The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-30
POSTMASTER-GENERAL
DENIES HE is TO BLAME
Awaits Recommendations From vir-
ginfn Senator'S Before Making
Nominations In Ninth.
ACTED ON THEIR ADVICE BEFORE
BurfeHon States Positively He Is Ready
to Take Matters Up Whenever Mar
tin and Swanson Get Ready.
Especial to Tho Times-Dispatch. ]

Especial to Tho Times Dispatchl
Washington, May 29.-Postmaster-
General Albert S. Burleaon fatty de-
clines to accept the blame for the de-
lay OF over "A year in appointing Dem
ocrats to offices as postmastcrs in the
Ninth Virginia District TO succeed a
number OF holdovcr Republicans In
an exclusive interview to-day with tho
correspondent Of The Times Dispatch
PostmastcrG General Burleson stated
emphatica1ly that he has nominate I'd
four Of tho five postmasters In the
Ninth on the ecommcndation of Sena :
tors Martin and Swanson. and is
from them before filling the other va
cancics.
Il have already nominated four OF
the fivc men recommended by the ylr-
ginia Senators for postmasters in the
Ninth District" said Mr.. Burieson "and
am awaiting their recommendations to
take action in the other vacancies ex-
listing there.
AT first the Senators recommended
two postmasters-C. y. Otcy, at TaZe-
we'll. and j. b. Boyer at Wythevillc
l accepted their recommendation In the
case OF Otey, and in the Wythcville
case myself nominated a. B. Buchanan,
VINO was already acting as postmaster,
having been appointed by the bonds
men OF the former postmaster, who re-
signed. lie is still serving. Buchanan
had q strong Endorsement, and / con-
tinued him in Office.
NOMINATED THREE MEN
IND0RSED by SENATORS
Since that time the Senators have
recommended the appointment of three
other postmasters. and 1 have nomi
mated all three of them. These men
were J. NJ. Minnich. at Cato City; j. ID.
Askew. at Pulaski. and C. II. Willough-
by, at Jonesviile."
But" suggested The Times Dispatch
correspondent, the Senators state that
since you declined TO accept their re-
concentrations without question they
have filed no written recommendations
with YOU"
Formally written or not, they rec
commended in writing or personally tho
three other men whom | nominatcd
and the records OF this Office will bear
me out in tha; statement The other
man nominated in the Ninth District
was Wade III. 1.pps. whom l nominated
myself. / advised the Senators that
! Intended TO appoint Lipps, and they
stated that while they were not FOR
him they would not oppose his con :
nrination.
II have not refused to accept the
recommendations OF tho Virginia Sen
ators. but, on the contrary, have writ
ten them, advising them that vacancies
exist and that | would he willing To
receive advice from them before filling
the offices. This action I have taken
in tho case OF every vacancy I'm the
Ninth District. but up to this time have
received 40 recommendations from
them other than the, five mentioned,
and in four of the five cases | followed
their rccomme ndat tions
READY TO ACT Al ONCE.
WHEN SENATOR'S ARE READY
Yes, you may state positively foy
me that whenever the Senators get
rcadY 20 make recommendations 10,
these vacancies | VIII take these mat :
icrs up at once and make nominations
Just IS soon as possible"
Several days ago Congressman Glass
made public a letter he had written
to Robert +. Erucc, OF the Ninth DIS
trict, denying responsibility for any
delay In Ninth District appointments
lie stated that he had not taken tho
initiative IN any Ninth District ap-
pointmcnts, but had simply turned
over To tho post-Ofilcc Department let
tcrS. Endorsements ard rccommcnda-
lions, which had been sent To him by
Ninth District Democrats.
Two days later Senators Martin
and swanson, in an Interview with The
Times Dispatch correspondent, also de-
MED responsibility. They declared
they were willing TO recommend post
masters whenever postmastcr-General
Burlcson assured them their recon-
ncndations were wanted and would be
followed G H. NJ