Evening journal., 1914-12-28
MONDAY DEC. % 1914,
PUBLIC SENTIMENT is WITH TOWNSEND.


q GORGE j. TOWNSEND is of the best United
- states marshals this district has had 1t
would be an outrageous prostitution of official power
Tor Attorney General Gregory acting at the behest of
Senator Salisbury any else, to subject such a
man to removal or to the annoyance of attempted
removal, merely to crafty the ofHce-soekng lust OF
someone connected with the Salisbury Democratic
machine in this State.
There are many why Mr. Townsend should
be retained in Office. There is no valid reason why
he should be removed He is a thoroughly honest
and capable official His administration of the affairs
Of the marshas Office has been beyond reproach The
public recognizes the value his services and re-
sents the thought that he is to be made the victim
of Democratic spolsmen. His commission will not OK
pre until April II, 1916 The public feeling is that
as the Republican administrations in the past never
have removed Democratic marshals this district but
Invariably have permitted them serve out their terms
the removal Of Mr. Townsend at this time would es-
tablish bad precedent which inevitably would lead
to mischieyous results in years to come
We can appreciate the oagerness of certain Demo
Gratis in this State to get the Office that Mr. Town
send holds. They should not however, permit that
eagerness TO run away with their sense of political
and official dccency. Least OF all should Senator
salisbury and Atorney-Genoral Gregory demoan
themselves in public estimation by becoming parties
to any scheme that has in contemplation the removal
OF a competent Federal official whose worst possible
o1ense is that he holds Office for which some sauls
lury henohman hungors.
As already have pointed out on at least two oc-
casions, Senator Salisbury spurred by certain Demo-
cratic ohice-seekors and not by public demand made
an effort TO induce Mr.. Townsend to resign Mr. Town
send conscious of his official probity and regardu of
his official dignity, refused TO do so. Having failed
TO accomplish his purpose by such methods, the junior
Senator from Delaware decided TO resort to other and
more brutal methods to accomplish his purpose lie
carried his fight into tho Department of Justice The
result was that Attorney General Gregory sent to Mr.
Townsend letter requesting him resign forthwith
Mr. Townsend in dgnifed reply, informed the At
torney-General that his commission would not ex-
piro until April H. 1916, he "woud be a factor in
gacatine the office" until that time
That letter IS in the hands of the Attorney
senera and under his consideration II is TO be hoped
hat for his credits sake he will not permit Senator
Salisbury and tho Democratic machine I'm this State
70 lead him TO attempt override Mr. Tovnsends com
mission and tho legal and equitable rights that sur
round it, Such course against such an admirable
official would be 20 his everlasting discrodu
Mr. Townsend is too good a man and too competent
official to bo made the victim Of brute force ins
satod by Senator Salisbury and his hungry henchmen
rho Department OF Justice in Washington and the At
orney-Genera of the United States should have too
much self-rospcct to permit themselves to be used
by Senator Salisbury anyone else as instruments
for the application of brute force when dealing with
such situation as the that now presents itself
IN this district
Regardless partisan lines public sentiment in this
district is with Mr. Townsend in this matter and that
sentiment is entitled to respect in Washington regard
less of the narrow-mnded and selfish wishes of the
unior Senator from Delaware