Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-29
Occupant Of The While House and
Senators Have Locked Horns.
OHIO PAP STARTED The TROUBLE
Federal Patronage in Buckeye state
Used in the interest Of Secretary
raft-Applicants Must Get Tapo
20. k."--senators DlssruntaIed.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Jan. 2s.-
President Roosevelt and the United
States Senate have locked horns In a
contest over the distribution of fed.
eral patronage that may have far.
reaching consequences in the pending
political campaign.
The trouble really originated over
minor appointments in Ohio-princl-
pally postoifice appointments. 1t be.
gan nearly year ago. about the time
IL was known first that Secretary
Tart would be candidate for the
presidency. The President and the
Ohio senator's. Foraker and Dick, had
some differences over Ohio appoint.
ments. the former refusing to name
for Office certain men whom the sena
tors had recommended. Late iasg
spring, the differences between the
President and the two senators be.
came acute.
Then 1t was that the senators let II
be known that the President had not.
ifed the postofilce department Off.
Gals that no more Ohio postmasters
We're to be appointed unless they
had Secretary Taft's o. K. on their
application. This announcement
created furore among Ohio politl
clans. but subsequently 1t was denied,
for the President, In a semi-oiflcial
way. although he. himself would no,
dignity the subject by discussing It.
Those particularly interested In the
Ohio situation kept close tab on the
matter however, and for many weeks
they have been convinced by deyel-
opments that some of the federal
patronage in Ohio was being used in
the interest of Secretary Taft, al.
though they also are convinced that
the President may not be aware of
the true situation.
But the whole matter of the use
of patronage In the presidential cam
paign was brought to head a few
days ago when several of the presi.
dents appolntees as postmasters in
Ohio were rejected unanimously by
the Senate at the instance of SeHa.
tors Foraker and Dick.
This action was match to the
powder magazine. The contest spread
TO other states and to other appoint.
ments. An attack was made on the
President because he had permitted
w. Ii. Northup to continue as post,
master of Pensacola, Fla, fer nearly
year after his nomination had been
rejected by the Senate. In this par.
ticular case, the President appears to
be quite within his rights. The law
provided that postmaster shall hold
Office until his successor shall have
qualified, unless he be removed by
the President. The President may
take all the time he desires in decid.
ing whom to appoint. The Senate
cannot force his hand" in such cir.
cumstances.
Now. It is determined by the Pres.
ident to make showing about federal
appointments with view to demon.
strating that patronage has not been
used TO further the interests of any
candidate for the presidency. The
Senate is awaiting the explosion. r.
is standing solidly against any at.
tempt to use the appointing power
to promote anybody'a candidacy. Roth
Republicans and Democrats in the
body are OF one mind on that point.
The result promises to be one of tao
Iivliest sklrmishes that yet has Dc.I
Cured ha.yVpan fha Toraaidans And ithol