Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-20
WILL NOT BE DISTURBED
Will Have to Keep Out of the Wads.
worth Fight.
AWAITING CONTIGUOUS RETURN
Conference of the President and Ex-
Secretary Shaw - Stevens Looks
for Canal in Seven Years.

Friends of John A. Merritt, former post
master of Washington. are apprehensive
that his tenure of office as collector of
customs at Niagara Falls may be cut short
as a result of the Wadsworth- Roosevelt
row. That Mr.. Merritt was appointed col
lector because it was asked and desired
by Mr. Wadsworth is well known At that
time Mr.. Wadsworth stood close to the
President. The differences between the two
men over the meat inspection law did not
break out until few months afterward.
Mr.. Merritt was personally well liked by
the President. who accomplished two things
in the appointment. The first was to make
a place for B. F. Barnes. assistant sec
rotary to the President, who had been
under a red-hot fire for his part in the
election of Mrs. Minor Morris from the
White House.
The second to oblige Mr.. Wadsworth
who in full control of political affairs
in his district, and was cooperating with
the President in most of the legislation de-
sired by the latter. Mr.. Merritt named
collector of customs at Niagara before
Mr.. Barnes was confirmed as postmaster
He had to hold on to the post office for
several months until the Barnes fight was
over in the Senate. Then he went to
Niagara, where he draws a better salary
and is in position to aid Mr. Wadsworth in
handling the district. AS far as he could
do so Mr. Merritt did aid Mr.. Wadsworth
in his fight for return to Congress last
year Naturally he incurred the enmity
of the new combination in the district
Representative Peter A. Porter and Fred
erick c. Stevens.
1t is no doubt certain that this combina-
ton would be exceedingly glad to have Mr.
Merritt relieved of his job, but it may be
stated on authority it is not the intention
of the President to do this. Collectors of
customs appointed for a full term of
four years. Collectors of internal revenue
I'D hon fnrr Nh anf TO
moval at any time. MIR. Merritt has been
at Niagara over a year and he has three
more years to serve. So far as known there
is nothing against his record.
But 1T is certain that the President and
the Hughes followers will insist Mr..
Merritt attending strictly to his duties as
a federal of1iceholder and keeping his hands
out Of the fierce fight that promises to
be carried to finish in the district. Wads-
worth and his friends are organizing and
propose to go after every elective Office in
the district from judges down. The menu
bers of the Porter-Stevens combination are
doing the same thing. Backed by both
federal and state patronage, the latter feel
sure that they will be able to wipe up the
earth with the combination of the former
representative.
Mr.. Sanders Successor Not Named.
The successor to Archie Sanders, who has
been asked to resign, but has not yet done
so, has not been selected by the President
Nothing will be done in that direction until
Secretary Cortelyou has an opportunity to
talk with the President. Mr.. Cortelyou Is
now in New York. He went there ostensi-
bly, to study the operations of the customs
department in New York city and to inves-
tigate the finances. AT the same time, there
Is the certainty that he viii return to
Washington with much Information for the
President as to political conditions In New
York. 1t is understood that he has received
visits from a number of the Roosevelt
Hughes leaders, and that today he is hav-
ing conferences In New York as to he out
over the Observation-Disclosures forces. He