Early TLS signed “Wm. H. Taft,” three pages, 8 x 10, Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor General letterhead, February 2, 1892. Letter to Howard Hollister, regarding efforts to replace a political rival in Cincinnati. In part: "Markbreit finally showed his colors by stating that he could having nothing to do with any movement looking to the removal of Zumstein…[Senator John] Sherman said that if he were President he would remove Zumstein before the night, and put you in. He said, however, that he had talked with the President, and that the President felt a hesitancy about removing Zumstein unless some official delinquency could be shown upon which the removal could be based. We all agreed that this would be a very weak policy. Foster said that he thought the removal ought to be made on the ground that Zumstein had permitted Cox to control his appointments. So did Sherman… Markbreit… suggested to Sherman the day before, that Zumstien might be notified that if he did not act faithfully to the administration, and oppose himself to the Cox gang, he would be removed. I said that if that was all they proposed to do, they might as well do nothing, for it could be absolutely useless… Foster is going to the President to advise him to take the actions Sherman suggested. Storer, as I have said, was not at the meeting yesterday afternoon, because he said he would have to be present at the House of Representatives… The Senate is very slow in disposing of Judge Woods nomination, and that blocks the confirmation of all the rest of us… Nellie is very anxious to live in that part of the city, near her mother." Taft makes two handwritten corrections to the text. In fine condition, with a light stain to the lower right corner of the last page.
When he wrote this letter Taft was US Solicitor General and had been appointed (but not confirmed) as a Judge to the US Court of Appeals. John Zumstein was the Postmaster of Cincinnati. Markbreit was a Cincinnati politician and one-time law partner of Rutherford B. Hayes. He had also served on the staff of Ohio Governor Jacob D. Cox, a Civil War General and the “Cox” referenced in the letter. Cox was no longer governor, but still held considerable political power. He apparently held sway over Zumstein and his local postal appointments, which were given to persons not favored by Taft, Sherman, and others. President Benjamin Harrison was reluctant to remove Zumstein without cause. The letter indicates that US Secretary of the Treasury Charles Foster was going to make another pitch to President Harrison along the same lines of Sherman (i.e., removal). In the end, Zumstein was not removed.
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