The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-11
PROVES A CASE
ON ROOSEVELT
Foraker Replies to Presidents
Statement Concerning Re-
cent Federal Appointments.
AN OHIO MAN THE VICTIM
LOST PLACE BECAUSE HE WAS
AGAINST TAFT.

Washington, Feb. Ex-senator For
aker today made reply to the presi-
dents statement published this morn
ing concerning charges that public
patronage has been used by him (the
presidenO for political purposes. He
took the floor in the senate on a ques-
ton Of personal privilege and reading
at length from the presidents CORE
spondence with William Dudley
Foulke. proceeded to. explain his own
attitude toward the federal patronage
in Ohio.
Mr.. Foraker opened his remarks by
saying that on Jan. IA, 1908, the senate
in executive session, at the instance Of
two senator's from Ohio, refused to
confirm certain postoffice appoint
ments which had been made by the
president.
Reason for Senate's Action.
Urged by our friends of the press as
10 the reasons why we had taken such
action" said Mr.. Foraker. Il made a
statement in about these words: That
the action taken meant that there
would not be in Ohio any further pros
titution of patronage for political pur-
poses without being resented
That, the senator said. seemed to be
enough, and il was announced that the
president would make full and detailed
answer TO all the charges of that kind.
Mr. Foraker referred to the president S
statement published i'm this morning s
papers, and said he did not propose to
go into details in his reply to that
statement. because the appointment of
a postmaster outside the community in
which he lived is not Of interest to the
4 l.
dents statement in which the latter
declared that no presidential candidate
had been favored i'm any appointments.
o.. Where Interest Is Taken.
These general propositions are i'm
portant," said Mr.. Foraker, referring
TO the presidents words. while the
people of the country are not interest
ed i'm specific details of appointments,
they are interested in the general
propositions enuneiated by the presi-
dent: they are interested in knowing
that the appointments are made with
an eye single to the good of the public
service. The president by his state
ment recognizes the Importance of o.
Herving these propositions.
1T is difficult to prove cases of this
character" said Mr.. Foraker, because
ordinarily there is no evidence reduced
TO writing bearing on them.
Testimony in One Ohio Case.
But. fortunately" he added. I'VE
have one case in Ohio where there is
written testimony. 1 don't charge
anybody with bad faith. | supposed all
the while that the president was act
ing upon recommendations made to
him without knowledge of the basis of
fact upon which these recommended
tions rested"
He referred to the recent appoint
ment of Charles H. Bryson as post
master at Athens, O., who, he said, was
appointed without his solicitation upon
recommendation of Representative Al
fred Douglass. He then read from a
local paper an interview with Mr..
Bryson in which he stated Taft had
lost his following in Ohio and Foraker
had greatly grown in strength.
Bryson Lost the Job.
At the conclusion of the reading Of
the interview, Mr. Foraker observed
that there was nothing in it hostile to
Secretary Taft, but that il expressed
an honest difference of opinion on a
subject entirely within his rights of
individual opinion. Mr. Bryson re-
turned to Athens. said Mr.. Foraker.
entirely unconscious that he had made
any trouble, until rev days later,
when he received a letter from Repre-
sentative Douglass telling him of a
talk he had with Postmaster General
Meyer on the subject of the appoint
ment According to this letter, Mr..
Douglass had been sent for to be told
that the president had decided not to
appoint Mr.. Bryson, after all Repre-
sentative Douglass said that the post
master general was nice about it, but
determined, and evidently was carry
ing out the presidents orders.
What Roosevelt Said.
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 president could see no reason
for appointing men TO office who We're
not in harmony with his policies.