Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-19
SURPRISED AT THE NEWS
Declares He Was Not a Candidate
for the Position.
LIVED IN CITY SINCE 1884
Probably Will Take UP His New
Duties at Once-Friend
of DR.. Crum.

alt VIII dppOlHl w WIlltSICiu
Mckinlay of 936 street northwest, col
ored real estate dealer, collector of the
port of Georgetown, to suceeed Howard
S. Nyman. the present incumbent.
Mr.. McKinlay, when informed OF the
Presidents intention, expressed great sur
prise.
Il was positively not a candidate for
the place. said he. II presume that some
of my friends have been active in sug-
gesting my name. but just who proposed
and urged it l do not know. About three
days ago some one came to me with d
rumor that my name was being consid-
ered That was the first intimation that
l had.
Il told the bearer of that information
that l knew nothing about the matter and
tried to find out from him where the
rumor originated, but he could not tell
me. Since then several persons have talk
ed to me about the matter, but 1 knew
nothing and know nothing now except
what The Star tells me. 1t is a tremen-
dous surprise to me.
Were Brig. Gen. Clarence Edwards in
the country might attribute the appoint
ment to him, because he is one Of my best
friends, but he is touring the world with
Secretary Dickinson. / do not know whom
to thank for this honor besides President
Taft
Native of Charleston, s. c.
Mr.. McKinlay was born in Charleston.
s. c.. in 1857, and attended Avery Insti-
tute in that state until he was seventeen
years DID, when he was appointed to West
Point by former Representative Ranf1er.
He entered the Military Academy, but re-
manned there only few months.
He returned to his native state and en-
tered the University of South Carolina,
but left it in 1877, because in that year
the institution was closed to negroes. Mr..
McKinlay taught school for time and
then went to Iowa, entered the Iowa Uni
versity and graduated from that institu-
ton.
He came to Washington in 1884 and
was engaged in various pursuits until
1887, when he established the real es-
tate business in which he is now en-
gagged at 936 F. street northwest. He
lives at the Fred Douglass home, at w
and 14th streets southeast. He is sec
retary and trustee of the organization
which had this permanent, memorial to
the colored leader in charge. He has
supervision over the home
MChlnldy was appointed d iHoInDeT
of the homes commission by former Pres
ident Roosevelt. This was the only
public place that he ever held.
Those lin the know politically are in
clned to give some of the credit for the
appointment to DIR. w. D. Crum, the COL
ored man who recently was appointed
minister to Liberia. DIR. Crum was for
a number of years the collector of the
port of Charleston, 8. c. He was ap-
pointed to that place by former President
uroc hold IN,
in the Senate for long time because of
the bitter opposition of Senator Tillman.
Mr.. McKinlay is a friend of DR.. Crum.
1t is understood that he is to take
ment will be a recess one, and the ap-
pointee can serve until the Senate finally
acts.
Storm Center for Months.
The Georgetown collectorship has
been a storm center for several months.
After President Taft had decided to
make change he cast about for some
one to take the place and hit upon
Sidney Beiber, republican national
committeeman for the District of Co
lumbia and close friend Of Postmaster
General Hitchcock.
Mr.. Beiber's name was sent to the
Senate, but it soon became evident that
there was decided opposition to his
confirmation. This opposition came
from two sources. There were several
senator's who seemed desirous of airing
old charges against Mr.. Beiber in con-
nection with a land deal, and there
were others who were inclined to favor
the retention of Collector Nyman.
Because of this opposition President
Taft withdrew Mr. Bieber's name. but
later sent it in again. 1t was still before
the Senate for confirmation when Con-
gress adjourned
Shortly after adjournment 1t was an
nounced that the President had decided
to appoint some one else. and rumors be-
gan to fly that it was planned to appoint
a Georgia colored man to the place. This
stirred up opposition all over the District
and started much criticism of the ad-
nj ct