MANY SEEKING CUSTOMS POST

Chase Resignation Starts El Paso Scramble
Applicants Avoid Approval of Albert B. Fall
Townsmen Emphasize Need for Diplomat

BY NORMAN WALKER
[EXCLUSIVE DISPATCH]

EL PASO (Tex.) April 8.— There is an Indian legend that says that wherever the princess of plenty touched the earth, the trailing arbutus grew.

That seems to have been what happened in the Southwest with Albert Bacon Fall playing the leading role of the princess. Wherever his political footprints were left, trouble, like the trailing arbutus, has sprung up.

Just now, his son-in-law, C. C. Chase, is back from Washington a little dazed by what happened to him and the rapidity with which it happened; having nothing to explain and spending much of his time explaining it. Chase was the collector of customs here, carrying out a most remarkable alliterative use of the upper case C. He went to Washington at the invitation of Mr. Walsh's investigation party and resigned before he took the stand.

Now there is a mad scramble to get his job. Much as the self-seekers covet his place, none dares appeal to Fall for support, for to have Fall's name attached to any document these days is the same as a political death warrant. Fall's friends have issued a statement to the general effect that Chase was not appointed by Fall, at Fall's request or through his influence; that his original application was unknown to Fall and that Chase obtained the appointment by his own efforts. All of which the political wise men take with broken doses of the stuff they tan deer hides with.

LONG FOUGHT FOR

The Collectorship of the Port of El Paso has long been a political plum for the politicians of El Paso and New Mexico to fight for. There is a little strip of border west of El Paso which is in New Mexico and also in the El Paso's collector's district. Because of this strip, New Mexico claims the collectorship. El Paso Republicans insist that it belongs to them. In times past the collector was appointed from El Paso when a Democratic President was in office and from New Mexico when the Republicans were in the saddle. President Roosevelt appointed the immortal Pat Garrett, killer of Billy The Kid, to the office and Pat put Roosevelt in a hole by appearing at a luncheon for the Rough Rider President at San Antonio with a celebrated local saloon keeper as his chaperon, and wearing a full dress suit in the middle of the day. For this latter breach of social etiquette he was removed, according to the old-timers here.

New Mexico is advancing the cause of Thomas Gable, late of Colfax county, New Mexico, and now of El Paso. He claims the support of Senator Brusum of New Mexico. His chances are considered excellent. Opposed to him is Walter Case of Indiana, where every man is either a politician or a Chinaman. Case has the indorsement of the local organization of the G.O.P., including James G. McNary, who is a legal resident of High Rolls, N. M. The third candidate is Hallett Raynolds, late of Las Vegas, N. M., but now a resident of El Paso. He has a large following in New Mexico despite his Harvard training, and as the son of the late Jefferson Raynolds and the nephew of Jonathan Raynolds, who owns the Albuquerque Journal, he has some good, negotiable backing plus a knowledge of Spanish.

As between El Paso and Texas Republicans and Texas Republicans, local political soothsayers predict New Mexico will get the call.

In the meantime W. W. Carpenter,¹ former professional ball player with the old Cincinnati Red Sox and the man who attends to the routine business of the port anyway, is acting collector on a deputy collector's salary. He knows as much about the duties of the collectorship as he did about playing third base with the old Reds. But he has been so busy attending to business he has never had time to build any political wickiups. For that reason he will continue as acting collector on his deputy collector's salary until the fuss over C. C. Chase's successor is settled. Carpenter's friends have started a movement to have him appointed but he is not active in it.

The local collector of customs is an important diplomatic post on the Mexican border. Much of the travel is through the port and Ambassador Warren's work of establishing a feeling of good will in Mexico can be furthered by the appointment here of a collector who understands Mexico and Mexicans and who can see that the Mexican travelers, especially government officials, are courteously treated at this port. Former Collector Zach L. Cobb did this to the everlasting friendship of the Mexican people. With the early bridge closing in effect here now, such a diplomat would be invaluable and local business men are urging the appointment of such a man regardless of his political influence.

Los Angeles Times 9 Apr 1924 page 7