The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-04-17
EDGAR WILSON
REPUDIATED
BY THE STATE REPUBLICAN
COMMITTEE
REPUBLICANS RESENT
His Dictatorship Roosevelt
Likely to Lose State
Delegation.

Jackson, Miss, April 11.-President
Roosevelt's policy in making Federal
appointments in the south has been
repudiated by the Republican execu-
tive committee of Mississippi and a
deliberate snub handed out to one of
his principal appointees.
The matter is now an all-absorbing
topic of discussion in political circles,
and in some quarters is taken to
mean that Roosevelt is quite likely to
lose the Mississippi delegation at the
next national convention Of the party.
Contrary to the wishes of Edgar S.
Wilson, recently appointed as United
States Marshal and referee ON Fedora
patronage, Chairman James Hill, of
the Republican State Executive Com
mittee, has appointed A. A. Edwards
and Sam P. Hurst to fill vacancies on
the committee caused by the death of
A. NJ. Lea and Henry Griffin.
A poll Of the committee which has
been carefully made shows that the
appointments of the chairman will be
endorsed at the meeting to be held
next month.
Wilson has ruled with high hand
as the new Republican boss of the
State and this is the first opportunity
the regular organization has had to
express its opinion that he is an
usurper and not in harmony with the
main element OF the party. He had
indirectly recommended to Chairman
Hill the appointment Of W. F. Swami
and Mr.. Mulvihill to fill the vacancies
on the committee. and the claims OF
these gentlemen, both of whom are
recent appointees of Roosevelt, were
not even seriously consideed by the
chairman who cherishes a deep per-
sonal resentment against Wilson for
Influences exerted in setting aside
party recommendations to the Presi-
dent.
Hill has behind him practically the
solid backing Of the executive com.
mittee and the old element of the par
ty which has been built up in this
state. He declares that Wilson is not
Republican, while ON the other hand
it has been as vehemently asserted that
he is not Democrat. Thus the Re
publican boss, the pie dispenser Of
the party, finds himself in the atti
tude OF being Neither fish, flesh,
fowl or good red herring
Wilson has failed to gather arounC
him the support he expected on as
Stunning the office of Federal patronage
referee. He is backed up by certain
party memb ers to whom he has ten
dered postoffices, and other h minor
berths, but even in this respect hi:
wholesale appointments of Democrats
is displeasing to the main faction and
his chances Of securing whip hand
are decidedly slim, judging from the
Roadway thus far made.
1t is openly asserted by prominent
Republicans that if President Roose-
welt intends to force the Edgar S. Viii.
son Booker T. Washington combina.
ton on Mississippi that the delegation
from this State to the next Repnb-
lican convention will not consider the
claims OF the Rough Rider President,
preferring to recognize any other
candidate who may be offered.
Chairman Hill has undertaken the
work of recognizing the Congress
sional executive committees, which is
made necessary by the redistricting
OF the State at the recent session of
the Legislature, and county commit
tees are requested to name delegates
to the district meetings which will be
held in eight districts on the 30th of
rri1