The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-09-05
Prospect That Two Virginia
Democrats Will Thereby
=. Be Benefited. !
P0sT0FFICE FOR ONE;
GOOD JOB FOR OTHER
Democratic State Leaders Will At
tempt Reconciliation of Local Fac
tions in the Postofice Fight By
Handing Out Two Good Jobs to the
Local Unterrified.

Democrats interested in the post
Office appointment in Virginia are fac
ing the east this week. There is ex-
pected to be an agitation of the politi-
cal plum tree at Washington and it
is confidently expected that among the
plums that will fall soon will be the
postmastership in Virginia. To whom
it will fall is the next question. The
odds at present seem to favor j. w.
Fleming, but another interesting de-
velopment may be the appointment of
j. w. Murphy, also a candidate for
the place to very good political job,
a shrewd bit of politics on the part Of
the state democratic leaders to recon-
cile the two factions in the party in
this city, both of whom are pushing
the claims of past faithful service in
the ranks of the unterrified in connec-
ton with their candidacy for the post
Office appointment.
Democratic leaders of all factions
admit that such an ending of the To-
cal patronage fight would be an en-
tirely satisfactory solution of vexing
problem, and if it.cannot be brought
about there is some disposition for a
switching of strength to dark horse
which might and might not be Attor-
ney Luke Burns. Mr.. Burns is taking
no interest in the matter and the dis
cussion of him as dark horse candi-
date comes from his friends, who
would like to see him land the place
and who believe he is as worthy of the
honor and the job as either of the
other two aspirants.
With local democrats it is apparent
ly a settled fact that the Virginia
postoffice is going to be given to
democrat. They do not believe that
the new civil service rule will oper-
ate to keep the present incumbent,
Mrs. Mary H. James in the place. Mrs.
James has the endorsement of Con-
gresham Miller. Mr.. Miller recent
ly left for the PHILIPPINES on a diplo-
matte errand, but one of the last
things he did before leaving the cap
itol city was to satisfy himself that
he had done everything possible to
secure the reappointment of Mrs.
James. Mrs. James candidacy for re-
is based on her efficient
administration of the affairs of the
local postoffice and on strong peti
tion bearing the signatures of ma
jority of the business people of Vir-
ginia asking that she be reappointed.
She has heard nothing from Washing
ton since the petition went forward
to the department., but her friends
are confident that she has an excellent
chance to again be named postmis-
tress.
OF the endorsement of J. H. Flem-
ing by National Democratic Commit
teeman Lynch of St. Paul there seems
to be no further question. Mr.. Lynch,
according to authentic information, is
expected to visit Washington this
week for a conference regarding the
Minnesota patronage. He will recon-
mend the appointment of Mr.. Fleming
to Postmaster General Burleson. It
his recommendation does not receive
favorable consideration it will be be-
cause no less an influence than Sec
retary of State Bryan will be enlist
ed in behalf of Mr.. Murphy by mutual
friends through T. T. Hudson, of Du-
luth, one of the staunchest Bryan men
in St. Louis county,, who probably
stands as near to the peerless one as
any democratic leader in Minnesota.
Mr.. Hudson has endorsed Mr.. Murphy,
it is said, as have also a majority of
the members of the st. Louis county
democratic committee.
In the meantime local democrats are
looking forward to visit from Mar
tin O'Brien, one Of the old time demo-
Gratis of Polk county, who stands high
in the councils of the democratic lead
ers of the state and who IS expected
in Virginia this week to get some first
hand information on what would be
the diplomatic thing to do with regard
to the appointment of the Virginia
postmaster. Mr.. O'Brien has had
much success in the past as q peace
maker. It has been suggested to him
that both M. Fleming and Mr.. Mur-
ply be remembered. It will be urged
that Virginia is the fifth city in size
ia. the state and therefore entitled te
extra recognition. The solution Of th<
mattsr II this way would eo,nprshsni