Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Talk About Office Of Railroad
Commissioner.
CORPORAL" TANNER
HIS FRIENDS WANT HIM TO BE
LoNGSTREET'S SUCCESSOR.
President Will Consider the Matter
Sensational Report as to Missouri
Politics Denied by Rep. Bartholdt.

Some of the friends of Corporal Tanner
are insisting that he be appointed commis-
sioner of railroads in place of the late Cen
Longstreet, who died a few days ago at
his home at Gainesville Ga. The duties OF
this Office have been practically nominal for
a number of years. and the intention of the
Secretary of the Interior has been to abol-
ish the place after the expiration of the ap-
preparation for the present fiscal year. 1t
is maintained. however, that there is suffi-
cient work to keep a commissioner busy.
and that the duties of the Office be IN
creased, II necessary. either by the Secre-
tary of the Interior or by act of Congress.
1t was announced at the White House a
few days ago that the President had ap-
pointed Corporal Tanner register of Wills
of the District of Columbia, or would ap-
point him, so that he could enter upon the
duties Of the office April l. Coupled with
this announcement was the statement that
Mr. Dent, the present register of wills,
would be transferred to the consular OF
diplomatic service. from which he was ap-
pointed to the District office. The work of
the office, however. is considered most too
arduous and complicated for Corporal
Tanner. and those who are friendly to him
do not desire to see him enter upon the
duties. preferring something more suitable
to his fnclfnations and training. The at
titude of his friends has been placed before
the President who is said to feel that their
position Is probably right. The President
however, desires to consider the latest prop
osition. So far as he Is concerned. he is
perfectly willing to appoint Corporal
Tanner railroad commissioner if the posi-
ton is continued by Congress.
Objection to Change of Register.
Aside from the preference of personal
friends Of Mr.. Tanner that he be appointed
to something more in keeping with his
tastes is the fact that the legal profess
sion and others in the District having busi-
ness in the office of the register of wills are
unanimously opposed to a change In that
office. The care shown in the office amounts
to much to those who have thousands ana
millions of dollars involved, and no change
is desired when the office is being run sat
isfactorily.
In recent years the Office of railroad COM
missioner has come to be regarded as al
most wholly the property of some former
confederate officer. but the friends OF
Corporal Tanner urge that he would be
a fitting successor to Gen. Longstreet, al
though they fought on different sides In the
civil war.
The President will probably reach some
conclusion about the matter before the
time for Mr.. Tanner to enter upon the
duties of the office of register of wills. and
the belief is growing stronger that MIR.
Dent will retain his position
Politics in Missouri and Kansas.
The somewhat sensational story from
Kansas City that Dick Kerens. republican
national committeeman from that state,
was expected to come out for Hanna for
the presidential nomination in short time
and obtain the assent of Senator Hanna to
that action. was indirectly discussed at the
White House today. Representative Bar
tholdt of Missouri assured the President
that there was not the least danger that
Missouri could be induced to send dele
cation hostile to him. or any portion of q
delegation inclined this way. Mr.. Bar
tholdt left his pledge that the Missouri
delegation would be wholly and surely for
Roosevelt, and tfat no politicians or set of
politicians could prevent this. Mr.. Bar
tholdt said that the people were for
Roosevelt, and would not permit their de-
sires to be overridden. The probable hos
tility of Richard Kerens to the President
has been discussed for long time in WASH
ington, and by common consent he has been
assigned to the list Of those who might
conclude to support some other man for
the nomination.
Senator Burton of Kansas went over the
situation in that state with the President.
Despite statements that Senator Burton
does not feel kindly to the President the
senior senator from the state told the
President that he would certainly have the
pledged delegation of Kansas. The Kansas
republicans propose to be the first In the
country to elect Roosevelt delegates to the
republican national convention. 1t has
been agreed to hold the Kansas state con-
vention March g. which Is believed to be the
earliest date for state convention that has
been selected or that will be selected
The President had number Of congress
sional visitors. Representative McCleary
of Minnesota presented his friend, Mr..
Moore of Minneapolis. Senator Alger Of
Michigan, Senator Quay of Pennsylvania,
Senator Mitchell of Oregon and ex-senator
Doe said that so far as he knew there
would be opposition to the President
among the delegates from Kentucky to the
ma tional convention.
Wilmington Post Office Case.
Ex-senator Marion Butler of North Caro-
hna has Joined the host of other North
Carolinians who have become mixed in
the fight over the Wilmington. N. c., post
office. He saw the President this morning
and the Wilmington case was discussed.
Mr.. Butler followed a long standing policy
of saying nothing about what side of the
case he had taken, but the supposition 10
that he had Joined those who are seeking
the nomination of Mrs. D. L. Russell wife
of the former republican governor of that
state. Mrs. Russell has been indorsed by
State Chairman Rollins and by other re-
publicans but Miss Darby, the present
postmistress, has secured an array of in
fiuence that promises to stand by her. The
case is before the President. Back In the
years past when the republicans and popu-
lists of North Carolina combined and swept
that state Ex-Governor RuSSell ana ex-Sena-
tor Butler were among the leaders in the
combine. They are supposed to have worked
together then. Miss Darby still adheres
to her story that Ex-Governor Russell prom
ised her his support and that he came to
Washington to urge her reappointment.
She charges that she furnished 800 for his
trip and that he failed to carry out his
promise She has filed an affidavit that
just before Mr. Russell left for Washing
ton he sent the following note: Miss
Mary: will go to Washington Thursday
night Robinson will go with me. Please
send me 800 and send by Mrs. Sawyer.
Yours truly, D. l.. Russell. 1t Is statkd
that Mrs. Russell declares that he wrote
lend instead of send me s100."
An Important Iowa Case.
Senators Allison and Dolliver and Repre-
sentative Thomas of Iowa were In confer