The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-02-11

Washington February 10.-Ris-
ing to a question of personal privi-
lege, Senator Foraker today replied
in the senate to the denial by Presi-
dent Roosevelt of charges that he
has used federal patronage for the
purpose Of influencing the national
political contest The senator pre-
diCated his argument on a reference
to the Ohio situation in the letter
of President Roosevelt to William
Dudley Foulke, former civil service
commissioner, which was published
today. He produced correspondence
relating to the appointment OF
Charles H. BrySon, whose nomlna-
tion as postmaster at Athens, Ohio,
was withheld temporarily for the al
legged reason that Bryson had given
an interview while in Washington ex-
pressing the opinion that Taft was
losing ground in the Ohio contest.
The correspondence showed that Bry-
son stood his ground and the decla-
ration of political Independence lad
resulted in another order from ls4r
white house making the appointment
The communication on the GuhJ&>t
were between Representative Doug
las, OF Ohio, and Mr.. Bryson. In a
ver, temperate manner Senator For
ak" commented on the case, but in
sist s.; that the records clearly showed
an clttempt to ''cOerce Mr.. BrySOn,
and that his fearless stand had been
responsible for his retention by the
president The senator said that it
was no exaggeration to say that
there are a hundred cases in Ohio
where the appointments had been
made for political purposes only but
there are few documents where evil
dence can be pIoducd.
Mr. Foraker opened his remarks
by saying that on January II, 1908,
the senate in executive session at the
instance Of the two senators from
Ohio refused to confirm certain post
office appointments which he'd been
made by the president
Urged by our friends of the press
as TO the reasons why he had such
actions" said Mr.. Foraker, Il made
a statement in about these words,
that the action taken meant there
would not be in Ohio further pro-
titution of patronage for political
purposes without being resented"
What the senator said, seemed to
be enough and it was announced
that the president would make full
and detailed answer to all the charg
es of that kind. Mr.. Foraker read
a part o. the presidents statement
published this morning, in which the
latter declared that no presidential
candidate had been favored in any
appointments.
These general propositions are
Important, said Mr.. Foraker, refer
ring to the presidents words. while
the people of the country are not i'll
terested in specific details OF az
pointmens they are interested in the
general propositions enunciated by
the president; they are interested in
knowing that the appointments are
made with an eye single to the good
of the public service. The president
by this statement recognizes the i'm
portance of observing these prOpo-
sitiOnS.
1T is difficult to prove cases of
this character said Mr.. Foraker,
because ordinarily there is no evil
dence reduced to writing bearing on
them.
But fortunately" he added I'VE
have one case in Ohio where there is
written testimony. | do not charge
anybody with bad faith. | suppose
all the while that the president was
acting upon recommendations made
to him without knowledge Of the
basis of fact upon which these recon-
mendations rested" He referred to
the recess appointment of Mr.. Bry
son as postmaster of Athens, Ohio,
who, he said, was appointed upon
recommendations of Representative
Alfred Douglass. He then read from
local paper an interview with Mr..
Bryson in which he stated that Taft
lost his following in Ohio and Fora
ker had greatly grown in strength.
Mr. Foraker observed that there
was nothing in the interview hostile
to Secretary Taft but that 1t express
ed an honest difference Of opinion
On a subject entirely within his tight
of individual opinion. Mr.. Bryson
returned to Athens, said Mr.. Fora
ker. and a few days later he receiv-
ed letter from Representative Dou-
glass telling of talk he had with
Postmaster General Meyer. who said
the president had decided not to ap-
point Mr. Bryson after all.
Representative Douglass said that
the postmaster general was Rtee