The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-06
BARNES APPOINTED POSTMASTER
Washington Indignant at Action of the
President in Naming One of the
Principals i'm the Norris Affair Criti-
cism of the Washington Star.
(By W. a. Hilderbrand in Charlotte
Observer

Observer.)
Washington, d. G., April g.
Easily the most interesting develop
ment Of today is the storm Of pro-
test which broke about the defenseIess
head Of Benjamin F. Barnes. This is
the same Barnes who figured in the re-
cent Mrs. Morris episode, he being the
White house functiOnary, who, aided
by a couple Of negroes, dragged the
lady mentioned from the office of the
president. Since that time lie has been
appointed by the president as pOstmas-
ter of Washington, and Washington
is in a disturbed state of mind. Cit
liens writing to local papers, say that,
in view of the Mrs. Norris incident,
which created more more stir than
elsewhere, and in view of the further
fact that Mr.. Barnes does not belong to
the District of Columbia, the president
has offended he people here by a
studied and deliberate insult and citi-
zens think some senators should defeat
the confirmation of the nomination.
CRITICISED BY ADMINISTRATION
ORGAN.
The Republican Star, which, until
this Mrs. Morris affair, las uniformly
defended the administration, this af-
ternoOn said: "President Roosevelt will
not permit his friends and admirers
(amOng whom, nevertheless and not
withStanding" The Star continues to
number itself to forget what most OF
them consider his blunder in the Mrs.
Morris drag-Out case. Nearly every
body in Washington vas convinced
that the election Of Mrs. Morris from
the White house was either entirely
unnecessary and wholly indefensible,
or, if necessary, that it was executed
with unnecessary and gross brutality.
There was a general expectation,
based on the popular idea of the pres
ident, that he would disavow the act,
and in some way rebuke those re-
| sponsible for it. Instead Of doing so,
he hastily and without due c~onsidera-
ton committed himself to approval of
their course, failed to respond to the
popular request for a fair investiga-
ton when the whole affair was fresh
in memory and when eye witnesses
were eager to be heard, and later in
stituted a secret inquiry, in which the
accuSerS and important unOtlclal ana
disinterested eye witnesses were not
invited to participate, as a result OF
which the accused acquitted them
selves, and vigorously sustained the
! presidents p~recOnceived and prean-
nounced opinion. And, now, to cap the
climax, the president. instead of re-
proving in any way his too strenuous
''bOuncer,'' rewards him with the
Washington postmastership at double
his present salary"
TILLMEN OPPOSES BARNES.
Senator Tillman said tonight he
would vote against Barnes cOnfirma-
| ton. not only because Of the Mrs. Nor
ris affair, but because he was a carpet
Dagger from Canada. Some ga
Barnes has never troubled himself to
take out naturalization papers and is
not a citizen of this country, but
Barnes says he has lived here long
enough to render this step unneces-
sary.
Inquiry was this afternoon made at
the senate pOStOtfice cOmmltte rooms
relative to nominations Of Messrs.
Frazier and Grant. 1t had been as
sumed by several of those who have
taken an active interest in the matter
that the reports Of inspectors would
be transmitted to the committee today.
The clerk of the committee said the re-
port in the GoldsbOrO case was ready
for submission to the committee, put
that the department was not quite
ready TO allow an inspection of the pa
pers in Mr.. FraZier's case, and that
until both cases were ready neither
would be forwarded to he commit
tee. This state of affairs has given
rise to some speculation as to Whether
the papers in the Greensboro case may
not be sent to the White house for in
suction before their transmission TO
the senate committee. S majors have
been heard to say that they do not pro-
pose to see II injustice done Mr..
Frazier if the matter is left with the
committe and that the p~ostottice agents
who. while in Greensboro, made their
headquarters with Mr.. FraZier's oppo-
nents, must give valid reasons for their
adverse report
Franklin Mcneil. Samuel L. Rogers
and E. c.. Beddingfield, of the North
Carolina corporation commission are
attending the sessions of the railroad
commissioners.