The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-10-13

prise that my appointment had not
been announced and assured me he
would see the president about it
coombs Was Nervous.
A day or so after that was in the
lobby Of the National hotel when one
Of my Florida friends came in and
seemed somewhat excited. "Coombs, :"
he said, has been looking for you.
and wants to see you in his room at
the Metropolitan I said I would go
over and see him, and on my way
met another of the Florida people. who
said: I have been looking all around
for you. Coorbs wants to see you. "
AS I entered the Metropolitan lobby.
another one called me aside and said:
you are going to be appointed today,
but don't give me away as having
made you wise to It"
Going UP to Mr.. Coombs's room.
found he and Buffum quite excited.
Coombs commenced by saying that he
realized that Senator Hanna wanted
me appointed and he did not want to
carry on a fight against the senator.
That he and Mr.. Buffum had decided
that II I would agree to work with
the Organization" and would promise
to give Mark White job in the Gus
tom house they would endorse me and
the appointment would be made.
I told them I wanted to consider II,
but they urged me for an immediate
reply. I saw they we're nervous and
believed they were afraid my appoint
ment would be made and announced
before they could close UP any under
standing with me. I figured 1t out
that Senator Hanna had seen Roose-
welt and that the latter had promised
to appoint me, that he had so advised
Coombs and that gentleman wanted to
save his face, and also secure a place
for Mark White, who had been Nor
thup's "6dus achates" in all of his
political aspirations. I had always
had a high opinion Of Mark Whites
political ability, and while he had
fought me, he had fought fair, and I
finally told them to let 1t go that
way.
II held a government position 1
had to work with them anyway or
get out, SO they hurriedly wrote
long and fulsome endorsement OF me,
and a shoit one for Dennis Eagan and
that day Eagan was reappointed post
master at Jacksonville and I collector
at Pensacola.
called voluntarily on Senator
Hanna and thanked him for the ap-
pointment, and called involuntartly,
but at Mr.. Coombs's suggestion and
in his company, and thanked Presi-
dent Roosevelt
Roosevelt Not Pleased.
He did not appear to be specially
pleased over the acquisition Of me in
his political family, and told me ne
had been told that / had been a
trouble maker and an insurgent and
that he would expect me to work in
harmony with Mr.. Coombs, in whom
he was we'll pleased I was convince
by his attitude that he had made the
appointment against his will. I did
not feel inclined to argue or discuss
at any length the points he raised,
and as he always insists on doing all
the talking, could hardly have done 1t
anyway, and was only too glad to get
out Of the White House and out of
Washington, and was soon back in
Pensacola. appointed Mark White
to the position Of night Inspector. and
found him efficient and never had q
man about me more loyal IN a political
sense than he proved himself to be.
AS stated above, Senator Hanna
also saved Dennis Eagan, the real old
war horse Of the Republican party In
Florida, his Job, and about the same
time he also had Joe Stripping reap
pointed over Coombs's endorsement
for Cheney as United States district
attorney for the southern district Of
Florida This was strong fight and
Senator Taliaferro of Florida helped
Stripping also very materially. But
they got Joe Strip1ing's scalp four
years later.
For in the meantime Senator Hanna
had died.