The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-09-12
MULTIPLICITY OF PRINCIPLES.

MULTIPLICITY OF PRINCIPLES.
Postmaster General Payne dismisses Miss Todd,
n Delaware PostmistrcsS. because, as he expressly
admits. she is particularly and personally obnoX-
ious to Senator Alice" Her custer is based upon Il
contract for the division of Della ware patronage ne.
tween the United States Senators. I'll" contract WIS
drawn up in writing. or. rather. Il stcnographic r"r-
ord WIS taken Of the verbal conversation which
constituted the contract. The document WIS not
signed, but it WAS mutually agreed between th"
Senators that it should constitute the articles az
agreement by which all questions of Iatronag"
should he settled between them. And Mr.. Iions"-
welt. il i stated. was Il sort OF silent party 10 uic
instrument. agreeing that all differences relating Il"
patronage should he settled with reference thereto.
or course. Mr.. Iaync's action in dismi>sin. the
lady must he taken as The action pf Mr.. Roosevelt.
Mr.. i'ayne represents him in the matter. 1t could
only he through Mr.. Roosevelt rnat Senator Alice
could obtain the qualification Of his p~rejudire at Mr.
Iaync's hands; and it could only he because Of Mr..
Itooscvelt's recognition of .Addicks that Alice finds
power. II is as If Mr.. Roosevelt said to NJ. Ad-
dicks: Send your man Friday 10 my man Friday
and your mans request shall be granted" In re
turn for his courtcsies to Slr. AddicE> Mr.. Roosevelt
is to receive something a virtual delivery of DrIa
wares political strength: and Mr.. Roosevelt is fair
ly appraised Of the manner in which Addicks dcliv-
es the goods.
Thus Miss Todd finds herself ousted. Is there 4
principle responsible for her oustinG. and. if So.
what is it:
Certainly. 1t is not the principle which was fol
lowed in the Charleston case. Doctor Crum's APP
%pointment was upon the door OF hcpe' principle.
not upon the rule that local recommendations or the
communications Of Representatives or Senators
shall determine appointments. Doctor Crum WAS not
given his post because of the particular and per
sonal' attitude of any member of Congress.
Nor is the principle governing Miss TOdds r"-
moval the same which determined the disposition of
the IndianOla Office. Mrs. Minnie Cox was not IN
stalled through Difference TO local sentiment or the
particular and persona! prejudice or preference -
anybody. but was thrust upon the people of Missis-
sippi over their own and their representatives pro
tests.
Nor is Miss Todd'S case analogous to that of he
negro. A. 5. Day, who was ousted from the Quon-
docqHia, Md. Post Office. Day was recommended
for the place by the Congressman from his district.
Day was not particularly and personally obnoX-
ious' 10 anybody. but he was Il negro and the color
line is sharply drawn in Maryland. which is Il close
State politically. and contains thousands Of RrIUb
lican voters who would he offended. equally with
Democrats. by the appointment of a negro PostmaS-
ter. The Congressman was asked TO withdraw The
recommendation.
g Mr.. Roosevelt appears 10 have several convenient
principles. In one ease the door of hope comes in
landily; in another case the door of hope" re-cn-
forced 10y the proposition that the Federal Govern
nent is supreme and will not listen 10 impud"n.c
from an aggrieved community; in another case the
door of hope proposition doesn't fit, because il
would cost a number of votes in Il close State. anI
the principle Of catering to the majority is suIsl:-
tuted.
In Miss TOdd's ease il is difficult to discover any
principle save that of self-intcrest or political self
seeking. Her removal looks To be the arbitrary act
of machine politicians. 1t is true that Mr.. R0osr-
welt several months ago announced II principle with
which he may defend his action in her casc-that he
could not undertake TO decide between factions; that
factions must settle their own differences. Mr..
Roosevelt announced this Ivy way of defense to crit
icism which he incurred in deferrinG to .Addicks in
the appointment of Byrnes. Addickss tool. TO the
Office of United States District attorney. He had
previously announced that there should he no rom
promise with the corrupt element in politics. Miss
case further illustrates the Roosevelt casu-