Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-20

fere with their distribution of the patron
age. They have not wanted any more re-
publicans Although the party is very
small. 1t is altogether too large. There are
not enough offices to go around, and the
lack of them has caused factional strife
and rivalries between aspirants. That Is
the reason why the republican party in
Alabama-and the same is true in other
southern states-has been growing smaller
and smaller evenG yeF. Men of character
and influence WHO believe in republican
principles have been kept out and even
driven out of the organization.
The present referees in Alabama. upon
whom President Roosevelt depends for ad-
vice in matters of patronage, are said to be
honorable men, but they have reduced the
voting strength of the party to 1900 at
the recent election in November. The
chairman of the board, who is also CHAIR
man of the republican state committee, is
{. o. Thompson of Tuskegee, whose
brother was recently the democratic MEM
Der of Congress from that district. Another
brother has been leader in the populist
party. Mr.. Thompson is a man of good
standing and of good family, but Is no
more competent to judge of the quailhca-
lions of candidates for office than any one
of the 1900 republicans who voted for
Roosevelt at the last election. He as
signed himself to the most important office
in the state, that of collector of internal
revenue, and has thirty-five puties travel
ing through Alabama at the expense of the
government and drawing government sal
aries, keeping up the organization he has
formed.
His associate is real estate dealer Of
Montgomery, Charles H. Scott-also very
agreeable gentleman, but no more dlsln-
terested and no better qualified than Mr..
Thompson
The third referee, who is not working
in harmony with his colleagues and Is
causing them great deal of trouble, is
Mr.. A1drich of Montevallo, the only re-
publican representative from Alabama IN
he House of Representatives for several
years. Mr. Aldrich is a man of character
wealth, ability and mquestioned integrity.
He owns large coal deposits and Is inter-
ested in various commercial and industrial
enterprises. Everybody agrees that by rea-
son of his disinterestedness he is qualified
to advise the President concerning appoint.
ments, and everybody outside of their or
ganization agrees that the other two men
are not
Some Illustrations.
This may be demonstrated by few illus
trations. Upon the recommendation of Mr.
Thompson and Mr.. Scott the President re-
Gently appointed as postmaster at the town
of Dotham thriving place of about 5000
people, political henchman of Thomp-
sons who lived 1913 miles away. The citi-
zens of the place were not consulted, and
very few, If any, had ever known or heard
of the appointee. He did not pretend to be-
come a citizen of Dotham, but went there
TO the ONCE, anu eSleClS " le-
turn to his former residence when his term
is out. But that is not the worst The
appontee had just been acquitted of muir
der. He shot an enemy on the street, but
escaped conviction on a plea or Self-de-
Tense, and it was not agreeable for him to
remain at his home.
The previous postmaster at Dotham,
whom he succeeded and who was also APP
pointed upon The recommendation of Mr..
Thompson and Mr.. Scott was killed by
the sheriff of the county while attempting
to escape from the consequences Of Sc
duction.
President Roosevelt was not allowed to
known any of these circumstances.
Marion, Perry county, is an educational
center, with a college and several other
schools for young women and men. 1t is
one of the most cultivated communities in
the state and does not lack material In
either party for postmaster, yet Jerry Dem
mis-, deputy in the internal revenue office
at Birmingham. was brought across the
state to fill that office because Messrs.
Thompson and Scott wanted man there
who could be depended upon to keep up the
Andalusa is the center of the turpen-
tine trade, a growing town of $500 popu-
lation, with plenty of citizens qualified to
fill the office of postmaster. Yet these ref
erees imported a man named Barnes,
against whom fraud order had only re-
Gently been issued by the Postmaster Cen
eral at Washington, and who had been
charged with using the mails for unlawful
purposes. He was also charged with as
sault upon his stepdaughter. And yet the
President appointed him. Dozens of similar
manner in which he has been deceived by
the referees in their efforts to secure an
organization that will perpetuate their
power.
The Presidents Confidence Shaken.
There is reason to believe, however, that
the Presidents confidence in Messrs.
Thompson and Scott is not so strong as
it formerly was, because Mr.. Aldrich, the
other referee, in opposition to these and
several other recommends tons, has en-
deavored to convince the President that he
is being deceived and betrayed.
The strongest sign in that direction is an
order issued by the President about a
month ago prohibiting office holders from
taking part in political affairs, and requir-
ing them to resign from state and local
committees. Twenty-eight of the thirty-hve
members of the republican state commit
tee are office holders, and about ten of
them-all poStmaSters-have already resign
ed from the committee. The other mem
berS show no signs OF doing so, and Mr..
Thompson still sticks.
One of his friends explained to me that it
is not practicable. or even possible, for him
to resign, and that the President does not
intend that he should do so. AS chairman
of the state committee he is responsible for
the we'll being of that organization, and If
he dropped out the whole thing would go to
pieces, catastrophe winch the PRESIDENT
would be the last to provoke. Therefore it
is understood that Mr.. Thompson shall con-
tinue to exercise his triplicate authority as
referee, chairman of the state committee
and collector of the internal revenue until
the next state convention, when his sue
cessor will be duly elected.
But it is quite certain that if the Presi-
dent ever learns the truth about Mr.. Thomp-
son and the mischief his policy has caused
that gentleman will be relieved of some of
his responsibilities. Such men as he have
made the republican party disreputable and
the unpopularity of the President in this
state is due almost entirely to the appoint
ments he has made upon the recommended
lions of these referees.
A Southern Mans View.
I have questioned several prominent citi-
zens on that subject. Jeff M. Falkner. gen.
eral counsel for the Louisville and Nash
Vile railroad in Alabama, said: "McKin-
ley was very popular in the SOUTH alto
gether the most popular President we have