The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-27
AGREED ON DEvEAUX
IT Is CONCEDED THAT HE WILL
SUCCEED HIMSELF.
so AN APPLICANT THINKS.
HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT DEVEAUX
THE STRONG APPLICANT.

Time Is Drawing Near When the
Presidents Appointment viii BE
Announced-The Course Followed
by Those Who Have Sought to De-
feat Col. Deveaux Believed by
Some to Have Really Added to His
Strengthens Good as Republican
Administration Would Want, to
Have 1t said That the Only Thing
Against the Present Incumbent Is
His Color.
That Collector Deveaux will be APP
pointed to succeed himself in the Gus
tom House upon the expiration of his
present term seems to be generally
conceded in Savannah. The forces that
are backing Col. Deveaux against all
the other applicants in the field seem
strong enough to secure the appoint
ment, and some of the other applicants
have themselves virtually given up the
fight, admitting Col. DeveauX' S
strength, and that it is useless to try
to stop the Republican machine, which
is forcing the present incumbent to a
continuance in the greatly desired post.
In speaking of the fight for the
place, one of the applicants said that
he had reached the conclusion that
Deveaux would be the man, and that
it would be no use for him to continue
the fight further From the first, he
said, he had regarded the present in
cumbent as the applicant with the
greatest strength. backed, as he has
been, by the Republican politicians of
the state, who have always been allied
with the party along its straightest
lines Even the determined talk about
the triumvirate, consisting of Col A.
r. Lawton and Col. Beirne Gordon of
Savannah and Maj. ]. F. Hanson of
Macon, and it's alleged commission
from the President to nominate a man
for the collectorship, did not serve to
change this applicants view that Col.
Deveaux stood the best chance for the
appointment
The time is drawing near when the
appointment will probably be made.
Col Deveaux was appointed in Feb
rtlary and the appointment was con-
firmed in March. 1t may be reasonably
expected, therefore, that the appoint
ment of a collector to serve for the
next term will not be very long de-
layed.
Those who have sought TO prevent
the re-appointment of Col. Deveaux,"
said prominent citizen yesterday.
have defeated their own purpose, I
think, by the method they employed.
Under the circumstances there was no
other course, possibly, for them to pur-
sue, but it was playing right into the
hands of Republican administration
to declare that the only argument that
could be urged against the re-appoint-
ment of Col. DeveauX was that he is
a coiored man and, therefore, distaste-
ful to the people of Savannah. 1t will
be with feeling of pride that the Re-
publican administration will point to
the colored incumbent of federal po-
sltlon OF prominence in the South de-
clarlng that the only argument that
could be advanced against his appoint
ment was his color That will be a
Vlndlcator, they will consider, of their
policy of appointing colored men to
such positions. Though it will be an
be made OF it.
Those who signed Col. Deveaux's
circular, declaring that he had filled
the position satisfactorily, have helped
him greatly. The mere fact of his COL
or bears no weight with the Republican
party, and endorsements Of everything,
save his color are stronger than the
same endorsements would be for a
white Republican. The President. he
ing good Republican, has no recourse
but to appoint Col Deveaux. If 1 were
a Republican President / should an
point him. l believe Col. Deveaux has
a position that ne will retain as long
as the Republicans have control of the
government, or as long as he may de-
SIRE.