Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-11
PARK AGNEW RESIGNS
LEWIS p. SUMMERS TO BE REV.
ENUE COLLECTOR.
Latter Has Been the Campaign Man
ager of Representative Slemp, Who
Controls Virginia Patronage.

l. the resignation OF Park ASneW OF Alex
| andria, collector of internal revenue,
was received today. The resignation causes
| no surprise, as Representative Sfemp, the
rev patronage dispenser, has been after
| the position for a constituent. Lewis P.
Summers at Abingdon Va, campaign man.
ager of Representative Slemp in his two
| successful campaigns for Congress from
the ninth district is to have the position.
and his nomination will be sent to the Sen
| ate in few days. The retirement Of Mr..
Agnew fully -ushers into power the new
republican regime Although he had been
shorn of his position as republican state
| chairman, which he recently resigned so
that the Slemp people could have full con-
troll of the party machinery, his resignation
now gives full control of the patronage to
| the organization. Representative Slemp
has been untiring and persistent In his eff
forts for Summers, but Mr.. Agnew had
| some good friends and there was reluctance
| at the White House and treasury to take
his place from him. Mr.. Agnew, however,
| is business man and decided that 1t would
not be worth while to put up a tight for
the place. ,,
Except for post offices, there is little else
| OF value in patronage in Virginia in the
| next few months. Representative Slemp
wants the scalp of Lee Moore. United states
| attorney of the western district, but Moore
| has Admiral Evans and other strong in
| fiuences back of him. and it is doubtful if
| he can be put out as easily as AgneW was
| induced to retire.
Park Agnew was for many years state
| chairman of the republican party of Vlr-
| ginia and the organization was in control
| of himself and George e. Bowden of Nor
| folk, national committeeman. Three years
ago Representative Slemp was elected from
| the ninth district. Soon after he entered
| Congress he began to take an active part
| in state politics. and a year ago he nearly
defeated the old organization in the state
convention held for electing delegates to
| Chicago. TGHe succeeded few months ago
T in inducing the President to turn affairs in
| the state over to him and his followers,
| promising to elect republican governor in
| November nextTif he obtained the patron
| age 9g %
Mr., Agnew Not Protesting.
| Mr. Park Agnew, when seen by Star re-
| porter in Alexandria this morning, stated
| that he had no fault whatever to find with
| the decision of, the President not to con-
| tinue him in tine office of collector of inter-
nal revenue. He expressed himself as being
| thoroughly satisfied with the treatment he
had received since his appointment eight
years ago. II expect to send in my resig-
| nation to take effect May L. said Mr.. Ag-
new. ftThat is all there is to it. I under
! Astand chat Mr. LIP. Summers of Abingdon,
| Va, will be appointed have no criticism
at all to make. I have been treated very
|
service has been very pleasant. l never
! thought | had mortgage on the office.
| The only cause ! know of for the change is
| that l have served two terms. The rating
of this office has always been high. The
| records Of the department show that the
! office has been conducted with the highest
| degree of efficiency.
.tCoI. Slernp wanted his friend, Mr. Sum
| mers, appointed and L have served two
| terms, which the President says is enough.
and he is the boss. l was not surprised If
| the President had seen fit to continue me
| in Office would not have kicked, but as it
| is, l have criticism to make. We all
| know that Coz. Slemp the only republican
| representative in Congress from Virginia,
| has much to say in the disposal of the pa
| tronage for this state, and it was not
strange that he should have wished to re-
| ward his friend, Mr.. Summers, man who
| had done yecman service for him in his
last campaign
| Mr. Agnewe explained that while the dis
! trict under his control is known officially
| as the SIKH Virginia district, there is only
one other in the STATE, the second, or Rich
mond district. Many years ago there were
| as many revenue divisions as there are
congressional districts and though in time
| they were consolidated and reduced to two,
| the I'D official designations were not
| chang, :. Mr.. Agnew received his first APP
| pointment May 1, 1887 He served post
| master for Alexandria under President
| Harrison's administration.
| The announcement of the approaching
! close of his term of Office has been received
with much regret by the people of Alexan-
/ dria Mr. Agnew was called upon this
| morning by several prominent persons, who
| assured him that they were sorry to hear
| of his resignation. The salary attached to
| the office is "a, 800.