The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-10-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

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men who devote large share Of
their time to seeking offices foi
their friends and adherents. Gloss
upon the heels of congratulations
and pledges of hearty support have
come opportunities for the desig.
nation of this or that man for this
or that position in the public ser
vice. And, though he has moi
yet been Chief Magistrate for two
weeks, Mr.. Roosevelt finds that
questions of policy are accumulat-
ing at a rate that promises to make
them mountainous by the time
Congress is ready to begin its ses-
sion of legislation.
One of the leading problems
will involve the Philadelphia post
mastership. Both Senators Quay
and Penrose are said to be unaltera-
bly, opposed to the present incum-
bent, Mr.. Hicks. Senator Penrose
has already presented his card at
the White House and had an audi
ence with the President, and it is
presumed in political circles that
he made known both his opposi-
ton to Mr.. Hicks and his nomina-
ton of successor. The present
Quaker City postmaster has admin
istered his office in an eminently
satisfactory way, but this is mi
nor consideration in the opinion
of some of the Republican leaders
of the Keystone Commonwealth,
for they contend that Senatorial
courtesy gives them the inaliena-
BILE right to name another man
when the term of the present Off
ciaI has expired. Even the Post
master General admits that the
Philadelphia Office has been raised
to the highest state of efficiency by
Mr.. Hicks, but when the combined
efforts of the Senatorial represent
ative of the State are put forward
to decapitate the incumbent, and
when it is considered that the ap
proval of the Senate is necessary to
confirm candidate, it looks as
though even a strenuous man
would have to yield to the pres
sure.
Then comes the collectorship of
the port of New York to worry
the executive. The late President
reappointed George r. Bidwell.
For fear that Mr.. Roosevelt may
select another beneficiary, Messrs.
Platt, Woodruff and Quigg have
become most uncomfortable. In
as they we're partially in
huential in foycing the present
Chief Magistrate into the second
place on the Republican national
ticket with a view to sidetracking
him as Presidential possibility,
they now fear retaliation. 1t is
said that they have sent whole
detachment of messengers to the
Capital, each generously supplied
with olive branches and carrying
a message to the effect that it
would please them greatly to have
the Ratchet permanently inferred.
There will be nervous galaxy of
Republican leaders in the Empire
State for sometime to come 1t is re-
ported that the President received
The floral tributes and messengers
Of good will with great courtesy,
but that he failed to indicate his
position in the momentous matter.
There is no way to compel ac-
tion or to secure pledge and the
New York combination fully real
ICES that fact; so they must wait
patiently as they can for thearrival
Of that time when action must be
taken. In the meantime. the row
of notables on the political
anxious seat are furnishing an in
spectacle,
Despite the tragic changes at
Washington, interestin Democrat
ic Presidential possibilities for
1904 has not been temporarily
eliminated. 1t ID significant
fact that Republican leaders who
drop into the Capital from time to
time--and they are coming now
in droyes discuss the matter with
quite as much speculative energy
as their opponents. Democrats
are silent but confident. They