The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-14
Washington Authorities Postpone Action In the POstmasteshIp
PRESTON ASKS ABOUT LEE
Thompson Says He Ia Flrst-Rate-eo Also Is George F. Jaokson-carter Goes to Washnnton-Jaokson
 and Cameron Doomed.

terday rom washington state that lhe recommendation given J. Rivers Carter for the Birmingham postmastership is being held up by the Postmaster General and the President, and that it Is being held up for the reason that the endorse ments given Mr. Carter by the patrons of the office, when compared with the endorsements given other candidates, do not encourage the Washington authori- ties to appoint Mir. Carter Postmaster at Birmingham.
 Reports from the national capital add that both the Postmaster General and the President have been impressed with the formidable presentation of the claims of Capt. James W. Lee for the office. It is said that the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General, Mr. Bristow, to whom all the endorsements have gone, is satisfied that Capt Lee is supported by a larger number of the patrons of the office and the business and professional men of Birmingham than Is any other candidate whose name has been men toned.
 Avalanche of Letters.
 It seems that an avalanche of letters, telegrams and petitions have been sent to Washington regarding the appoint ment of Capt. Lee, and that they have swamped the Postmaster Generals office and buried all endorsements given other candidates. A person in Washington who is in a position to know writes that the day after the Postmaster General re- ceived the referees recommendation of Carter the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General MT. Bristow, wrote J. O. Thomp- son of Birmingham a significant letter, stating that Capt. Lee had been we'll endorsed for the appointment and ask ing who Capt. Lee was.
 It leaked out last night that MT. Thompson in answering the inquiry. stated that Captain Lee was an excel lent citizen and in all respects an estim- able man. It is said also that MT. Thomp- son added that what he had written of Captain Lee might with equal truth be said of George F. Jackson, the former head of t he Huston Biscuit Company.
 This letter of MT. Thompsons the con tents of which seemed to be somewhat widely known by the Lilly Whites" as well as by the Black and Fans" yester- day, Is inte~pretated to mean that Mir Thompson perhaps recognizes that the candidacy of MT. Carter has not devel- oped the strength ne had reason to be- lieve 1t would develop when the referees gave him their indorsement.
 Thompson Packing.
 The internal revenue collector, 1t is said, is prudently tacking against the wind, and incidentally taking a reef or two in his sails. For this reason MT Jackson's stock sharply advanced yester- day, there being a marked renewal of &C., tivity among his supporters. It is under stood that if MT. Larter fails to win the appointment the referees will recommend George F. Jackson.
 Among Jackson's strongest supporters + w. F. Aldrich, a former representa- tive in Congress and at one time one of the Republican referees in this state.. In commenting yesterday on the report that the Aldrich-vaughan faction had dictated the selection of Carter by the referees, Mir. Aldrich said:
 w. F. AIdrich Talks.
 q have indorsed t he application of Mir George F. Jackson and have written let ters to President Roosevelt and others in the east in behalf of MT. Jackson for the postmastership of Birmingham. l am in earnest in my efforts for MT. Jackson and I believe that my efforts VIII pre- vail"
 This denial of MT. Aldrichs that he was a party to the reported truce was accept ed as conclusive so far as he was con- but the report stated that MT. Carter was especially supported by T. H. Aldrich and Vaughan and Davidson and almost all of what is known as the Lilly White faction, as well as by Thompson, Scott and other members of what is known as the "Black and Tan" faction. Now that 1t is rumored that MT. Carter
 A. 4.,l. te. 14r gal informed persons said to be highly sig that J. o. Thompson, the leader of what used to be known as the Black and Tans," and W. F. Aldrich, the leader of what used to be known as the Lily Whites" should agree upon George F. Jackson for the Birmingham postmaster ship precisely as one week ago MT. Thompson and T. H. Aldrich had agreed upon J. Rivers Carter.
 The fact that T. H. Aldrich is for Carter and w. r. Aldrich is for Jackson, and that Thompson Is for Carter first and Jackson second, lent additional weight to the report that the state chair man had been fiim-flammed by the Lilly Whites and that the latter stood to win in case either Carter or Jackson got the plum.
 "The Lily Whites have set a trap for InO1DSO1 anu oCOlls odiu d ioldCh anu Tan" leader yesterday, "and the referees have walked blindfolded into it."
 Talk of Cameron.
 There was a quiet tip out yesterday that the plans of all the Republican leaders might miscarry and that, in such an event, w. J. Cameron might drop from the clouds, come with a rush out of the ruck and win on the post by a A great many persons who have signed petitions or written letters in behalf of various candidates have done so with the understanding that the appointment would be given to a straight out Republican. These men, while loyal to their pledges, are inclined to think that the fight for the postmastership will become so hot that the President may elevate the question from the domain of factional politics and appoint either Capt. J. W. Lee or w. J. Cameron on his repu- tation as a business man.
 F. M. Jackson Preferences.
 F. M. Jackson, president of the Com mercial Club, in commenting on the situ- ation yesterday, said:
 q naturally thought that the appoint ment would go to a republican. Of all republicans here that I know of 1t seemed to me that Captain Lee would make the most satisfactory postmaster. I prefer him to MT. Carter for the reason that