New-York tribune., 1901-10-09
WANT TO KEEP BID WE'LL OUT.
SOME OF WAKEMAN'S FRIENDS SAID TO
OPPOSE COLLECTORS ADMISSION TO
UNION LEAGUE-LATTERS SUP
PORTERS ACTIVE.

Hostility between George r. Bdwell. the Col
lector of the Port and Wilbur F. Wakeman. the
Appraiser. has been causing much gossip among
Republican politicians in this city for months.
and it bids fair to some discussion
among the members of the Union League Club
It has been a matter of talk among members
OF the cir of late. and friends of Mr.. Bidwell
and Mr. Wakeman have begun to take sides in
what may turn out to he spirited fight against
the admission of Mr. BidwelI membership in
the club.
Friends of Mr. Bidwell who are in a position
to know the facts said last evening that his
name was proposed to the club about two years
ago, but the clubs waiting list large
then that il not possible to get his
before the committee admissions Few mem
berS of the club took any special interest in his
application for membership until a few months
ago. when It was said that Mr.. Wakeman was
leading the attacks upon him. Then friends of
Mr.. Bidwel in the club began to exhibit their
interest in his application There is a book in
the club which the names of applicants for
membership recorded. with the Endorsements
of members who are willing to vouch for the ap
plicants So many members of the club desired
TO indorse Mr.. Bidwells application that the
page on which his name appeared
pletely covered with signatures. presenting a
tention.
Some of Mr. Bidwelrs friends said last even
ing that the opposition of Mr.. Wakeman who
is a member of the club, had stirred up many
other members of the club TO be open cham
pions of the Collector Many have been de-
manding to be informed what objections the
Appraiser had to Mr.. Bidwell, anyhow and
what was the cause of glievance between the
two men, No charges of serious character have
been heard. the objections to Mr. Bdwell being
of an indefinite nature and apparently based on
personal animosity. One of the club members
who has taken an interest in the case said last
evening:
1T has been a cause for wondermeut for
months that two prominent Republicans and
high Federal officeho,ders should be al odds
without the reasons being made public. So far
as is known the two men have never had a
personal quarrel. Their relations az officials
and as members of the Republican organiza-
ton have not been marred by any controversy
that anybody has heard Of and their hostility
to each other is something of mystery
Republican official who knows Mr. Bidwell
and MIR. Wakemen well said last evening that
the hostility between the two men was due in
large part to efforts which have been made to
secure Mr.. Wakeman's retirement from office
Charges have been made against Mr. Wakeman
from time to time and he has believed that
the Collector was interested in some way in the
promotion of such charges and in their investl-
cation by the Treasury Department. Some
time ago the Secretary OF the Treasury gave
orders that placed Mr.. Wakeman in a position
10 take instructions directly from the Col
lector. Since then the Collector has had oc-
casion to dtsapprove many decisions of the APP
praiser, and there has been some unpleasant
gossip in the Treasury about the frequency with
which Mr.. Wakeman has been turned down.
Dir. Wakeman has some friends in the Union
League Club who have taken an interest in his
opposition to Mr.. Bidwell and they are said to
be making combined efforts to induce the com
mfttee on admissions to reject Mr.. Bidwelrs
name. Everything is said to depend on the
action of the committee because il is not to be
expected that a favorable report by the COM
mittee could be overturned by Mr.. Wakeman's
friends.