The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-12-16
President and Senators Don't
"Hit It Off" Well
PATRONAGE THE BONE
Appointment Methods Of Mckinley
and Roosevelt Compared.
OPEN RUPTURE NOT PROBABLE
Republican Senator's VIII Probably
Learn That ROOsevelt's PO-
sItiOn La Correct.

From The Journal Bssrsos. Room A5, Post
Building WGsht7l0ton.
Washington, Dec. 16.-There Is friction
between the president and certain mem
bers of the senate, growing out Of the in
dependence Of the former regarding
patronage. The friction is not acute
although 1t presents several features
which at first blush appear to make 1t SO,
but it shows such marked contrast to the
condition of perfect accord which pre-
vailed between the executive and the
confirming power under Mckinley as to
be matter of general comment.
Mckinley leaned on his personal and
political friends and few appointments.
even of a minor character, were made
without consulting them. Roosevelt leans
on DO one. He acts independently, al
though first hearing all that those who
have a right to speak care to say. The
difference between them is tempera-
mental. Roosevelt could not be Roose-
welt and follow the Mckinley appoint
ment policy. In Mckinley tact reached
the high perfection of an art. In Roose-
welt it is strained through vigorous
and impetuous personality, and while not
lost sight of, wants much of the polish
and perfection that was given it by Nc
Kinley.
On the surface it looks as If the country
is about to witness repetition Of the
conditions which prevailed during the
days of the latter Cleveland administra-
bJIt ga fiOu dnpS NOT hear ont
this surface indication.
Won't Rally Around Sore Spot.
1t is true that Senators Foster. of Wash
ington, Scott of West Virginia, Fairbanks
Of Indiana the. Addicks republicans OF
Delaware, the regular" republicans OF
Virginia, the Kerens men in Missouri
and one of the republican factions in Ken
lucky are angry. It is also true that
ings and slaughter; but their wrath will
be appeased. They will not unite in g
fight against the president. The public
never rallies around a sore spot.
Nothing in the situation bears out the
charge which has been made in many ot
the newspapers, thaS the president is bent
on overturning the SUPREMACY of Senator
Hanna. On the highest authority it may
be said that the relations between the
president and the republican national
committee are very cordial, and thai
there is nothing to indicate that they are
not to remain so. In appointment mat
ters the president is acting in straight
forward manner, taking up each case by
itself and deciding it as he thinks the
situation demands. The charge that il
| the states where friction has developed
the presidents policy has shown that he
| wants to break away from Hanna and the
national committee is without foundation
| The national organization has not beer
| thought of; as l have said, each appoint
ment has been made independently O.
every other one, and without reference
| to anything save the immediate circum
| stances surrounding it.
| There is a wide gulf between the ap.
| pointment policy of Mckinley and that o
! Roosevelt. The senate is rather slow il
| bridging it, and that explains the pres
! ent friction. Nobody has been able tt
| call into question the character of th'
Roosevelt appointments. They have beer
uniformly and admittedly of a high grade
Criticisms Edge BIunted.
! Nobody has been able to establish thai
the president, in ignoring senators anC
other prominent republicans, has beer
! following out q prearranged program,
! having the overturning of the present re-
publican organization as a necessary re-
| suit. This blunts the edge of much Of the
criticism and leaves each disappointed
| senator and office seeker to stand on his
own bottom as an individual; it removes
all thought of a Roosevelt conspiracy
and places the president on a high plane
! in the thought of the country, which
/ wants the best men for public positions
and only the best men.
If President McKinley's administration
| had a weak place it was in it's free and
! easy attitude towards federal patronage
Probably some of the Office brokers
| thought that this policy would be con-
/ tinued through all succeeding administra-
tions Their disappointment is keen, but
| 1t is not an indication of anything seri-
| Gus.
The foregoing statement has been writ
| ten after careful investigation Of the
| situation. 1t does justice to the presi-
dent and to certain gentlemen Of the
senate who are smarting under disap-
pointment. Should there be a struggle
between the executive and the confirming
power, resulting from existing grievances
and others which may come, the presi-
dent will win. 1t will not be a drawn bat
tie, as when Cleveland was in the White
House Cleveland's contested appoint
ments were of a strictly personal char
acter He wanted his particular friends
fer certain positions and in several in
stances they were not as fit for those posi-
tions as the men favored by the SEN
ators. Roosevelt is acting in an imper-
sonal and wholly disinterested way.
Should the issue be raised he will say that
he made certain appointments for the
good of the service and the country will
believe him. But the senate is too wise
to raise the issue as long as the presi-
dent maintains his present strong posi-
tion. w. w. Jermane