Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-15
CALLS PRESIDENT
Tennessee Politician of Old
School Frees Mind at
White House.
ROOSEVELT KEEPS TEMPER
Visitor Angry Over Being Let out as
Postmaster of Columbia as
Slap at Congressman.

Washington, May 15.-Colonel Arch
NJ Hughes of Columbia, Tenn, a sol
dier and politician of the old school,
one OF the 500 who voted for Grant at
Chicago in 1880. went to the White
house yesterday and read the riot act
TO President Roosevelt as few men
have ever dared to read it. He read
ii also to Assistant Postmaster General
Hitchcock, and when he started back
to the south last night he left two pairs
of tingling ears behind him.
Let Out of Office.
Colonel Hughes is postmaster at Co
| lumbia, Or was until Yesterday, when
he was fired TO make room for man
sworn TO oppose Representative Brown
| low. the only republican congressman
| from Tennessee whose determination i
an administration desire.
| 1t was about his removal that Colonel
Hughes went to the White house with
| his fighting clothes. President RoOse-
welt received him in the presence OF
several other callers. but that did not
abash Colonel Hughes He stated his
case without any attempt at concilia-
/ tiCn and wound up with this. empha-
sized by fist that waved in the direc-
| tiOn of the presidents head:
You wouldn't dismiss a messenger
from the White house without a hear
ing, yet YOU dismiss me without one on
the eX parte statement Of man who Is
interested in getting my place"
/ You shall have a hearing" replied
the president smoothly. Il will intro
duce You TO the postmaster general if
you will wait
Presently Postmaster General Meyer
came in and President Roosevelt said.
This is Colonel Hughes. postmaster
of Columbia. Tenn. l wish you 10
give him hearing"
Vows He'll Make Hard Fight.
Mr.. Meyer said he would and Hughes
! started 10 so. The president turned 10
leave the room.
One minute. Mr. President" cried
Colonel Hughes. There is one thing
more | want to say to you; I may nev-
er have another opportunity
What is that" asked the president.
Il had TWO GTandfathers at Kings
mountain. one OF whom was wounded,
| cried Hughes My own grandfathe.
= commanded old Jackson bodyguard at
= Talladcsa and the Horseshoe. | don't
come from the stock that will submit to
5 this kind of treatment without a fight
Good; very good" said the presi
dent.
Office Well Conducted.
No one pretends Hughes Office was
not run efficiently His removal was
made ostensibly on the ground that h,
was absent from his office. but the fac
t sent ne had the written permission o
the department.
I You remove me because have beer
9 absent on permission" shouted the oil,
$ tcavalTyman to Hitchcock as a partin:
: salute. yet you have been absent tn,
II Lord knows how long down south ol
Il political missions"
Il Hit by Patronage Club.
/ Secretary Cortelyou of the treasur.
: and the postoffice department is bus
i lining up Tennessee in the Roosevelt
D ranks. though the whole power of tn
administration is devoted TO drivin
out of power Representative Brown
low
= Chairman Newell Sanders of tn
e state committee and joint head wit
-e Evans of the administration tactic
Il promised Hughes place 10 a subordil
ate named Jackson on condition thu
=, Jackson would desert Brownlow. H
" got the job.