The National tribune., 1902-04-10
THE NEXT COMMISSIONER.


has several good men, who would fill the
office very acceptably, and naturally their
friends and comrades would like to see
them appointed.
So far. however. there has been no indi-
cation of the man whom the President has
in view. nor even of the lines on which
he is going to select him. Mr.. Evans S
friends, of course, are prOclaiming that
the President is looking for another man
as like unto Mr.. Evans as he can find. In
spite of all the papers say, however, every
sensible man knows that the warning be
fore him of the perpetual trouble Mr..
Evans has been to Mckinley and RooSc-
welt, his successor will be as unlike him
as can he found.
Around Washington there is very
strong feeling in favor of Assistant Sec
rctary Campbell. on the score of approved
fitness for the place. Comrade Campbell
is perhaps the best-postcd man in pension
laws in the country. He has been in the
legal branch of the Interior Department
for many years, and been promoted from
one position to another solely on the ground
of his superior knowledge of the laws,
until he received the quite unusual promo
tion for an employee, to Assistant Secre-
tary. He had no political pull, and the
appointment came TO him solely on his
merits. Appeals from the action of the
Commissioner of Pensions 90 to him, and
he has administered number of severe
rcbukes to Evans for his disregard of and
actual violation of the law. If Comrade
Campbell were appointed it would be an
assurance that the pension laws would be
administered just as they read, without
fear, favor or affection. 1t would be the
law. the whole law, and nothing but the
law.
Senator Gallinger and Representative
Suloway, of New Hampshire, have visited
the President in the interest of First Dep
uty Commissioner of Pensions Davenport.
Comrade Davenport has been in the Pen
sion Bureau many years, and IS familiar
to the last degree with the rules, practices,
and routine of the Pension Bureau. He
has charge of the Bureau during Mr..
Evans's absences. He is a courteous,
agreeable man, and has fine executive
ability.
The Illinois veterans would like to see
Second Deputy Commissioner J.. VI. Kel-
ley promoted to Commissioner. He has
fine military record, having served through
the war in the Both ILL.,, and risen to the
rank of Captain. He stands very well at
his home IA Elgin. H.. and was Sheriff of
his County He was Chief Of the Certi-
ficate Division of the Pension Bureau un-
4 tod l.t- IN in
ley Second Deputy Commissioner.
1t has been generally regarded as prob
able, however, that the President would
not appoint any man in the Government
service, but would fill this important place
from far outside of Washington.
Ex-GOv. Selden Connor, of Maine, has
been mentioned, but it is claimed that
Comrade ConnOr's wounds are so distress
ing that he would not be inclined to give
up his present position as Pension Agent
at Augusta, for the trying duties in Wash
ington.
Comrade Henry e. Taintor, of Hart
ford, has been mentioned. He would
bring TO the Office a legal knowledge and
judicial habit of mind second to none in
the Nation, but it is not felt that he
would entertain the idea of giving up his
present profitable practice for any office.
The same is true of Past Commanders
in Chief Wagner and Beath, who are
both heads of great financial institutions,
the building up of which has been their
work for years, and which they will not
leave.
Past Commander-in-C Chief Goblin has
been favorably spoken of by very many
influential men, and would make fine
Commissioner. 1t is not known whether
his private business would permit his ac-
eeptance.
Last week q new name was sprung
from Pennsylvania-that Of DIR. Theodore
Flood of Meadville. This seemed to come
in the way of making up the Pennsylvania
slate DIR. Flood had been urged for a
high State office, but being from the same
section as Mr.. Elkins, who wants to be
candidate for Governor, his candidacy was
embarrassing, and it was proposed TO try
to secure for him the COmmissionership of
Pensions. instead. DIR. Flood enlisted in
the 125th Pa, a nine months regiment,
which fought splendidly at Antietam and
Fredericksburg, and was promoted to Sec
ond Lieutenant. He entered the ministry,
and made high reputation for brilliancy
and cloquence. He was one of the pro-
moters of the Chautauqua movement, and
edited very successfully Chautauqua
magazine. 1t is claimed that President
Mckinley was very fond of him, and had
offered him several diplomatic places.
The name of Past COmmanderin-C Chief
Ivan \. Walker, of Indiana, has been
brought up again in this connection. as
has also that of Past Chief
Thos. G. Lawler, of Illinois. Both are
excellent men and widely popular.
For some reason or another, Kansas
seems to be out Of the running at
present. and the President is considering
neither Blue nor Peters.
Throughout, the veterans have the
cheerful certainty that any man selected
will be vast Improvement upon the pres
ent Commissioner. There is absolutely
no danger of a worse one, for that could
not be.
AMERICAN HERoIsM."
Cen St Clair A Mulholland, who made