrives that the future may be
considered with equanimity.
Among the well-known representa-
tives of the party, who are now here,
the question of candidates is being
confdentially considered. There is
no need of heraldlng names at this
early day, but the disciples of Jackson
and Jefferson may rest assured thai