The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-14
TO The RIGHT MEN
ROOSEVELT FINALLY TURNS FOR
ADVICE
ON SOUTHERN APPOINTMENTS
CLAY AND FLEMING INVITED TO A
CONFERENCE.

nj the Democrats Who Know and
APPRECIATE Conditions 1t Is Said
the President Will Ask Opinions.
Narkham's Appointment Coming
In PIedger and Other Negroes
can't Gust Mrs. Awtrey-FIeming
Is Hot After Republican County
Chairmen.
washington, Jan. Ex-senator Clay
and Representative Fleming have been
asked to call upon the President to-
morrow. and the presumption is their
visit will have something to do with
certain phases of the Southern Repub-
lean situation.
When Senator Clay shook hands
with the President at the diplomatic
reception, the latter expressed de-
sire 10 talk with the Senator about the
Markham appointment. The announce
nent that there is to be a fight against
Mr. Markham's confirmation is pre-
sumed to be back of the Presidents
desire to talk with the Senator, who is
member of the Committee on Com
uerce which will pass upon the case.
Thursday has been fixed for the hear
ing before that committee.
Johnson. Graves and the other negro
Republicans who are opposing con-
frmation. have given notice that their
fight will be on the ground of alleged
business Incompetence and lack OF
identification as a Republican. 1t is
not believed the charge will amount
to ANYTHING. Certainly the assertion
of lack of Republicanism will not be
enough to bar confirmation, after he
has been nominated by the Republican
President.
How They Fight Mrs. Awtrey.
Senator Clay is, of course, taking no
sides in the contest over the confirma-
ton of Mrs. Awtrey at LAGRANGE. AS
a member of the Postoffice Committee,
he will pass upon that also. He takes
the position that these are Republic
can rows, with which Democratic, sem
ators have no concern, so long as there
is nothing against the character of
the appolntees.
Postmaster General Payne has sent
the Postoffice Committee a copy of the
inspectors report into the charges
made by Pledger and Lincoln Johnson
against Mrs. Awtrey. These worthless
alleged that Mrs. Awtrey had been
guilty of tampering with the mails,
Of opening letters and of sending let
ters intended for the county chairman
10 her own husband, who opened them.
Gen. Payne says these charges have
been fully investigated. They show
that a negro named A. A. Thornhill
who is the Republican county chair
man, has an arrangement under which
his mail was opened and attended to by
Mrs. AWtrey's husband, who is the
agent of the Atlanta and West Point.
Thomhill is illiterate, he can neither
read nor write. so he had Awtrey act
as his secretary, he being in the en-
ploy of Awtrey at the depot.
This arrangement worked all right so
long as Thornhill backed Mrs. Awtrey
for the postoffice. When he switched
his Endorsement to somebody else, Awt-
Tey discharged him, finding some APP
pHently good reason. Now he brings
the charge that the postmistress was
guilty of infraction of the laws, because
she had his letters sent to her husband.
The Postmaster General says she has
been guilty of wrong, but is good
olhclal and is Endorsed by the great
majority of the patrons of the office.
Fleming After BIacLmaiIers.
Mr.. Fleming has been unable to get
anything from the officials of the
Postoftice Department concerning the
investigation made by inspectors into
charges that postmasters in his dis
trlct had been compelled to pay, or
had voluntarily paid, Republican
chairmen for their influence there to
get office or be retained. Inspectors
We're sent to Mitchell, Sandersville,
Ienntlle, Thompson and several other
points in the Tenth District
MI Fleming has announced that I'M
less something is done to punish those
guilty he will air the whole matter in
congress 1t is believed the Postmas-
Ter General has brought the complaint
10 the attention of the President.