The Washington herald., 1908-02-10

with the pension agent in New Hampshire
and collector of internal revenue IN
Ohio. IN the case OF the pension officer.
the Senators and Congressman could not
agree on a nominee. two recommending
one man and two another. ! decided TO
send in a man recommended to me by
outsiders, whom | believed 10 be better
than either
The Senate rejected him. His name
would have been sent in if there had been
no Presidential canvass at all at this
time. AS regards collectors Of internal
revenue. some are appointed upon the
recommendation of Senators, and some
on the recommendation of Congressman.
In Ohio the collector of internal revenue
whom | nominated in the First district
was recommended by the Congressman of
that district.
In the Tenth district ! followed the
recommendation Of the two Senators. In
other words, | followed the same course
in Ohio as in other States as regards all
these nominations. the only difference be-
ing that Ohio is the single State where
the bulk OF the Federal employees have
been inclined 10 be against the Presiden-
tial candidate from the State In New
York, Pennsylvania. Illinois. Indiana. and
Wisconsin. so far as / know. the euor-
nous majority OF appointees are In each
case for the Presidential candidate from
the State.
This has not been true IN Ohio. and
my Interference with patronage matters
Ia Ohio has been limited 10 insisting, as
! should insist anywhere else. that oppo-
sition 10 the purposes, policies, and
friends of the administration shall not be
considered as a necessary prerequisite 10
holding the commission Of the President.
VIII Enforce the Rule.
In my letter TO the Civil Service Com
mission OF June z. 1902, which now holds
good, and will be enforced, officers are
warned not to use their places 70 control
political movements, nor to coerce their
subordinates. nor to neglect their public
duties for political work, nor 10 cause
any public scandal hy their political ac-
tivity, but outside Of the classified service
they are not otherwise limited In political
activity. No officer viii be permitted TO vlo-
late the above injunction. with my knowl-
edge. no matter for what candidate he
may be working; and ] may add that the
only officers as 10 whom any question Of
violation Of this Injunction has hitherto
arisen have been the men who are not
working for Mr. Taft
The above is a full statement Of the
facts. Not an appointment has been
made that would not have been made
II there had been no Presidential contest
pending. and in no case has there been
deviation from the course that would
have pursued had none Of those who
actually are candidates for the nOmina-
ton been candidates: nor has a single
OfiicehOlder been removed or threatened
with removal or cCerCed in anv way 20
secure his support for any Presidential
candidate. ia fact. the only coercion that
] have attempted 70 exercise was 20 for
bid the officeho.ders from pushing my
own denomination. this being done in the
following letter sent 10 the members Of
my Cabinet on November l9 1877.
Il have been informed that certain
oficeholders in your department arc pro-
posing o. 20 10 the national convention
as delegates IN favor Of renominating me
for the Presidency. or are proposing TO
procure my Endorsement for such ren0mi-
nation by State conventions This must
not be. ] wish you 10 inform such off
GERS as you may md it advisable or
necessary 10 inform Fla order 10 carry out
the spirit OF this instruction that such
advocacy Of my renomir alton or accept
ance Of an election as delegate for that
purpose VIII be regarded as a serious vio-
lation of Official propriety, and will be
dealt with accordingly
Yours truly, THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Hon. William Dudley F0ulke. Richmond.
Ind.