Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-19
CHARGE IS RESENTED
Denied That Ricketts, Has
Been Disloyal to Palmer.
WHAT HIS FRIENDS SAY
MOVEMENT IN HIS BEHALF FOB
PUBLIC PRINTER.
It is Declared That It Was Not Started
Until It Was Known That a
Change Would Be Made.
WHAT HIS FRIENDS SAY

Among the few senators and representa-
tives who drift into the city In the torrid
season there has been developed consider
able interest in the investigation that has
been carried on by the Keep commission in
the government printing Office. The gen.
eral subject of the investigation interests
them. but many of them have indicated
special interest In that line of the testimony
introduced by Gen. Kitchener which tended
to place the foreman of the big printery.
Mr.. Oscar j. Ricketts,, In the position of
seeking to replace his long time .~lend, Mr..
Palmer, public printer.
Men who have taken an interest In
seeing Mr.. Ricketts, made public printer re-
sent these statements and say that when
the facts of the case are made known there
will be no ground on which such a charge
can be maintained against him.
First Mention of Ricketts, Name.
1t is stated that Mr.. Ricketts, name was
never used in connection with the office Of
public printer until 1t had been definitely
ascertained from the White House that the
President did not intend to reappeint Mr..
Palmer. and that he would make change
In that office Even then, 1t is said, Mr..
ricketts, name was not used at his own
instigation. but a result of movement
that was started in his behalf in the Illinois
delegation.
Definitely the circumstances that led to
the use. of MIR. Ricketts, name are stated
about this way: 1t seems that certain SEN
ators were asked by the public printer to
ascertain from the White House what his
INT. Palmers) standing with the President
was, 1t having been rumored that there was
an intention the part of the President
not to reappoint Mr.. Palmer as public print
err One of the senators undertook to
OBTAIN this information for the public
printer and was forced to state to Mr.. Pal
mer that the President did not propose to
reappoint him. but that he would select
some young man TO perform the duties Of
public printer.
Mr.. Ricketts, Protests.
1t was after that that Mr.. Ricketts, vas
told by some of his Illinois friends that his
name was being used for the office Of public
printer He protested. saying that he did
moi wish TO become a candidate for the
once as long as IT was filled by his friend
Mr. Palmer or as long as Mr. Palmer had
any chance OF reappointment. He said that
no other course could be adopted by him
and that he preferred to stand aside. He
even urged some Of his friends to apprise
Mr. Palmer of the situation and said that
as long as there was any chance for Mr.
Paimers retention as public printer his
support would be for him
1t is stated that Mr. Ricketts, was told by
some of the most influential men In Con-
gress that 1t was no act Of disleyaity under
the circumstances for him to permit his
name TO be used for the office Of public
printer and that they desired to give him
their support for the place. Since then,
and after 1t became known that the Illinois
delegation and others in Congress were In
favor of Mr.. Ricketts, for the office there
have been many others. both in the Senate
and in the House. who added their recon-
mendations of Mr.. Ricketts, for the place.
Working Against Ricketts,.
But now it is claimed there are efforts
being made on the part of some people to
sidetrack the exertions of these men in
Congress In favor of Mr.. Ricketts, by an at
tempt to place him in the position OF dis
loyal assistant who. while accepting favors
from the public printer. has been con-
spring to displace him. That statement of
the case has been promoted by the testi-
mony given by Gen. Kitchener of counsel
for the Lanston Machine Co.
There are several men of the Illinois
delegation. together with others In the
House and Senate, who propose TO see that
the facts OF the Ricketts, candidacy are
placed before the President before this
present controversy Is over. They declare
that whatever action the President takes
they propose TO see that he knows just
how 1t came about that the name Of
Ricketts, was used and that If they cannot
secure his selection for public printer they
declare that they will that he Is not
blamed for the action they initiated under
circumstances which they felt sure did not
involve any improperly on the part OF Mr..
Ricketts,.