The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-07-04


nently. FoFtWhately, my. colleague :
was ffiendlNtO me, ana while Jim
Robinson MAS not his choice for the
place. the was willing to concede. to
me the selection Of the marshal. I
earned through him that the Presi-
dent was, willing to name any man
he might desire for the place. I
started In to ind out what was the.
matter and Learned" that my opposi-
ton to presidential policies was not
lrelished at the White House, and my
chances at the 'pieycounter, had been
greatly diminished. still &feH indie
pendent and believed 7 .cogldy make
the martyr play By sayiRg that / was
not popular at the White House be.
cause l differed with the admipistra-
ktion., Jim Robinson came to Wash
ington about that time to see what
was going on with the appointment,
and explained: z%s. r -. .
.'".tJim.'' said /, II am not. in favor
at the White House and that ex-
plains why J. cannot get the appoint y
ment for. you r. e....
"'Why are you not in favor~at the
White >House?' Jim asked.
-" Because I opposed the confirm
alton of a man the president sent
to the senate Eeplied. Il .~>-'-
i Why did You oppose the con-
flrmation?b'p persisted Jim. 49,,
4" 'BecauseE:I had conscientious
scurples against confirming pan of
his character was my answer. 80,
| But Jim did not seem to appre-
ofatee my noble stand. He looked
fme over with "a: sheer On his face and
ripped, ,out:+ :Conscientious? scruples,
hi! I had conscien tiouay scrupIes
against supporting YOU, forq senator,
but managed sto overcome them
Then he walked away and did
some rapid thinking. jim was a
power In his section OF the state II
he turned against me it WORLD be
very serious. For the next few
weeks I devoted myself to defending
presidential policies and supporting
presidential nominations. L was
mighty good administration senator.
My colleague did not push any other
man for marshal, and one day I was
gratified by seeing Jim Rob4nson's
name on the lise, Of nominations sent
to the senate. lost no time In wir-
| Ing him that>I had landed the place
| for him. ~ 49, ,'s',.~ -.
"Since that experience with Jim
Robinson 7 have not found it neces-
fsary to fight the administration on
matters that do not personally con-
Germ me, and have also round that
| 1t Is better to adjust matters with
the administration in power.E This
| happened long ago. I will not say
who was president at that time, but
have noticed all through the years
that have been here senator can
stand better at home 1T he wilt make
l bis a:cqnscaentious scruples' conform
to administration view .....,
! ! There Is quite political lesson In
| this. Men who do not get into line
with the president have pretty hard
fight on their hands. "Put me- down
as a Roosevelt man" declared Sen
ator Elkins about a year ago just as
he was entering the campaign for
reelection to the senate. Il am a.
Roosevelt man through and through
| And this word was passed? all around
| West Virginia. Roosevelt may not
nave believed 1t; West Virginia or
4 a portion of the state may not have
4 believed 1T, but there it was, g. plain
statement from the senator, and in
7 the face Of such declaration those
who wanted to- oppose him could
not make Roadway by saying he, was
against the administration. Besides.
there were no administration ennis
sartes at work In the state spreading
the information that Elkins was in
tmtcal to the president. E1kins pull
ed through all. right. When the
election came there was no opposi-
| ton to him.
Two years from now when Sena-
tor Scott is making his campaign for
reelection in earnest 1t is not SUBJ
posed that Roosevelt will be presi-
dent do not think that even If
Roosevelt were president he would
| oppose. Scott. While he has not
given West Virginia very much in
the way Of federal patronages and
| there is no denying the fast that he
does not regard the West Virginia
senators in the same light as he does
many others who are Garnet upportc
ers OF all his politics, yet he Is on
very friendly terms with. them. He
l also likes the open, frank manner
I Of Senator Scott and knows where
to find him, whether supporting or
opposing some of his men and meas-
ures! -
I When West Virginia was torn
away from the Old Dominion asa
war measure the new state was ma
turaily republican. The 1bountain-