Show 1 CONCERNING the appointment for Commissioner Com-missioner of Internal Revenue the Nation Na-tion of March 19th says Notwithstanding reports that have come from Washington implying that the contest con-test between Mr Phil Thompson of Kentucky and Mr Miller of West Virginia Vir-ginia for the appointment l of Conhnis sioner of Internal Revenue was a trial of strength between Mr Carlisle and Mr Randall or more broadly between the friends and opponents of revenue reform we can perceive no reason why it should I I bear any strange complexion or rise to the dignity of a national episode Mr Phil Thompson made himself notorious a few years ago by murdering an unarmed man in cold blood on a railroad train for alleged corruption of his wife through her unfortunate propensity for drink He had previously shot two other men in a courtroom court-room It was said and we believe truly that in this affair he was defending his father against a personal assault as-sault He was acquitted in both cases and afterward elected to Congress The I view taken by President Cleveland of his fitness for a bureau appointment would naturally be different from that taken I by a Kentucky jury or a constituency among whom the carrying of deadly weapons in courtrooms or on railway trains is considered consistent with high civilization It is altogether fitting that Mr Thompsons civic honors should he 1 left wholly to the determination of his friends and neighbors and it is not necessary neces-sary to import into President Clevelands decision of the contest between him and his competitor any deeplaid scheme to decide weighty questions affecting the public revenue or the next Speakership contest There are plenty of Democrats to hold all the offices who have never shot anybody on sight and probably Kentucky Ken-tucky can furnish her quota without encroaching en-croaching upon the ranks of those who have been tried at one time or another I for homicide |