Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-23
At THE WHITE HOUSE
To Reorganize. Republicans
in the South.
THE PRESIDENTS IDEA
WILL MAKE NO CHANGE UNTIL
HE CUNsULTs CoRTELYoU.
MI. Roosevelt Glad of a Respite From
the Strenuous Work Since Con-
gress Convened.
THE PRESIDENTS IDEE

Northern men of republican faith who re-
side in the south writing to their FORMER
members of Congress inquiring II PRESIDENT
Roosevelt proposes reorganization ana re-
construction OF political management IN the
various states of the south. Ihey ihdica'e
their belief that the time is getting ripe for
a building up OF the party In the SOUTH ana
declare that there are many evidences that
soutbern people. especially business men,
are disposed TO break away from old poliu-
cal lines and traditions. Representative 3.
w Smith of Michigan is among the repub-
ucan members of Congress who have recelV-
ell letters of this character. Friends OF MS
who have moved to Mississippi and Ala
hama have made inquiries as to the Presl-
dents intentions. Most of these people nave
remained republicans on national questions.
hut have followed the usual methoo Oh
northern men in the south and are alnhat
ed with the democrats on state ana local
matters. The writers of the letters seem "
think that under different manasemeht tne
growth of a republican party in the south
might be greater.
President Roosevelt in talking with Rep
resentative Smith today. did not go into ms
Intentions as to southern states generally
but did say that for the present he mas no
thought of changing the men to whom ne
looks for advice in the two states named
IN MlSSlSSlppl the ITeSiutlt CihCi
has been Edgar S. Wilson, the United
States marshal for the southern district
The President has confidence In Mr.. WILSON,
In Alabama there are three referees, Sc
lected by the President a few years ago, and
these men pass upon applications for posi-
lions. They are ex-Representative Aldrich,
Mr.. Thompson. collector of internal revenue,
and Mr.. Scott, prominent business man.
These men have had charge of the dispen-
sation of Alabama patronage for some
time. and have done their work to the sat
isfaction of the President.
1t is certain that there will be revision
of the dominating influence in some of the
southern states in the course of the next
few months, but this will not be done until
the President has had time to discuss the
situation in each state with Chairman Cor
telyou of the republican national commit
tee. There Is also no doubt that the PreSi-
dent and Chairman Cortelyou thoroughly
agree that only men of the highest class
shall be named for offices in the southern
states. If such men cannot be found in re-
publican ranks there will be no hesitation
about picking them from independents or
gold democrats.
Virginia is one of the states where there
Is considerable doubt as to the policy to
be pursued by the President. The organ
ization Is IN control of Park Agnew, repub-
lican state chairman, and George Bowden
republican national committeeman For
some reason, however, they have for two
years refrained from urging their recon-
mendations at the White House and the
President has listened to the advice of l..
l.. Lewis. United States attorney for the
eastern district. Representative Slemp and
others. This, however, has not applied to
post offices. In these appointments, except
In Representative Slemp's district the rec
concentrations of the state organization
have been followed more or less regularly
at the White House and Post Office Depart
ment. The leaders of the organization
easily showed their control of affairs in
the state in the last state convention. when
Representative Slemp made a struggle to
phangp the leadership. There ha he
talk that the President would probably con-
elude to make Representative Slemp dis
penser of patronage in the state because
of his successes in coming to Congress from
"A district that the democrats have thought
they had a right to. but the President has
shown no inclination in this direction and
will probably go slow in whatever he does.
His appointment few days ago of j. Z. B.
Stuart as marshal of the eastern district
was made without consultation with the
leaders of any of the factions.
Thinks There Should Be Legislation.
II think there should be legislation CIV
ing additional power to the interstate COM
merce commission in the matter of rail-
road rates and rebates, but / doubt wheth-
er anything will be done at this session.
said Representative Thomas of Iowa at
the White House
why do / think so? Well the question
Is most important one and much time
would undoubtedly be demanded and taken
In debate and in consideration of every de-
tail of the question. We haven't sufficient
time for this, apparently. In the two
short months after Congress reassembles
the appropriation bills will require much
time and there will be a rush to get these
out of the way.
Personally. 1 am in favor of giving more
power to the Interstate commerce commits
siOn-I don't mean power to fix original
rates anything of that kind. but power
to correct abuses and discrimination such
as is charged generally exists"
Speaker Cannon spent a few minutes with
the President. 1t is said that he and the
President are in thorough accord as to an
economical session and a reduction of APP
propria tons. 1t is believed to be the atti-
tude of the Speaker that no river and har-
Dor bill shall go through at this session.
Some Cabinet "Comebacks.,
The cabinet today did little of public inter-
est. was declared. When Secretary Hitch
cock and Secretary Wilson stepped out to-
gether they stopped to talk to the news
paper men. Secretary Wilson had something
10 say complimentary to the newspaper pro-
fession. remarking about the large number
of writer's who are being given places Of
high honor.
1--WE were talking with Postmaster Gem
eral Wynne u few days ago." one of the
reporters remarked, and we asked him
how 1t felt to sit In the cabinet. He frankly
remarked that he had been In contact with
statesmen and cabinet officers somany years
as a newspaper man that he did not feel
so strangely after all"
IT'S not so much a question of how he
felt the comback OF Mr.. Wilson,
but how We felt" Whereupon ii was
agreed that the retort a quick one
Postmaster General Wynne heard of the
story and this was the way he got back:
when l was private secretary to Secretary
Foster of the Treasury he told me that
when he first came to Congress and gazed
upon the eminence and distinction all around
him he wondered how he ever got there
Three months later he wondered how the
other fellows got there
President Glad of Respite.
President Roosevelt. so far as the exigen-
cies of public business win permit will rest
thoroughly during the Christmas holidays
No engagements will be made for next
week except on matters of particular Inn