Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-09
THAT DELAWARE ROW
SITUATION INTENSIFIED BY RE-
PORT OF BYRNE's RESIGNATION.
Complicated Middle and Everybody on
the Lookout for an Opponent
With a Knife.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

WILMINGTON, Del, September 9.-The
political situation in Delaware. which was
recently made more complicated by reason
of the action of United States Senator Al
lee in having Postmaster General Payne
GUST Miss Huldah B. Todd as postmistress
at Greenwood, because she was 'partlcu-
larly and personally obnoxious to AIlee'
was intensified today by report that Will
lam Michael Byrne had resigned as United
States district attorney for Delaware Mr.
Byrne is in New York today and therefore
could not be seen on the subject, but 1t was
stated in other quarters that he has given
up his post. If such shall prove to be the
case it will be detrimental to the cause or
the Addicks faction, to which he is con-
vert When United States Senator L..
Heisler Ball, regular republican, was ques-
toned today on the matter, he said that he
could not either affirm nor deny the report.
He was loath to discuss the subject, saying
that he was not in a position to talk, but
his manner indicated that he was well in
formed on the matter.
Gone to See President.
Federal Judge Edward G. Bradford is
now at a summer resort on Long Island
and was inaccessible today. An attache of
Mr.. Byrnes law office, in this city, main
tanned an air of reticence, but volunteered
went to New York yesterday and that his
headquarters is at the Catholic Club. Eff
forts to learn whether Byrne had gone to
New York for the purpose of visiting Presi-
dent Roosevelt at Oyster Bay, l.. l., and
formally rendering the President his resig-
nation. were equally unsvailing, but 1t is
believed that such is the case.
1t was announced today that Senators
Ball and Alice will shortly visit the PreSi-
dent at Oyster Bay. and confer with him
n n n tn m
1t is said that Alice will ask that he be al
lowed to make the appointment on the
ground that the entire state is involved
and that the verbal agreement between
Senator Ball and himself, whereby Alice
will control the appointees in Kent and Sus-
sex counties, leaving Newcastle county to
Ball, has no bearing on this particular case.
Senator Ball. however, will insist that he
be allowed to name the man, inasmuch as
the United States court for Delaware is
located in Wilmington. the county seat of
Newcastle county. What action the Presi-
dent will take is problematical.
Resignation Expected
When the report became current that Mr..
Byrne had resigned his office there was
great surprise. 1t is rumored that he will
locate in New York and engage in the prac-
tice of law. where his personal friendship
with President Roosevelt will stand him in
good stead.
Some of the anti-Addicks leaders said to-
day that the resignation of Mr.. Byrne
would Indicate that he desires to free him
self entirely from the political middle in
this state. and that his recent declaration
that he was opposed to the attack of the
union republicans on the judiciary of Della
ware-the attack on Chancellor Nicholson
in particular-led to this step.
Before Edw. G. Bradford. stanch reg
ular republican, was appointed by President
Mckinley as the United States judge for
hn 6iStr tot of DaJo
one of his law partners. Byrne at the time
of his appoin tment by President Mckinley
as district attorney was one of the strong
est opponents of Addicks and his methods
In Delaware. After he had served for some
time, however, he began to lean gradually
toward the union republicans. At the 1901
session Of the legislature he came out for
Addlcks. and at the election in 1902 he was
the union republican candidate for Congress
against DR.. L. Heisler Ball, regular repub-
lican, who was a candidate for reelection
AS result, Henry A. Houston, democrat
elected.
When Byrne was nominated for Congress
he resigned as federal district attorney and
John P. Nields was appointed to fill the
vacancy. After the election, however
President Roosevelt reappointed Byrne.
despite the protest of the regular repub-
ncans. Congressman Ball fought his con-
nrmation In the Senate and succeeded in
having the committee stand it off" 1t is
understood that Senator Ball will again
support MT NlelQS, an active antl-AddickS
republican, for the office.
Byrne Without a Party.
When Byrne took umbrage at the recent
action of the Addicks men in denouncing
the Delaware judiciary it is said that he
then declared his intention to- have nothing
more to do with the union republicans This
left him without party and his present
action is the outcome
The removal of Miss Todd took on a new
phase today, when the statement was made
that the affair will likely result in ruling
by President Roosevelt, or by the Post Of
flee Department at Washington, fixing the
status of fourth-class postmasters all over
the country. The regular republicans will
request ruling in order to ascertain
whether 1t is the intention to regard fourth
class post offices as civil service places A
large majority of the post offices in Della
ware are of the fourth class, and a number
of the postmaSters are holding office by
virtue of having rebonded at the eXpira ton
of their four years term, as was the case
with Miss Todd. With Byrne deserving
their ranks and the removal of Miss Todd
having reacted against them the union re-
publicans will enter the campaign of next
year when a governor and other state Of
icers will be elected, in addition to a gov
ernor, which will choose a successor to Sem
ator Bell, under decidedly adverse circum-
stances.