Fergus County argus., 1906-03-23
MERRIFIELD
FOR MARSHAL
kaiispell Man is Presidents Choice
and viii be Named When Col,
LIoyd's Term Expires.
Is RoosEvELT's OLD FRIEND
Was With the President When He
Was Ranching At Medora-
His Record.

Butte, March 21.-A. w. Merrifield.
of kalispell, is to be the next United
States marshal for Montana. Presi.
dent Roosevelt has made the positive
statement that Mr. Merrifield is to
have the preference. Other candidates
fol the office were: Malcolm Gillis.
OF Butte; Nathan Godfrey, Of Helena,
and John Potter, of Red Lodge. 1t is
understood that Mr.. Merrifield will not
be appointed until the expiration Of
Colonel Lloyds term next December.
Interviewd the President.
The news that Mr. Merrifield is to
receive the appointment comes from
Mr.. Gillis, who returned yesterday af.
ternoon from Washington where he
had an extended interview with the
president. Mr.. Merrifield was one of
the Republican electors at the presi.
dental election and was selected as
the messenger to bear the vote of
Montana to the electoral college. Mr..
Merrifield is an old-time friend of the
president, having been Mr.. Roose.
velt's foreman on his big cattle ranch
near the Montana line in the sos. He
had been the guest of the president
since then and had received ample evi-
dence that he had the esteem and con-
fidence of his former employer. AS
President Roosevelt told Mr.. Gillis
himself of his determination to name
Mr.. Merrifield for the position of Unit.
ed States marshal, the contest over
the office may now be considered at
an end.
Mr.. Gillis left Butte more than three
weeks ago. He went to New York and
from there to Washington. He intend.
ed to call on the president whose
guest he had been once for five days
at his special invitation. Their friend.
ship had dated from the presidents
first visit to Butte.
Mr.. Merrified Named.
Soon as l reached Washington"
said Mr.. Gillis today, 81 met Congress.
man Dixon and Senator Carter. Then
called on the president and found
him as l always have found him and
as every one else who ever called on
him. genial and cordial-a man in fact
who always has time, no matter how
busy, to stop and shake hands with
you and pass CHEEKY word Natural.
ly the question of the United States
marshalship came up. The president
informed me that he expected to name
Mr.. Merrifield for the place. Mr.. Mer.
rifield was at one time foreman of his
cattle ranch and is a genial, capable
man and long Republican. I might
add that he is one who in my judg-
ment will fill the office with credit
to himself and his party
Praises Montana.
Il will say however, that had tne
president known l was candidate pre-.
vious to promising the office I surely
would have had the appointment, but
inasmuch as he had promised it to Mr..
Merrifield and his word was out he
could not withdraw at this time in IA
vor of myself or anyone else. The
president did not know that l was Il
candidate for the position until l met
him in Washington. had long Wis
it with the president and he was un.
tiring in his praise of Montana and al
ways had good word to say of the
western people generally. l left the
White House more than ever firmly
convinced that the president is not
only the biggest and fairest of men,
but that he is also the most repre-.
sentative of all the people, regardless
OF party, that was ever honored with
the presidency of the United States"
Mr.. Gillis in referring again to the
Office of United States marshal said
he understood that Mr.. Merrifield
would not receive the appointment
until Colonel Lloyd's term had expired.
Il think there will be no change
until then," said Mr.. Gillis. Colonel
Lloyd has made a good and compe.
tent officer and so far as my informa.
tion goes he will serve out his term.
Mr.. Merrifield, l believe, had never
expected anything else.'