The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-13
PAYNE TO SIMMONS
The Postmaster General Ex.
presses His Regretfor the
Article in the Star.

Especial to the News and Observer)
Washington, Dec. 12.-Senator Simmons
has received the following letter fro :.
the Postmaster General:
My Dear Senator: The following a1ti-
Gle appeared in the Washington Evening
Star of the 9th instant. (Here follows
the Star article in fulD;
Probably this article was written be-
cause of short conversation had with
representative of that paper. There
are some parts of it however which are
so far from rejecting my sentiments
that l cannot refrain from dropping you
this note to correct the impression which
l am sure the article might make upon
your mind
"One sentence of the article reads: The
place for suvh objection to be made is in
the Senate when nominations are sent
there and it is rather an unheard of mo-
ceeding for a Democratic delegation to
visit the Postmaster General and pro-
claim its opposition to a man for an
office
Il assure you that there is no such
feeling as the two sentences quoted from
the article would imply. 1t is not un-
usual for this department to inquire of
you and of other members of your party
in Congress regarding the character and
capacity of men who have been pro-
posed to us for office in your several
States and we expect to continue to do
so where we expect We can obtain in-
formation of value in determining the
character and standing of persons ap-
plying for office.
Il regret the publication of that part
of the article which would give the i'm
preston that the administration of this
department has any feeling of resentment
regarding the action of your delegation
or that we criticized your action in this
case which was clearly within your right
and duty Looking at the question in
volVed from your standpoint although
your point of view does not comr -
:tSelf to my judgment as the correct one.
VERY truly yours
(Signed) 'F. C. PAYNE,
Postmaster General"
The entente cordial having been fully
restored, Postmaster General Payne and
Senator Simmons enjoyed a very friendly
and pleasant chat or, as Mr.. Poyne
called 1t, heart to heart talk in the pri-
Vate room of the Postmaster General at
the Postoffice Department.
The Postmaster General very frankly
told the Senator that he thought the
action of the North Carolina Democratic
delegation in the Wilson postoffice con-
troversy was chock full of politics. while
the Senator With equal frankness told
Mr.. Payne that he regarded the action
of his colleague in the Senate in at
tempting to construe certain certificates
of character given by a few private citi-
zens into a Democratic endorsement of
a negro for office as a purely political
move, and that the Democratic delega
tion did not intend that there should
me any doubt cast upon the position of
the party on that question.
ExJudge Thomas n. Hill, late candi-
date for Chief Justice, is here. 1t is
learned that Senator Pritchard will in
troduce the judge to quite number of
Republican Senators. Is the judge after
a notice as a reward for the use of his
name in the late campaign, or is he up
to help Senator Pritchard in his numer-
Gus troubles, with his Lily White In
dependent Republican party?