The news & observer., 1905-12-07
BATTLE FOR THE
BIC SIX IS BEGUN
Blackburn Makes First
Move for |. C. Wagner.
TO FOLLOW MILLIkAN
1t is Not improbable That Rollins Will
Ask That the Appointment be
Held UP Till He Completes His
Slate. Big Crash Seems
Near.
BY THOMAS j. PENCE.

Washington, ID. G., Dec. 6.-The
scramble over the six big Federal
offices in the State began in earnest
today when Representative Black
burn filed at the White House his en-
dorsement of L. Clint Wagner, of
Statesville, for United States marshal
Of the Western district to succeed J.
NJ. Millikan
This is regarded as the first move
on the political checker board be-
tween the Blackburn and the machine
forces for control of the Federal
patronage in the State
How it will be received by Chair
man Rollins and the organization re-
mains to be seen. Wagner has been
a steadfast adherent of Blackburn,
but he is said to have such influence
in the Eighth district. that his nomi-
nation may not be opposed.
1t is said that Millikan will not be
q candidate for the reason that the
organization is loath to espouse the
cause Of third termer
The term of the present marshal
expires on the 18th inst. 1t is the
first of the big Federal offices in the
! State to become vacant though dur
| ing the next few weeks the terms of
| Collector Duncan. District Attorney
Holton and Marshal DOckery also ex-
! pire.
Chairman Rollins had agreed that
| the successors of these officials should
| be named m,a bunch early in the new
| year. vt tie same time Collector
HaFkins su lessor viii be- be chosen ,4:
crimp into that plan of action and
it is not improbable that Rollins will
ask to have the appointment of Mil
| .ikan's successor held up until he
completes his slate.
! Sooner or later there is going to
| be q clash between Blackburn and
| the organization all along the line,
and present indications are that it will
soon develop. This is why popular
! interest attaches to the Wagner
! recommendation. From now on
| North Carolina Republicans will look
! for news from the White House with
| open mouths.
! Charges of immortality having been
! filed against Postmaster Pattison, of
! Concord. he arrived here today to
see officials at the PostOffice Depart-
| ment and incidentally Representative
! Blackburn. Close on his heels came
| John A. Sims, former chief clerk in
! the auditors office, who wants the
job. Until the inspector who investl-
gated the charges makes his report
there will be no action.
/ Booker Washington called at the
! White House today where he con-
| ferred with the President Booker
always calls * the Presidents house
| when he comes to town. That he
eXerts a potential influence in the dis
! tribution ofa patronage in Alabam
and elsewhere is we'll recognized here.
A. L. McCaskell, postmaster at
! Fayetteville, was here today His
| term expired many months ago, but it
! is believed that Chairman Rollins will
| soon send in his nomination.
| r. B. Caldwell was appointed post
master at Wallace, Duplin county, to-
| day in place Of j. +. Rivenbark, who
/ was removed.
Brown shepperd, of Raleigh, was
| here today, having landed in New
| York Saturday, on his return from a
three months tour of Europe.
Senator Overman's Bill.
Much interest is being taken in the
bill introduced by Senator Overman
to promote the export of American
products. On the Importance of the
measure, and the good expected to
come from it, the Senator says:
ut is generally recognized that there
is a strong need of such a commits
sion because of the poor showing
MADE by our exports of raw material.
The cotton products of the South are
increasing every year. The South ex-
ports more than seven million bales
of raw cotton, which are manufac-
tured into cotton goods in England
and sent back to South America where
$52,OOO,O0O worth were sold to Argen
tine alone last year. Why should we
not get that trade instead of England?
why should We not manufacture the
cotton goods if we can get market
for them? This commission is intended
to help find that market.
And so it is in all lines OF eX-
port Germany sent out experts who
found what the countries to which
they went wanted. They so informed
their manufacturers and they got the
business. Why should not we do like
wise? Instead of spending tens and
perhaps hundreds of millions upon
subsidies for American vessels TO carry
the goods of other nations, why not
spend half q million to promote
trade for our ships to carfyF What
good will the Panama Canal do us if
we are not ready to take advantage
of its commercial opportunities? | be-
lieve the time is ripe for such COM
mission as | propose to do splendid
work that will benefit the whole cOun-
try
They Were Locked In.
A good story is being circulated on
Penrecantatiye Burleson, of Texas, and
Renreeantatiye Bowie, of Alabama,