Evening star., 1908-01-15
PRESIDENT G[:TSA
JOLT IN THE SENATE
Four Ohio Postmasters Re-
jected Yesterday.
Mr.. FORAKER'S VICTORY
Senators Believe Claim as to Cause
of Nominations.
NO ADVERSE VOTE ON MOTION
Senate Resents the Alleged Use of
Patronage to Hurt One of Its
Own Members.
NO ADVERSE VOTE ON MOTION

There will be no further prostitution
of federal patronage in order to carry
out political bargains without its being
resented. There will be other objections
to nominations wherever it is found that
the appointments were made in pursuance
of political compact.
This was the statment made by Sena-
tor Foraker last night. bearing upon the
action of the Senate yesterday afternoon
in rejecting the nomination of four Ohio
postmasters. Senator Foraker and Sena-
tor Dick claimed that these nominations
had been made to further the campaign
for Secretary Taft for the presidential
nomination and these senator's called upon
their colleagues to resent the alleged use
of patronage to hurt Senator Foraker
The appeal was not in vain. When the
Senate met in executive session yester-
day afternoon the nominations were re-
ported adversely from committee. and
upon Senator Forakers motion were re-
jected. Then. to emphasize the rejection.
the unusual motion was made that the
President be notified of the action of the
Senate. There was not an adverse vote
TO either of these motions.
The Postmasters Rejected.
The four postmasters rejected were Emil
II. Moser. Wapakoneta; David c. Mahon,
Denison: John F. Wetherill. Spencerville,
and George ". White. Chrichsville.
Moser was shafrman of the Auglaize
county republican legislative committee.
Last year he was recommended by Sena-
tors Foraker and Dick for appointment
10 the Wapa koneta post office. The Post
Office Department objected to change,
however, on the stated ground that Will
bert c. Davis. the incumbent whose term
had expired. had given satisfactory
administration and should not be dis
turbed
Moser's county committee was for For
aker. but II suddenly shifted to Taft 1t
was claimed that the shift was due to
promise to Moser that he would get Davis
Place if the committee changed its alleg-
ance to the Secretary of War. Tafts
candidacy was indorsed by the county
COMMITTEES and Moser was nominated to
succeed Davis after the Post Office De-
oartment had refused to disturb him be-
canse of his efficiency
According to the Ohio senators the
sTusearawas county republican committee
indofsed Taft's candidacy in considera
ton - an agreement that Mahon and
White would be appointed postmasters
al Dennison and Urichsville, respectively.
William A. Pittenger, the postmaster at
Dennison. had been recommended for re-
March. 1907, and Mr.. Foraker had asked
that If any change in the Office was con-
templated a hearing be given him. 1t is
alleged that no notice was served on Mr..
Foraker, as he had requested that Pitten-
ger would not be reappOinted.
Wetherell has been a Foraker adherent
and had been indorsed by Senator Fora
ker for appointment to the Spencerville
post office. The Post Office Department
refused TO sanction any change on the
ground that Harry NJ. Ashton. the Spen-
cervile postmaster. whose term has ex-
pired, had won retention by his efficiency.
Then Wetherel indorsed Tafts candi-
dacy. and shortly thereafter. ii is assert
cd Wetherell was nominated for the Of
fce in place of Ashton.
Misuse of Appointing Power
Senators have been complaining for some
weeks that the federal patronage was be-
ing used by the administration to further
the Taft boom. The friends in Congress
of other candidates for the presidential
nomination have bitterly resented what
they termed "A fragrant misuse of the ap-
pointing power TO the detriment of the in
terests of other candidates.
The fact that Senator Foraker. Senator
Knox. Senator LaFollette and sympa-
thizers OF Speaker Cannon and Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks were in the Senate with
the power to act upon nominations EN-
phasized the resentment against the Pres
ident sending in nominations which If
confirmed would further the interests of
a candidate not In the Senate as against
their own.
So when Senator Dick. who is a member
of the post office committee. brought the
attention of the committee to the Ohio
nominations Chairman Penrose. who is
backing the Knox boom. saw the point
very readily. and the committee also ap
preciated IL. The fervor and unanimity
with which the Senate indorsed the com
mttee's recommendation gave evidence
of the deep-seated feeling in that body
against the administration course.
IL is said that from this time on nomi-
nations will be most carefully scrutiniz7 d.
and that the Senate will reject all that
have the appearance Of being used To fur
ther the Taft boom.