Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-17
CITY POSTMASTERSHIP
LOCAL DELEaAr1oN PRESENTS A
DISTRICT CANDIDATE.
That Is in Case Change in the Head Of
the Office is Made-Mr. Rob-
inson's Campaign.

Proceeding on the assumption that the
President will fail to reappoint Postmaster
John A. Merritt of the Washington office,
friends of other aspirants are beginning to
get their candidates in position to make
the best of the race that promises to de-
velop Immediately there is positive rea-
son to believe that Merritt has lost.
The positive statement can be made that
the President has not yet decided upon a
new chief of the Washington office; neither
has he concluded that Postmaster Merritt
is to remain there for another term. but as
the time for action is near at hand the
President will soon have to decide the mat
ter. In few days he will discuss with
Postmaster General Payne Mr.. Merritts
conduct of the Office and other things con-
corning the present postmaster The Post
master General is supposed to be cognizant
of the ability of the postmaster and upon
the decision of the head of the department
will depend the outcome. as the President
will. 1t is believed, rely upon the opinion
Of his Postmaster General
Charles ]. Bell, president of the Amert-
can Security and Trust Company. and A.
B. Brown. attorney, accompanied by Capt.
Cowles Of the navy, today called upon the
President and talked with him about the
Washington Office. They did not present
any opposition to the retention of Post
master Merritt, but they stated to the
President that If he proposed to make
change in the Office they would like to have
local man selected for the vacancy.
They had, they said, good man for the
position, and they thereupon presented
the name of Frederick L. Chaplin. for
merly of New York. but now Of the Dis
trict of Columbia. Mr.. Chaplin is the pri-
yate secretary of Associate Justice
Brown of the United States Supreme
Court and is said to have the strongest
Kind Of backing for postmaster If
change is to be made. His friends have
hesitated. pending definite knowledge of
the Presidents attitude, about coming to
the front for him, but there has been
much talk recently tending toward the
probable failure Of the President to re-
tain Merritt in his place that the hackers
OF Chaplin have concluded to condition
ally press his candidacy. Their decision
may be followed by similar action on the
part of others. q.
Senator Plat of New York, who is
known to stand ready to make a fight for
Postmaster Merritt has done nothing on
behalf of his friend and Is waiting to see
what will be the outcome of the fight. 1t
was Senator Plat who secured the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Merritt as assistant
postmaster general ana who later brought
about his appointment as postmaster of
the city of Washington.
Should the President conclude that it
would be best to allow Mr.. Merritt to re-
tire from his place there will be per-
slstent attempt on the part of Washing
ton republicans to secure the position to
a local man. proposition which, it is
said in some circles. has the Presidents
sympathy
Merritt's Candidacy.
The friends of Postmaster Merritt state
that that official is by no means out of
the race and are bringing strong inf1u-
ence to bear for his reappointment in
Guiding letters from many of the most
prominent business men of Washington
Endorsing his character and urging his