The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-13
Rebuke For Referees
 From Roosevelt.
LETTER BY THE PRESIDENT
Thompson and Scott Must
 Play Less Politics.
It is The Iatentisn of the Esxseutivs
 That the Judicial Dspartnsnt sAan Not Bs Ma1s Pic House.

Birmingham, August 12.--(special1 lin the most uneQuivolcal languAg< President Roosevelt has given his ref-. erees of Alabama patronage. J. Q. Thompson of this city and Charles H. Scott of Montgomery. to understand that they must not interfere with court ofiicers in Alabama: that their dictstfon to officials of the judicial department must cease.
 The ultimatum from the President is contained in a letter signed by Mir. Roosevelt himself and sent to the att torney general. copies of which are be- lieved to have been sent to the Federal Judge of Alabama, District Attorneys Roulhac and Reese and Marshals D. N. Cooper of Birmingham and L. !. Bryan of Montgomery.
 It Is highly probable that Messrs. Thompson and Scott have also received copies of the letter in view of Mir. Thompson's recent pronunciamento that all Federal offices in Alabama would be given to Republicans except perhaps in the judiciary"
 Jones Made Protest.
 President Roosevelt's order to the Attorney General Is believed here to have been in response to the pro- test of Judge Thomas c. Jonez of Montgomery against the remov- al of Marshal A. B. Colquitt of Montgomery by the referees to mako room for E. N. Winters, a Republican, for no other reason than that Colquitt is a Democrat. Judge Jones is report ted to have written President Roose- welt that there were no charges against Colquitt and. to have intimated to the President that the conduct of some of his friends in Alabama with reference to court offices was shameful
 At any rate the District Attorneys and Marshals in Alabama have had transmitted to them by Attorney Gen. eral Moody the following letter;
 The Presideht's Letter.
 White House.
 washington. D. C.. Aug. 9. 1904. "To the Attorney -Generals
 sT have heard rumors of efforts to have District Attorneys and Marshals in Alabama change deputies under them for political reasons. Of all of ficers of the Government those of the Department of Justice should be kept free from any suspicion of improper action on partisan or factional grounds.
 Please direct the District Attorney and the Marshals in question that they are to retain and appoint their subordi- mates. whose duties are purely non- partisan and non-political, on grounds of fitness only and without regard to other considerations.
 T am particularly anxious that the Federal Court in a State like Alabama should win regard and respect of the people by an exhibition of scrupuloue non partisanship so that there shall be |. r.<s .-f<. growth. in the knowledge that the Fed ] eral Courts and the representatives of the Federal Government of Justice in- sist on meting out even-handed justice to all.
 "No politician has a right to dictate in any manner to any of these of- ficials
 q would like copy of this letter communicated to the officers in aues- tion. Theodore Roosevelt"
 AIr. Thompson silent.
 Mir. J. O. Thompson said today that he did not care to discuss the matter. He said there was no Controversy between himself and Judge Jones. He reiterated his statement that he did not ask for the removal of MT. Col- quit, but did recommend MT. Winters for the position. Judge Jones. he said. interposed as soon as he heard that an effort was being made to put Mn Colquitt out of office.
 Mir. Thompson stated a day or two ago that hereafter only Republicans would be appointed to positions under the Republican administration. in high or low positions. except. perhaps in the judiciary"
 Deputy Marshal Colquitt has not been removed from the office of the United States Marshal in Montgomery. Knox Booth. who was slated to succeed Byron Trammel as office deputy. remains in the service of the Collector of Internal Revenue. with office in Montgomery. his salary being advanced to compensate him to remain in the old position.
 The vacancy to be filled in the office of Marshal through the appointment of Byron Trammell as postmaster at Do- than is still unsettled. Nothing is giv- en out as to this position by MT. Thompson, but 1t may or 1t may not go to MT. Winters.
 The letter written by the President would indicate that Judge Jones is sus- tained in his argument and announce ments in regard to his court attaches and there Is no doubt but that his opinions on many matters in this line will be respected.
 The War on Bryan.
 Republicans here view with soma concern reports that come from Mont gomery to the effect that the referees have set out to make trouble for Mar shal Bryan. It is an open secret that Marshal Cooper of Birmingham is not in high favor with the referees ana changes have been attempted in his office no doubt with the same design as those attempted fin Montgomery.
 It is said that if Messrs. Scott and Thompson can succeed in leading Messrs. Bryan and Cooper into one false step the referees would be in a position to nominate other friends for these good places in the event Prest- dent Roosevelt rests in the White House after next March
 Again 1t Is said here that Assistant District Attorney Standifer of this city Is to walk the plank by order of the referees to make a place for J. A. Montgomery of Birmingham.
 These are some of the listed onas's that gossip here says Judge Jonaa brought to the attention of President Roosevelt and his prompt instructions to the Aftornav GanoraI aa eat Ro~th e..