The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-11-21
co Gil
IN STATE IIl Sight ] |
ana win 81 IN a position TO control.

supporter Tor the cabinet position
Afr. Bryan and Col. OEoGTaN have
been friends for many years. They
have by side in po2ltics
and at times when the loyalty OF
Senator Chiffon and other West viz
GINA Democrats to Mr.. Bryan has
been Questioned there has ever
been any doubteas to hes-fsczrt hat
Coz. ATeGrasE mas stood steadastIy.
through failure and success with
Mr.. Bryan. It IS not. strange then
at the present time, that Mr.. Bryan
should, be strong in his advocacy Of
Col. McGraw for this important po-i
sition in the new administration.
Nor would it be surprising il the
new president should be entirely
guided by SIR. BTyan's wishes in the
matter and take the West Virginia
Democratic leader into his cabinet
The Importance of the position Of
postmaster general in the manage
ment OF party affairs is indicated by
the number OF appointments to be-
made in the postohce service by the
new administration. There are in
round numbers about ;275s 900, en-
pIoyees OF the postoffce department.
"a large number Of these are under
civil service. but it is estimated that
oearlY7 100000 appointments Will be
given out by the new admjnistra7I
lion to Democrats in the postohice.
service. It is even possible that
many of the fourth class postmasters
who in same states are under civil
service win be removed from the
civil service and their places win
be filed as part OF the spoiIs sys-
TEN. The postmasters of the first,
second and third classes are not
under. civil service and their total
salaries amount to about $25,0OO,-
900 annually. Practically al OF
these would be appointed by the
postmaster general or at least his
; accommodates would have much
to a with their appointmen: by the
president - z-s,gz-
There. aEs in ygests. Virginia about
> sposto6ces. Not one Of the
postmastera in. any of these Offices
is under civil service and should
COL McGraw become postmaster
genera It would fail to him to fill
ali these azIllass!, fThis would mean
that he would be once more the ac-
knowledged- leader of, the Demo
cratic party in West Virginia and
that he woUId have at his disposal
practically. all the FEDERAL patronage
for the state.
1t is not to be presumed that Col
MeGraw will get this position with,
out opposition on the part Of those
who have been in control Of party
affairs in west Virginia. But the
statement Is made in Washington
that Col McGraw has strong infiu-
ences back of him in addition to the
personal and political friendship OF
Mr.. Bryan as well as of the presi-
dent Whether he can land the cab
met place remains to be seen, but il
he does the leadership in West Vir-
g-nia will go to entirely different
hands from those which have been
in control of the party for the last
two years and will make many
changes in the political line up in
that state.
Whether COL McGraw succeeds IN
.gett'ng into the cabinet or not, there
Will be pretty fight among the
tNest Virginia Democrats over the
distribution of the Federal patronage
in the state. The we'll known
tfr;endsh'p Of Col. McGraw for wood
row Wilson and the firm stand
which he took for Wilson early in
the campaign resulting eventually
in his nomination has undoubtedly
made him very strong with the new
president. AS pointed out above he
is also very strong with Mr.. Bryan.
who 1t is understood will have much
to do with the new administration
1t would naturally be believed that
Col. McGraw will have more infiu-
ence than any one else in the distri-
button OF the federal patronage
But the Senate, if Democratic at
all. will be so by very slight mar
gin, and it will be necessary for
PresEdeut=eIect Wilson to carry
through his policies, to have every
Democratic senator friendly with
him
1t, is not to be presumed that Sen
ator Chiffon could be regarded as
friendly 10 the president if the pres
ident were to ignore him in all mat