The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-18
President Taft Appoints T. H. Alrich Birmingham
 Postmaster
J. c. MANNING WAS
 ALSO AN APPLICANT
MT. Aldrich Is in Washington and Im- mediately Upon Filing His Bond Will Leave for Birmingham
 to Take Charge
BY WALTER HARPER

BY WALTER HARPEH
 Washington. November 17.-tspeciaD.- Truman H. Aldrich who was appointed postmaster of Birmingham by President Taft today is in Washington and VIII file his bond with the postoffice depart ment tomorrow. He will be ready to take charge of the office immediately upon his return to Birmingham.
 When seen tonight MT. Aldrich had rot been officially notified of his appoint inent and declined to discuss any plans fer the future.
 It has been generally understood for some time that MT. Aldrch would receive the appointment he having had the sup port of Alabama referees and the assur- auce from Senators Johnston and Bank head and Congressman Underwood that his appointment would not be objection- able.
 Just at the last moment when the President was about to announce the ap- pointment, J. c. Manning and delega- tion of negroes, some from Alabama and some, it is said, from elsewhere. appeared at the White House and made fight for the appointment of MT. Manning
  that he had the support of Senator John- ston and the appointment was held up until this claim could be looked into. 1t seems that Senator Johnston had offered some support to MT. Manning for some other minor position but had not consid- cred him as an applicant for the Bir- nIingham postmastership. When this mat ter was explained at the White House the Aldrich appointment was immediately announced
 Other minor appointments to be made fer Alabama will not be made until after the meeting of Congress, it is said. Thers are several small places to be filled. After making his bond in Washington tomorrow Mr. Aldrich will leave ut once for Birmingham.
 While the fact had nothing to do with the appointment of MT. Aldrlch 1t is now being recalled that MT, Aldrich and President Taft are related both by blood and marriage. MT. Aldrioh is sr third cousin of the President and the family 1 WAS very intimate during the days of | their fathers and grandfathcrs. MT. Aldrich's oldest daughter married 2 brother of Mrs. William II. Taft and now lives in Cincinnati These facts, however were not called to the attention to the President when he was asked to consider the appointment of Mr. Aldrch, The latter has not called on tle President in his own behalf but will call tomorrow morning to offer4his respects and thank him for the appointment.
 Announcement Expected HereE
 The official announcement that Truman H. Aldrich had been named postmaster in Birmingham by President Taft was not surprising here. He has been admit tedly the strongest applicant for the place. and his recent activities confirmed the general opinion that he would be named. His application was backed up by the two new referees in this state, and it is believed that neither Senator John- ston or Mir Underwood was unfavorable. MT. Aldrich succeeds the late J. H. Montgomery, who was postmaster less than one year when his tragic death oc- cured at a republican committee meet ing. Since that time George C. Oliver, agent for the company bonding the late MT. Montgomery. has been in charge of the office. It is the belief in local circles that MT. Aldrich will assume his new duties within few days or as soon as postal inspectors can arrange the af- fairs of the office. George c. Oliver, who has been in charge. says that he Is most willing to relnquish the work to the new postmaster.
 In business circles there is no better known man than MT. Aldrich. In indus- trial circles he has long been leader and giant developer He is civil and mining engineer of national reputation.
 He came to this district in 1870. and is accounted of the Sloss-D De Bardeeben group of pioneer developers. There Is scarcely any industrial lands in this dis trict but what at one time was controlled by the Sloss-De DeBardeleben-A Aldricl group of leaders. He is a graduate of the Van Rensselaer, Polytechnic institute of Troy, N. r.. and is New Yorker by birth
 He is related to Thomas Baily Aldrich. the author and to Nelson w. Aldrich. the noted senator from Rhode Island.
 Mir. Aldrich first settled in Selma where he opened a bank. Later, while looking around. he found a good seam of coal near Montevallo and there opened the Montevallo company, of which he was president. From that time he was cons. spicuous industrial figure in this district. He has paid for many investigations out of his own pocket to discover the values of this district, and has contributed a great amount of time. energy and money to the upbuilding of this district
 Mir. Aldrich discovered the Jefferson and, black seams of coal in the Warrior field and sunk the first shaft on that seam. He founded Pratt City by seeing to the organization of the Pratt Coal company. and with Colonel DeBardeleben and Colonel Sloss developed what Is now . portion of Greater Birmingham.