Evening journal., 1914-12-10
THURSDAY DEC. 10 1914,
An orTRAGEOUs SALISBURY SUGGESTION.

~ ENAToR SALISBURY Democrat has suggested
- that George L. Townsend, Republican, resign the
office Of United States Marshal for this district
Mr. Townsend has sent word to Mr.. Salisbury that
he will do nothing the sort and that ne purposes
sitting tight his commission which Will not eN-
pre until April II, 1916.
The Salisbury suggestion is shameful as the
Townsend refusal is laudable If the junior Senator
wishes to give the Office Mr.. Townsend holds to some
hungry Democrat he must prostitute the Federal SER
vice by heving the marshal removed wait until his
fouryear expires That also applies to the two
deputy marshal1hips. which held by Ralph Finn
and John w. Mitchell, both Republicans
The commission OF Mr.. Townsend provides that he
shall hold office term Of four years commencing
April H. 1872 subject the conditions prescribed by
law" If there be any provision of law which VIII
prevent the consummation Of the Salisbury scheme
Mr. Townsend may be depended upon to invoke it
for his own protection On the other hand if there
be any provision of law governing the tenure of the
office that Senator Salisbury invoke to assist him
in committing this act of Federal injustice 1t may be
said that he will pot scrupe TO use it.
There Is only one oense that Senator Salisbury can
ruthfully aege against Mr. Townsend. That is that
he Is Republican. In common with all other Della
waroans the junior Senator must admit that the man
whom he is assailng with such utter disregard for
public opinion has been and is now one of the best
4 Federal officials in the Delaware district
The only possible excuse Senator Salisbury can one
Is that a Democrat wants the $4,000 job and that h'
wants hri to have it. With important public inter
L ests at stake that Is a poor excuse
4 II may be that the Salisbury scheme contemplate'
4 the removal of Mr. Townsend the ground of often
siye partisanshp. tried before partsans in Washing
ton II such a be pursued 1t is sure to cause
public and to lead to reprisas later on MT
& Townsend, a Republican of standing and respect
ability never has been offensive in his partsanshiT
{ as has Holcomb FAIRY schunder or any other Demo
\ crat who is mentioned his successor.
The Federal records show that in fifty years there
nave been only two Democratic United States marsha
Z in this district Both appointed by Presiden
4 Cleveland One was Charles Newlin whom the Re
nublicans permitted to out his term notwith
f standing the Cleveland administration had ouste
4 Henry c. Mahaffy the Republican incumbent, one yea
4 ahead of the expiration of his term. The other Demo
8 cratic marshal was Hewson e. Lannan. The Reput
3 iicans permitted him over his time.
The elapsed time plea which Senator Saulsbur
makes against Mr. Townsend is mere political sui
terfuge designed TO cloak the partisan outrageousne
4 of the present proceeding. If it be permitt'
4 10 prevail the Republicans should decide now that
salisbury appointee shall be ousted summarily at Il
FIRST opportunity that presents itself not because II
right but because ofice-hungry Democrats must
taught the decences Of political conduct
It Is on the cards that the Wilson administrati
cannot survive the general election. If the pre-
ent salisbury scheme prevail. of the first acts
4 the new Republican administration should be the
moval of the Salisbury partisan and his deputies W
have succeeded Mr. Townsend and his deputies und
y such inexcusabe circumstances