Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-28
DID NOT BREAK WORD
DIR. CRUM's FRIENDS DENoUNCE
CHARGES.
Was Steadfast for Harrison Through.
out the Minneapolis iconvention--
Did Not Give Pledge % Blaine.

| As has been stated, the President is hold
Ing UP the selection Of DIT. VIM. D. Crum
for collector Of the port Of Charleston. 8.
| G.. pending investigation into charges of
treachery to the Blaine following at Min
| neapolis in 1892 DR.. Crums friends feel
! that since the imputation has been given
| such wide publicity the public should also
| know the plain verifable facts In the case.
| One of the doctors friends today made this
| statement:
DIR. Crum was chosen a delegate-at-large
| from South Carolina In April, 1892, and
| himself introduced the resolution pledging
| the delegation to President Harrison At
! that time Mr.. Blaine was member OF
Harrison's cabinet, and was not known to
| be a candidate for the presidency until
| some two months later. At Minneapolis DR..
Crum was selected as the representative or
| his delegation to report nightly to secret
conference of delegates pledged to Harri-
| SONS interest. He was at no time, either
| prior to or during the convention, pledged
or committed to any other candidate AS
| he had been, and tnen Was, an appllcanI
| for the postmastership at. Charleston under
| Harrison it is prepoSterous to suppose that
| he would jeopardize his chances by espouS-
ing the cause of an antagonist to the ad-
| ministration at whose hands he was seek
| ing noIitical favor At the convention DR..
| Crum was approached by friends Of the
Blaine forces, but stubbornly refused to be
| from
to whom his delegation was pledged. He
| never at any time many any promise or
| pledge verbal or written, to support Mr..
| Blaine and no person living or dead could
| have or can produce PROOF TO tnat eject.
| Nominated for Postmaster.
| CDR Crum was nominated by Gen. Har-
| rison for the pastmastership at Charles
| ton shortly after the adjournment Of the
| Minneapolis convention. In order to defeat
| his confirmation personal and political enc
| mics originated the charge that he had
| violated his pledge in order to secure the
| commitment: the only color of excuse for
| the charge being the fact that the appoint
| ment followed close upon the nomination OF
| Mr. Harrison for whom DR.. Crum had
| worked with marked activity and zeal.
| This imputation against the political honor
| Of Dr. Crum is no less reflection upon
| President Harrison. The committee on post
| offices and post roads at the time OF DIR.
| Crum's nomination was composed of six
| republicans and five democrats. DR.. Crum s
enemies were able to influence one repub-
lican member to oppose favorable report
| on his case. The late Senator Sawyer was
| chairman of the committee, and was en-
tirely friendly to DR.. CruHn, and freely adj
| vised with him as to the chances of IA
| yorable report. 1t seemed that the recall
citrant republican member of the commit
| tee would combine with the democrats to
defeat favorable action, Under the cir
| cumstances. DR.. Crum, after full confer
| eIfCe with senator Sawyer, decided 10 re-
| quest the President to withdraw his name,
/ so as to save himself the humiliation Of
| possible defeat, which might prejudice
| his chances for confirms tion for any SUBJ
| sequent appointment. His nominate ton was
| never passed upon by the Senate nor acted
| upon by the committee.
Anxious to Clear His Name.
| although DR.. Crum feels that his long and
| faithful services to the party justly enti-
| tied him to the recognition which he seeks.
| yet he is more anxious to clear his name
| of the unjust imputation of political treach-
| cry than to secure the pla ce for which he Is
| an applicant. The standing of DR.. Crum
among those who are closest to him and
know him best is abunda nifty shown by the
fact that in all public and civic movements
1 affecting the, welfare of his native city, he
! is looked to by both races the represen-
tative of the colored people. He was chosen
| assistant commissioner Of the negro depart
| department Mr.. Booker T. Washington
was commissioner-in-chef. AS the local
representative. Dr. Crum planned, devel-
oped and carried on this branch of the
| position to success. The board of directors
| awarded him a gold medal and returned
| him formal vote of thanks for his serv-
| ices and accorded him full credit for the
| success which was acknowledged by all.
| The Charleston News and Courier in a
| favorable editorial said that that paper
| gladly Joined in the compliment so worthily
| bestowed.