The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-20
NO Surprise is Expressed At
Mr.. Srnithwick's Refusal
to Support Nomination
Lost in Fillibuster.
SEES SCHEME TO
CALL HIS HAND
Postmaster Says He is
Ready to Send in Resigna-
ton When Asked for But
is Reticent Concerning
Plans. ..AlsN.
sy GEORGE Il. MANNING.

washington July 19.-Postmastcr
BENJAMIN s. Hancock. at Pensacola
and Postmaster Lee MacFarland. at
Quincy, Florida, might as wen resign
because President Wilson does not I'M
tend to reappoint them for another
term, IL Is learned upon unquesion-
able authority.
The postoffice department would. In
fact really be glad IL these two post
masters would forward their resisna-
TINS and make IL unnecessary To re-
xnove them or request their resifyna-
| tions, 1t is learned at the povtofftce
department.
Both postmasters were recommend
ed for reappointment by former Con-
gressman Walter Kehoe, of the Pen
sacola district before his term ex-
pired on March 4th, and the president
sent their nominations to the senate
| in February, shortly before leaving ON
| his last trip to Paris.
Congressman Smithwick, who sue
| ceeded Kehoe, has declined to support
either postmaster for reappointmen'.
It is unlikely that on their service
record made up recently by postoff'ce
inspectors and now in the hands OF
the department officials here. that
they will be reappointed unless the
congressman for their district gives
them a strong endorsement. This.
Smithwick is very unlikely to do.
In addition to the ten Florida post
masters nominated Thursday. the
president today nominated the follow
ing postmasters to serve another four
year term:
John NJ Kelly, Boca Grande; Thos.
f. Blackburn, Bowling Green; James
IF McKinsley, Gainesville; Milton Il,
Bell, Inverness; James l.. Stokes, NJ
canopy; Laura knight, Millville: Will
| liam c. McLeans, John w. Jackson.
, Palmetto; John r. Thompson. Saint
, Andrews, Orlando e. Hannah. Ta-
wares.
The postoffices at Fort Dade, Moore
Haven, Ormond and Branford have
been advanced to the presidential
: class and postmasters nominated as
| follows:
Leonora X. Gilbride. Fort Dade;
r Rina Daniel, Moore Haven; Caroline
/ ID. SimralL Ormond. and Capers
= Weathersbee. Jr., at Branford.
r Mr.. Hancock Makes Statement.
When the foregoing Washington
: dispatch to the Journal was called To
t the attention of Mr.. Hancock last
h night and he was asked IL he cared TO
0 comment upon 1t, he said:
''Tf this is a reflection of desire on
[ part of Mr.. Smithwick to make rle
s show my hand. / want to state that
d am not ready to play-What say You
: Mr.. MacFarland?
a 81 hiLve had his advanced informa-
tion for some time. AS / never con-
sidered Mr.. Smithwick the proper mar
to represent this district in congress
have neither quarter nor favor tc
ask of him.
There has been no inspection so fai
: as the Pensacola postoffice is con
h cerned. since I was recommended b,
1t the postmaster general and the presi
# dent of the United States in Februar,
: for reappointment, and it strikes M
e that so far my record is concerned
Z IL it was good enough at that time i
e surely must be now.
o The communication, on the face o
a it, is visibly farcical in that IL is no
believed the postoffice department Il
giving out political interview matte
for the benefit even of Mr.. Smithwick
TOO. ii is known that such pro
ceedure is far out OF line with tn
:. usual policy of the postoffice depart
y ment. When a postmaster resigna
tion is actually wanted. no hesitanc.
q usually is taken in asking for 1t.
,r "As / said before. since the election
" of Mr. Smithwick have realized tina
II would not be reappointed. as h
v stated to me on one occasion that i
N one minute after he got in / woul
= be out. When the postoffice depart
,e ment asks for my resignation, whic
"a will be on his recommendation. IL III
be forthcoming"