The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-06-24

Postna ster p. d. Barker. of Mobile,
for the present at least. will be Presi-
dent Taft's sole referee in Alabama
for the distribution or offices. Collec-
tor Of Internal Revenue J. o. Thomp-
son, for eight years Republican arbi-
ter Of appointments In Alabama, will
i6or the present exercise no power. but
] he will retain his Office as Collector Of
internal Revenue.
A conference of Republicans was to
have been held yesterday in Montgom-
cry, at which the two leading figures
were to have been Collector Thompson
and Postmaster Barker. The object OF
the conference was to arrange a work
ing basis by which Thompson was to
retain part Of the power he had ex-
ercised for several years. Half doz-
en- postmasters from South Alabama
were on hand, and the local Republic
cans were alert for the important
gathering.
But Postmaster Barker did not come.
The conference, therefore, was about
as cheerful and as successful as a
wedding at which the bridegroom does
not turn up. Mr.. Barker did not come,
being detained by business" but 1t
was the opinion of some Republicans
that the most important business he
could have had would have been to
talk over reserving to Thompson some
of the old power
Gloom. dark and heavy. settled upon
the Republican ONCE holders who had
been so faithful in their support of
Thompson. Mr.. Barker. Of course, may
look after them when the time comes,
hut II IL not 80 certain. His absence
10 them clearly indicated his intention
I of reservtng TO himself all the power
granted him by the Taft administra-
4ion.
1t is an open secret chat Collector
Nhompson and the Taft Administration
TO re-appoint Judge Hundley. Thomp-
son was for Hundley first, last and all
\ the time. He had been faithful fol-
lower of Hitchcock. and 1t was UNDER
stood that Alabama appointments
would be even more firmly in his charge
than they we're In the past.
But the President refused his en-
dorsement of Hundley. 1t Is even said
that the President and his Alabama
eoferee had a rather warm interview
on the matter. AS result of that in
terview Mr.. Barker was called to
Washington. The news leaked out
; that he was to be the only original
referee, no appointment being genuine
without his signature.
This was disquieting information to
the officeholders who had held up
anonymous AOA AcAAAJ AAhc
years. Where did they come in? So
q conference was caAed for Montgom-
cry. But Mr.. Barker was busy and
couldn't come. As result of condi-
tions now existing, the party in Ala
bama is stirred from center to circum-
ference. One Republican said yester-
day:
'It is the biggest thing that has hap
pened in, the Republican party since
the Lily White movement was started
and squelched nine years ago"
Thompson outlasted the two other
referees who started with him. He
has outlasted almost every other
Southern referee who started at the
same time. Every now and then a
report has been sent out from Wash
angton that Thompson had lost his
power. But his office-holding friends
remained tranquil. They were sure
khat he would stick.
! But this time they are ready to adj
NIT that something big has happened.
The applications will be 30. KID" by
p. d. Barker, unless he chooses vol
unfairly to divide his power with the
former referee, and being busy yester-
day indicates that he allows he will
keep what he has.