Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-09
TO REMAIN
President Roosevelt Passes on
the Rock Island Postoffiee
Controversy
RESPECTS RIGHTS OF CONGRESSMAN
Senators Cullom and Mason Inn
plicated, but Will Not
Interfere.

/ Inc corner mas again tIlumpneu
lover the rePu blican machine in the
local Postoffice fight, the latest adj
vices from Washington having it that
President Roosevelt has decided to
recognize the right of Congressman
Prince to say who shall taxa care of
Uncle Sans mail in Rock Island.
This is q hard blow for Hughey.
coming so soon after his announce
ment that the president had inter
ested himself in the local situation
aud would see that Justice was done.
Capt. Mcdonald and Mayor Knox. it
will be recalled. paid a visit to
the White House two weeks ago in
behalf of the formers candidacy for
the postmastership They evidently
had their hammers along with them,
too. for Congressman Prince imme-
di4tely got busy fixing up his fences
for his old friend down in Rock Island.
Postmaster Thomas, while a this
side-stePping has bean on, has been
wandering over the western prairies
enjoying u vacation, content with the
assurance of Congressman Prince last
his position in charge of the Rock ISL
and postoflice. The Washington cor
respon lent of the Chicago Tribune
telegraphed his paper last night:
Prince Scores.
Congressman Prince seems to have
scored a victory in the roundup over
the Rock Island postollice. There has
been lively fight regarding that
Office. which has been in progress
here in Washington for nearly two
weeks. The present postmaster,
Thomas IL. Thomas was Endorsed for
another term by Congressman Prince,
and it was supposed as matter of
course that he would be reappointed
because President Mckinley made it
an invariab BILE rule not TO disregard the
recommendations of the congress MEN
in such cases, unless charges of mis-
conduct were filed against the post
master.
''In the Rock Island case it appears
that Postmaster Thomas had an ex-
cellent record in the department. He
was opposed. however. by certain
well-known and influential politicians
in Rock Island, and they united upon
the city republican com mittee, as
their candidate for postmaster. Mr
Mcdonald came down here accom-
panied by Mayor Knox, of Rock ISL
and, and instituted lively fight on
Postmaster Thomas and Congressman
Prince.
They took the ground that as
Rock Island county will not be in his
district under the new superintendent
the present congressman should not
have the appointment of the post
master. The fight on Postmaster
Thomas and Congressman Prince was,
Of course. purely political one, but
they succeeded in having their case
submitted to the president in such a
way that for time he was disposed
to turn out the old postmaster and
put in Mr.. Mcdonald, thus turning
down Congressman Prince and all the
traditions of the postofiice depart
ment. He was led to do this largely
because both of the senators tele-
graphed their Endorsements of Nc
Donald.
Senators Not In Fight
within the last few days, how
ever. both Senator Cullom and Seua-
tor Mason telegraphed here that their
Endorsements of Mcdonald were not
intended to step over the head of
Congressman Prince. On the con-
trary, both senator's recognized his
right to make the appointment. Upon
the matter being put before tue pres
ident in this way he stopped all &C
ton IN the case and there will be o
at least until Postma'-
ter Thomas term expires next JAnu-
airy.
This case has aroused an immense
amount of interest here and other
are particularly happy
over the fact that it has been decided,
at least for the PRESENT. in favor of
the representative of the district.
They show that otherwise IL the view
taken by the Rock Island machine
should be generally accepted. it would
create extraordinary confu sion in
almost every state in the union.
Rock Island. for iostance, has been
legislated out of Congressman Princes
district. but the new apportionment
does not 60 into effect. so far as the
house of representatives is concerned,
until March 4. 1898
eff Mr.. Prince should die at any
time before then Rock Iland county
would participate in the election for
his successor. III, in spite of this
fact. the president should take the
view that Rock Island county has
gone out Of Princes district because
of the new superintendent, and that
therefore Prince was not entitled to
the appointments, he would have to
follow this theory along and give
Prince the appointment of postmaster
in one of the counties now repro
sented by Mr.. Graf. and couple of
those naturally belonging to the old
Marsh district, for they have been
added to Princes district by the same
which will take
Rock Island county AWAY.