The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-02-10
FALSE AND MALICIOUS ANSWERS
ROOSEVELT TO THE CHARGES THAT HE
IS USING FEDERAL PATRONAGE FOR TAFT
gard to the alleged coercion, be the
best method of exhibiting the facts
Yours respectfully.
WILLIAM DUDLEY FOULKE.
RooseveIts Letter to FouIke.
Feb. =. 1909

that ! have used the offices in the eff
fort to nominate any presidential can
didate is both false and malicious 1t
is the usual imaginative invention
which flows from a desire to say
something injurious. Remember that
those now making this accusation
were busily engaged two months ago
in asserting that | was using the offic-
eS to secure my own nomination. It
is the kind of accusation which for the
next few months will be rife. This
particular slander will be used until
exploded. and when exploded those
who have used it will promptly invent
another. Such being the case. | al
most wonder whether 1t is worth
while answering. but as it is you who
ask why. the answer you shall have.
Since the present congress assem-
bled two months ago, have sent to
the senate the names of all the Off
Cials | have appointed for the entire
period since congress on the 4th Of
March last: that is. for eleven months
Excluding army and navy officers,
scientific experts, health officers and
have made during this period about
1872 appointments, subject to confir-
nation by the senate, l,164 being post
masters.
Of these appointments in the diplO-
matte and consular services and in the
, Indian service have been made with
out regard to politics; in the diplo-
matte and consular services more dem
ocratS than republicans have been APP
pointed as we are trying to even up
the quota of the Southern states. In
nominating judges. | have treated pol
itics as a wholly secondary cOnSidCTa-
ton, and instead of relying solely up
on the recommendation of either Sena-
tors or congressman have always con-
Quoted independent inquiries myself,
personally. through members Of ..Fthe
bench or bar, whom l happened to
know or through Attorney General
Bonaparte, Secretary Taft, who was
himself a judge; Secretary Root. be
cause of his great experience at the
bar, or Senator Knox, who was form
erly attorney general.
In number OF other offices. chiefly
assistant secretaries or heads of bu-
reas here at Washington, but also
governors of territories or men
holding peculiar positions such. for
instance as that of commissioner OF
education in Porto Rico. and also in a
few other cases, notably those of mar
sAals in certain of the Western states.
but. including various offices also here
and there throughout the union.
have either felt that the position was
of such a character that the initiative
in the choice could only with propriety
, come from me or from one of the cab
met officers. or else | have happened
personally to know or to know of a
man of such peculiar qualifications
that | desire to appoint him on my
own initiative.
There remains the great bulk of of
fiCes. including almost all Of the post
offices, the collectorships of customs.
the appraiserships. the land offices.
and the like. numbering some ] go or
thereabOuts. II is. OF course. out of
the question for men to examine or
have knowledge of such a multitude
of appointments, and therefore as re-
CARDS them. | normally accept the sug-
gestiOns Of senator's and congressman,
the elected representatives of the peO-
pie in the localities concerned always
rcserving to myself the right to insist
upon the man coming up to the reQuir-
ed standard of character and capacity
and also reserving the right TO nOmi-
reason | am satisfied that am not re
ceiying from senator or congressman
good advice. of if l happen personally
TO know some peculi&rly fit man
W here the man has done we'll in office
prefer to reappoint him. and do so
when | can get the consent of the sen
ators from his locality; but if they re-
fuse. the reappointment can not be
made
Ordinarily. as matter of cOnvCn-
fence. the appointment can best be
settled by consultation beforehand
the advice Of the senator or congress
men, who is elected and has peculiar
means of knowing the wishes of his
constituents. being taken. But where
a senator treats this. not as a matter
OF consultation or mutual advisement,
not as matter of convenience and ex-
pedieucy. but as a matter of right on
his part to nominate whomever he
chooses the custom is necessarily
discontinued.
Appointees in South. Democrats.
In the South Atlantic and Gulf
states which have contained neither
senator's nor congressman Of my own
party. have been obliged to seek NJ,
advice from various sources IN
these states l have appointed a large
number of democrats, in certain
states the democrats appointed out
numbering the republicans.
For advice in appointing the repub-
licaLs have relied wherever possible
not upon officeholders q. all but upon
men OF standing and position who
would lot take office and on whose in
regriry ! could depend As instances.