Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-02-11
Ohio Senator Replies to Presidents s
Public Statement.
ATHENS POSTMASTER IS CITED
Opposition TO Taft f. Declared {,
Have Been Cause of Holding
Up His Appoint
ment.

respondence with William Dudley Foulke,
proceeded to explain his own attitude to-
ward the federal patronage in Ohio.
Mr.. Foraker opened his remarks by say
ing that on January IA. 1908, the senate in
executive session at the instance Of the
two senators from Ohio refused to con-
firm certain postoffice appointments which
had been made by the president.
Urged by our friends OF the press as to
the reasons why we had taken such ac-
tlon." said Mr.. Foraker II made a state
ment in about these words: That the ac-
tion taken meant that there would not be
in Ohio any further prostitution of patron
age for political purposes without being
resented "
That. the senator said, seemed to be
enough, and it was announced that the
| president would make a full and detailed
| answer to all the charges of the kind. Mr..
| Foraker referred to the presidents state
ment published in this mornings papers,
and said he did not propose to go into de-
| tails in his reply 60 that statement, pe-
| cause the appointment Of a postmaster
outside the community Of that In which he
lived is not of interest to the public. He
read part of the presidents statement in
which the latter declared that no presl-
Dental candidate had been favored in any
appointments.
These general propositions are impor-
tant," said Mr. Foraker, referring to the
presidents words. while the people of
| the country are not interested in specific
details OF appointments, they are inter
csted Ia the general propositions enunci-
ated by the president they are interested In
knowing that the appointments are made
with an eye single to the good of the pub
lie service. The president by his state
| ment recognizes the Importance of observ-
| ing these.
1T is difficult to prove cases Of this
character said Mr.. Foraker, because
ordinarily there is no evidence reduced to
writing bearing on them.
BrysOn's Case mt Athens.
But, fortunately" he added. 1--WE have
one case in Ohio where there is written
testimony. do not charge anybody with
bad faith. 1 supposed all the while that
the president was acting upon recommended
| tions made to him without knowledge of
the basis of fact upon which these recon-
| mendations rested" He referred to the
recent appointment of Charles H. Bryson
as postmaster at Athens o., who, he said,
was appointed without his solicitation
upon recommendation of Representative
Alfred Douglass. He then read from a
local paper an interview with Mr. Bryson
in which he stated Taft had lost his fol-
lowing in Ohio and Foraker had greatly
grown in strength.
At the conclusion of the reading Of the
interview Mr. Foraker observed that there
was nothing in It hostile to Secretary Taft
but that It expressed honest difference
of opinion on a subject entirely within his
rights of Individual opinion.
Mr.. Bryson returned to Athens. said Mr.
Foraker, entirely unconscious that he had
made any trouble until few days later
when he received letter from Representa-
tive Douglass telling of talk he had with
Postmaster General Meyer on the subject
of the appointment. According to this let
ter, Douglass had been sent for to be told
that the president had decided not to APP
point Mr. Bryson after ALL Representative
Douglass said 'that the postmaster general
was nice about It, but determined and evil
IDENTIFY was carrying out the presidents
orders"
From the Postoffice department Mr..
Douglass went to the White House, where
he took up the matter with Mr. Loeb, the
presidents secretary, who said the presi-
dent could see no reason for appointing
men to office who were not in harmony
with his policies
Mr.. Loeb, according to Mr.. Douglass
letter, said the president was determined
that Mr.. Douglass should recommend an
other appointment.
Mr.. Foraker said Mr.. Douglass had told
Mr.. Bryson that It would be advisable
for him to come to Washington and take
the matter up himself. After receiving
reply, dated December 9, in which Mr.
Bryson said he would be in Washington
within day or so, Mr. Douglass saw the
president. The story Of the conference at
which Mr.. Douglass Immediately sent to
the White House was told I'm a letter
Mr.. Bryson. saying:
President Wanted Change.
"The president bluntly told me that l
would have to recommend another man"
Mr., Douglass said that he urged the presi-
dent to reconsider. but that he was in
sistent.
Mr. Foraker said he did not want to
comment upon the correspondence beyond
showing the pressure that had been
brought to bear on one man who had ex-
pressed his personal view on a matter OF
which he had a right to express them, ito
coerce" as the president has said in his
letter.
Mr.. Bryson then sent a letter to Mr. |
Douglass said Mr.. Foraker, in which ne
gave him view of the situation. He said |
that in his interview he had said that Taft |
was losing and Foraker gaining In Ohio, |
and that Taft, II nominated, could not
carry the state. Mr.. Bryson reiterated |
this and declared that 1t was true. He
said that he had always been in favor OF
the presidents policies and that nothing
had ever appeared in his paper in opposi- !
tion to the administration. He reviewed |
some OF the things he had printed how |
ever. including the statement that the |
president would be compelled to take an |
other nomination, because with Taft as a |
candidate the labor. capital and the negro |
vote will be eliminated from the party. /
He asserted that the presidents statement |
OF his Bryson's) activities. as reported to |
Mr.. Douglass, was entirely wrong, and in |
conclusion Mr.. Bryson said: II favor the |
president, but not his candidate. and 1 |
shall not 50 long as I think Bryan can
beat him at the polls"
President Changed Mind.
The letter contained a declaration of
political Independence so far as expressing
preference for candidates is concerned, and
Mr.. Bryson announced that while he would
like TO continue In office he would not do
so by the sacrifice OF his independence ana
the president could have the office for
CONTINUED on Second Psge)