The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-08
CHARLESTON is SURPRISED.
MIR. w. VI. BIRD To BE THE NEXT
POSTMASTER.

Gold Democrat and Strong
Friend and Adniirer of McLnurin.
The Appointment Said to be in
Line with sIcLaurfn's Policy OF
Naming Only Men of High Char
acter to Fill the Federal Offices of
South Carolina.
Charleston. s. c., Aug. Local poll
ticians were thrown on their beam ends
this morning by a report claiming to
have originated from authoritative
sources to the effect that Mr.. William
M. Bird of this city will be Charleston $
next postmaster. 1t was said that
there was no manner of doubt of the
willingness of the administration at
Washington, acting upon Senator Nc
Laurin's suggestion, to make the ap-
pointment, and that the only question
at issue was the willingness of Mr..
Bird to enter into active political life.
Mr.. Bird has for long years been the
head of one of the leading wholesale
establishments on East Bay. In the
commercial life of Charleston he has
ever played a most important and
creditable part and his appointment to
the postmastership would carry with
it dignity and confidence which
would attend the selection of none of
the other men whose names have been
used recently with the Office. From
time to time there have been rumors
here that a leading citizen would be
chosen as the successor of Capt. Geo.
l. Cunningham, but the open avowal
that the man referred to was Mr.. Bird
was made to-day for the first time.
Every one, of course, takes it for
sTanted that the appointment if such
it is to be, is made at the instance of
Senator MoLaurin.
The last time the senator spent any
length of time in Charleston he was
the guest of Mr.. Bird on Meeting
street In the campaign of 1896, Mr..
Bird openly avowed his inability to
stand with the Bryan Democracy 1t
was commonly reported then that he
had accepted the Palmer Buckner wing
OF the Democracy and that he was I'M
able to cooperate with the ajority
of the faction. In the more recent ma
ttonal compaigns he publicly declared
that he could not accept the Democrac-
ic platform and that he would be
forced to ally himself for the time be-
ing with the Republican ticket. He is,
however, according to his own declara-
tons, as good a Democrat as he ever
was and he has long merely sought for
a Democratic platform upon which he
could conscientiously and squarely
stand.
1t is commonly expected that the ad-
vanced views recently put forward by
Senator McLaurint on national issues
are entirely acceptable to Mr.. Bird and
that he will be more than willing to
affiliate himself with the Senate In his
forthcoming contest. Strength is lent
to the belief that Mr.. Bird really will
be offered the postmastership by the
known intention of Senator McLaurin
to use whatever political influence he
has at Washington in filing the FEEDER
al Offices of South Carolina with men
of unquestioned personal and business
integrity. The selection of Mr.. Chaffee
at Aiken, and Mr.. Richardson of Green
Vile for the postoffices was strictly
along this line and should 1t prove
true that Mr.. Bird is to receive the
honors here. there can be no question
in any ones mind that Senator McLau-
rim will have done not only a good thing
for Charleston, but will have material
ly strengthened himself in the low
country