The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-17
PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS.
Mr. Roosevelt Must BE Guided by Ma
jOrity Element.
Washington Post.

Washington Post.
The appointment of William M. Byrne to
the United States district attorneyship in
Delaware confirms to the letter what the
Post said nearly a year ago, when the
question of the distribution of patronage in
the little State was causing in many of
our contemporaries an acute disturbance
of the reasoning faculties. We pointed
out then-and we beg to revive the men,
Dry of our prophetic words now-that Pres
ident Roosevelt had no idea of espousing
anybody's factional Quarrels or even of di-
viding his favors between factions on a
percentage basis, but wishes to do business
with the party organization in each State
through it's recognized and accredited lead
ers. If a majority Of the local organiza-
ton anywhere wishes one spokesman and
a minority another, he applies the demo-
cratic rule that the will of the majority
must preavil. The only hope of the minor
ity, then. is to put in its best ticks till it
make itself the majority. Then he will
do business with it. and the other fellows
will have to cool their heels outside in their
turn.
Our readers may recall the fact that the
Post, at the time it made these remarks
apropos of some anti-Addicks appointments
in Delaware, proved its confidence in it's
position by interpreting those appointments
as an indication merely that Mr.. Roosevelt
be a majority of the party in Delaware.
and by venturing the prediction that when
Mr.. Addicks had satisfied the President
that he was actually the head of his party
Ill tDdI q lC No0lu NC 1dll0d iElO 1OI-
sultation on local federal appointments.
The sequel proves that we were right. The
count of votes on the last election day has
been analysed for the Presidents benefit,
so as to make out that Addicks controlled
several thousand more votes than the men
who resent his domination. What followed
was precisely what the Post said would
follow.
However we'll or i'll it may suit anybody,
there is logic behind the Presidents posi-
ton in this matter. No President, though
hA ha1 nc vfnnGfxv a lnanrnn ft1 49,
ratus as a centipede, could hope to get
about into all parts of the country and see
for himself the situation there. He can
discuss such matters here only with those
persons who come, and as the White House
doors stand ajar to all visitors on proper
errands, the number who come is gagged
rather by their ability to pay for transpor-
tation than by their representative charac-
ter or their ability TO advise wisely. So
he says. in effect. to the party organization
in all the States: Designate somebody to
act as your mouthpiece, and / will treat
him as yoicing your best Judgment"
The President of the United States does
not make and unmake local party leaders.
Now and then some occupant of the chief
executives office has attempted to do this.
but the effort has always ended dismally.
Mr.. RoOsevelts relations with q number
of the big men of his party in the States.
notably with certain senators whose names
will occur to every mind, were far from
intimate and cordial in the old days when
he was swinging the battleax of reform as
a civil-service commissioner, OF, later. when
he sat at the head OF the police table in
New York city. But his arrival at the
governorship and the presidency marked
the beginning of a new era in his dealings
with these men. Whether he likes them
any better now than then is a separate
question. For the present he recognizes
them as the accepted leaders of their party.
bearing OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES credentials.
When the party gets tired of them IL is at
liberty 10 send other men TO him: but tin
new men come he will treat with the en-
VOWS who are here.