Arizona republican., 1908-02-11
PHoENIx AR1z. FEBRUARY II. 1908
THE PRESIDENTS STATEMENT.

THE PRESIDENTS STATEMENT
 President Roosevelt's denial of the charge that the administration has been employing federal patron- age for politica! purposes, emphatic as il was and bristling with such char acteristic epithets as false and malic- ious," will hardly be convincing any where in this broad land seething ev- erywhere with the activity of office holders. The charge originally made related to appointments in Ohio. Sen ators from other states thereupon complained of similar appointments within their jurisdiction. In none of these charges we believe was there any reference to appointments in the south ern states where the president more vehemently defends his appointments.
 We have on one side the observa- tions of the senators and others, and on the other the flat denial of the pres ident that he has improperly used of ficial patronage. His statement con- AdliiS llu DEOOA-lOlllAlAS Dul HIS HUI or less hackneyed asseveration of his purpose 10 employ in the public service men of the highest standard of char acter and capacity" People living within the various communities. where such appointments have been made will best know whether the president hoe l,fc ,,r,r1Noca
 It is however a matter of common knowledge that never before on the eve of a national convention has there been such unrestrained activity on the part of federal officials. It is known that it has been encouraged and even ordered by the heads of depart ments. It is well known that post masters and other government ap- pointees in the eastern states have been summoned to Washington for consultation regarding political condi- there is one recorded instance of a Massachusetts postmaster who on re- turning from the national capital, in a fit of disguest, resigned from the state committee that he might be har- ried no more by the administration politicians.
 In his statement the president rather betrays his own absorbing interest, in his allusion to "bolting conventions" of republicans in the southern states, having reference no doubt to the Flor ida conventions last week. The bolt ers"are denounced by the president as are those who the president believes inspired them to set themselves up in opposition to the imperial will.
 On what ground the president re- sents the name Of the "officeholders' convention" as applied to one of the Florida conventions he does not inform us in his statement; neither does he of fer a reason for calling the other a bolters' convention. The designation, ''officeholders' convention was given the one by the Associated Press and other news agencies. The delegates at large selected by that convention con- sisted Gf three federal officeholders and the national committeeman. The dispatches furthermore intimated that the "bolters" convention had an ap- pearance of regularity, though not sanctioned by the federal machine.
 It is easily thinkable that the par tisanship Of the president should com municate itself to his appointees and that only susceptible appointees should be named by him.
 In the controversy between the pres ident and the senators, leaving out en- tirely proven facts. all the circum- stances favor the charges Of the sena- tors.