The Washington times., 1907-04-20
{ olumb ia Postmaster
Here Asking Reversal
of Dismissal.
BrOWnloW-EyanS Faction
Fight UnderlieS
Case.
Colonel Hughes Charg-
ed With Absence
Without Leave.

Tennessee politicians in Washington.
especially John Wesley Gaines. are ex-
periencing q series of ''brainstorms and
psychlones' on account of the summary
removal from Office of Col. Arch NJ.
Hughes, postmaster st Columbia. Tenn,
an Office which pays $3.50 a year.
Colonel Hughes arrived in Washing
ton today, although he knows OF his
removal only through the newspapers,
no notice having come to him from the
department. Wednesday, the depart
ment notified John W. Jackson. as
Eistant postmaster, that he had been
appointed postmaster.
Supporter of Brownlow.
Colonel Hughes is a supporter of Rep
Eesentative Walter p. BrownlOw in
Tennessee politics. Mr.. jackson IS a
II. Clay Evans factionist. Colonel
Hughes telegraphed about his dismissal
10 John Wesley Gaines. Mr.. BrownlOw
not being at the Capital.
Mr.. Gaines went TO the White House
yesterday and demanded a square
deal for Colonel Hughes He recalled
10 the Presidents memory that Colonel
Hughes had been appointed only year
ago for second term of four years,
and had been removed without notice.
He told the President that Colonel
Hughes had served three years in the
Confederate army with distinction; that
he had been Northumberland Of the
Eighth Immune regiment IN the Span
ish-American war; had been a lifelong
Republican; several times the defeated
candidate for Congress and Presidential
elector, and was the caucus nominee for
the United States Senate against the
late Senator Bate.
One of the Immortal 3o6."
Colonel Hughes was one OF the I'm
mortal 3O6." who stood out for the third
nomination of General L. S Grant for
the Presidency.
Mr.. Gaines Is a Democrat, but he told
the President with much emphasis that
he knew a good party man when he saw
one. and that Colonel Hughes was a
fighting Republican of the best breed.
The President and the Postmaster
General, who was at the " White House
at the time. knew little or nothing of the
case, which had been handled by First
Assistant Postmaster General Hitch
cock At Mr.. Gaines earnest request
the commission 70 Mr.. Jackson was held
UP and the case will be reOpened Mon
day, when Mr.. Hitchcock returns 10
The charge against Colonel Hughes is
that he neglected his duty by absenting
himself from his office. Colonel Hughes
declares he has never been away from
the Office except on written leave from
the department at Washington.
Underlying the whole affair is the
Brownlow-E Evans factional fight, In
which the Administration is giving Rep
Iesentative BrOWnlOw a taste OF the
goods now being handed out 20 for
Tner Representative WadsWOrth u New
York. The BrOWnlOw recommendations
have been turned down or held up for
some time. Mr.. BrownlOw is national
committeeman from Tennessee and Is
considered TO be strong friend OF Sec
rotary Taft in the Presidential handicap.
Sanders Reported as Having Boosted.
Mr.. Evans and State Chairman Newell
Sanders are avowedly supporters Of the
third-term movement. Mr.. Sanders is
reported as Boosting that he turned the
trick against Colonel Hughes in the
interest of a Tennessee delegation
pledged TO another nomination of Theo-
dore Roosevelt. If the Administration
is in earnest in supporting Taft, say the
BTOwnlOw Republicans in Tennessee. the
action OF Mr.. Hitchcock in OuStiug Taft
men from office is most peculiar. Col
Onel Hughes personally is for Roosevelt
for reelection, having given out an in
terview to that effect in Washington a
Few weeks since he was for Grant
three times and Is for Roosevelt for an
other term
H. Clay Evans Friends Elated
Friends Of H. Clay Evans are eIated
over Alt removal OF OOlOucl hughes as
they say 1t means the end of the Brown
low regime in State politics Mr. Evans
vas defeated for governor last fall, and
Mr.. BrJwnlow was reelected 10 Con-
gress oy a largely increased majority.
although he was opposed by a Democrat
and by an independent Republican can
didate, who had the support of Mr..
Evans and the State Republican ma
chine.
Gaines Characteristic Appeal.
John Wesley Gaines is making his
strong fight for Hughes because. he
says he believes in a square deal. -
and doesn't believe the President would
remove any man without giving him a
hearing, If the facts in the case were
properly presented TO the White House.
He made a characteristic appeal to
the President, and the carpet is said
TO have suffered from some old-fash-
toned foot OratOry.
The inception of the anti-Hughes
movement in Tennessee is said to lie
I'm the fact that Colonel Hughes re-
fused TO pay the assessment levied upon
Federal officeholders in that State for
the Evans campaign fund IN the late
fight