The Washington herald., 1906-12-29
FIGHT OYER PLUMS:
AlabamianS of Both Parties
Much Perturbed.
Do NOT WANT OSCAR HUNDLEY
Contest over Nomination as United
States Attorney Recalls Rows of
ASpirant a Democrat Until william
}. Bryan Became Candidate.

/ a row over "A Southern Federal appoint
ment. Such a contest. with phases that
bring back 70 mind the contentious of as
pirauts for jobs under the first McKin-
! ley administration which came up from
most of the Southern states, is now to
the fore, and is Fostering Republicans
and Democrats alike.
( The fight is over the nomination Of
/ oscar r. Hundley to be United States
attorney fol the Northern district Of Ala
! bama. Mr.. Hundley's nomination is OBJ
noxi0us to the entire Alabama delega-
ton. About ten years ago Hundley was
la Democratic State senator. When Bryan
was nominated he quit the party. with
out giving up his seat in the state sen
ate. and went North on the stump for
/ Mckinley. When Mckinley was elected.
/ Hundley Immediately became a candi-
date Cor appointment to Office, and has
/ been a candidate for something good at
the hands OF the Federal administration.
/ This is the principal objection to him
which is urged by Alabama Democrats.
Nomination Held Up.
Mr. Hundleys name was sent 10 the
Senate the first week in December but /
in courtesy to Senator Pettus, who. is q
member of the Judiciary Committee OF
the Senate the nomination was held up
for consideration after the holidays.
Although it was freely limited among |
Alabama Republicans that there would be /
opposition from some Of them to the nom /
nation. none developed in that quarter |
until the Democrats had practically done |
with the presentation Of their objections /
Such Republican opposition has now
arisen. and its hackers are getting ready I
for the fray in a manner which promises I
exceptionally interesting developments. for /
the reason that in it is involved what 4
looks very like the beginning Of the al I
ways picturesque game OF Presidential 1
politics in the Southern States.
Complications Are Numerous.
In the consideration Of the nomination 1
Of Hundlev 20 be district attorney IS said 1
TO be concerned one way or another the /
political fortunes Of several aspirants for 4
the succession to President Roosevelt. /
Hundley has the Endorsement OF the Ala /
bama referees, or "fuglemen," as Senator /.
Pettus terms them. and thereby has the 4
backing Of the party machine These are /
coquetting with the reputed Presidential /
candidates. as are Republican opponents .
Of the nominee. Thus it may be seen, ac- /
c0rding 10 quite fluent gossip among Ala .
bama Republicans here and in Alabama. /
that the State which in national conven- /
tons IS always frst-being at the begin 4
ming % the alDhabet-for candidates for 1
the Presidential nomination, Is first In the 4
game Of Presidential politics Of the cam
paign OF 1893
The Republican opponents Of Mr.. sIund-
ley are confident that they will prevent
the confirmation of his nomination. On
the other hand. Mr. Hundley and his
friends are equally confident that after
brief delay following the rcassembling
Of Congress he viii be confirmed.
Mr. Hundley was nominated to succeed /
Thomas r Roulhac. a Democrat. who
was appointed by President Roosevelt,
and whose term expired on December T.
Among those classed as opposed TO Humid
ley's confirmation is Judge Thomas q (
Jones, judge Of the district for which
Hundley is named 10 be attorney.
Was Author of Bill.
Among the reports Of matters to be
brought to the attention Of the Senate
Judiciary Committee against Hundley is
one that he was the author. while a State
senator, OF measure which restricted
the use Of money derived from taxation of
the property Of white people TO the edu-
cation OF white children. and provided
that money derived from the taxation of
the property of negroes should be devoted
to the education Of negro children only
This would have deprived the negroes Of
practically all public school privileges.
Judge Jones was governor when Hundley
advocated the bill and sent a special mes
sage to the legislature asserting that it
was unconstitutional
Another important Federal office which
is engaging the attention Of the Alabama
"fuglemen' is the postmastership at
Selma. the home town of both Senators
Morgan and Pettus. 1t is one the best
postmasterships in the State. and as the
incumbent is a favOTte OF both the VEN
cradle Senators. they are no little con-
ceTned over the activity Of the enemy
The Selma post-ofice has long been
cause Of soreness to Alabama Republi-
cans. They have not had the postmas-
tership forSheir own since the adninis-
tration Of President Harrison
Democrats Control Office.
When President Cleveland had the ap-
pointment, Senator Morgan obtained from
him the personal favor Of naming for the
place Mrs. Mary b. Force, who was the
widow of the surgeon attached TO the
Confederate brigade which the Senator
commanded Mrs Forces husband. DR..
Peter B. Force. was a son of Peter 3.
Force, the antiquarian and biblophIle,
Of Washington, and was born in this
city. lie married in the South and Joined
the Confederate army. He had brother
who was a gallant officer in the Union
army. Gen. Manning c. Force. Gen.
Force first served in an Ohio regiment
and he and President Mckinley, who was
a major under him, were friends as well ,
as comrades in arms. When Gen Force Z
called upon President Mckinley shortly 4,
after his election, the President asked
the general to name something he could
do for him. Gen. Force replied:
Major, there is nothing except that l
want you to take care Of my brothers
widow"
That meant the reappointment of Mrs.
Force as postmaster at Selma, and of ,
course it was made, despite the eager ,
efforts of Alabama Republicans to get the
place. She was again reappointed by I,
President Roosevelt, and her fourth term | ,
has expired. The "fugemen" have gone /
after the Office every time. and are after
II again, with more persistency than ever,
it is abotA time that an ap-
pointment that was originally Democratic :
should go 20 a Republican. 4
Senators Morgan and pattre n 70 bo,-;,,~