The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-07-03
An Original Watson Man to
BE Postmaster at
Parsersburg.
CBy Charles Brooks smith }


WASHINGTON, July S.-senator
Chiffon is expected to recommend q
Parkersburg Democrat this week to
succeed Postmaster Frank s. Smith.
who Is to be ousted from the service
as a result OF partisan politics, fol-
lowing close on the exit Of his assist
ant. H. T. Harnish, whose dismissal.
after eleven years continuous and
efficient service for the government.
took place Monday at midnight by
order of the department
The department has asked Senator
Chiffon to make a recommendation as
soon as possible, and he was expect
ed to make his selection this week.
according to leading Parkersburg
Democrats who have been here boost
ing for one or the other OF the many
aspirants. That the fight among the
candidates to succeed Postmaster
Smith has progressed to that stage
where it is rapidly assuming a local
party crisis bothersome to Senator
Chiffon is not denied. He was assured
that this would be the case by Editor
A. B. Smith, of the Sentinel in that
city, who accompanied Harry d. Per-
kins here to urge the 1atter's appoint
ment. Mr. Smith insisted that the
senator recommend Perkins at once
and forestall a condition of party
chaos in Petersburg as a result OF a
spirited contest between numerous.
contenders. The senator, however,
failed to follow the advice of the edi-
tor. and now. has on his hands a con-
test over postofice as big as 1t Is
bitter
AS result OF Smith and Perkins's
visit. there has come a loud and lusty
protest from the office-hungry and
their clans against the appointment of
Perkins. There are at least score
of applicants, half of them very ac-
tive, and more are expected to enter
the contest If Senator Chiffon delays
making the recommendation many
more days.
Perkins, at this time, is regarded
as having bright prospects. He is
county chairman, and was, when
Watson was candidate, the only
support OF any party consequence
that Watson had in Wood county The
ex-senator, who is still the mighty
boss in the Watson-Chilton alliance,
it is thought will knock the plum to
Perkins unless pressure from the
Camden-Watson's close person:
friends and business associates be-
come so strong that he will have to
comply and throw his influence to
John s. Camden, brother of the late
Senator ]. N. Camden. John S. Cam
den was postmaster of Parkersburg
under Cleveland. His nephew, John
son n. Camden, OF Versailles, KY,
Democratic state chairman in that
state, came on here as SOON as the
Parkersburg postofHce sensation
broke" and spent a couple of days
here with the end in view of having
his uncle given the appointment
Sam McConaug9ey stacks up about
third in the contest at the present
time. W. c. McConaughey, is chair
man of the Fourth congressional dis
trict committee, and ex-Congressman
ohm NJ. Hamilton is cIassed as the
heaviest politician who is backing
Chairman McConaughey's brother,
Sam.
Postmaster Smith will serve until
his successor is appointed and CON
firmed according to law, but the posi-
ton of assistant is not expected to
be filled until some time. If the law
is adhered to, which hasn't been the
case so far as Smith and Harnish are
concerned, an examination will have
to be held for the purpose of making
this appointment 1t is under civil
service (when the department wants
it to bel. and there happens to be no
eligible list. The highhNuded way
the civil service laws have been over
ridden by the present administration,
shown conspicuously in the Parkers-
burg case, there is no danger that
anybody other than a Democrat viii
get this particular job eventually.
The success OF the custer at Park
ersburg has encouraged the Demo-
cratic leaders to undertake the same
thing at Wheeling. Fairmont. Clarks-
burg and elsewhere, and they have
already begun on the job.
NOTICE