The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-10
THE PRESIDENT DENIES
 SOME POLITICAL CHARGES
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 almost wonder whether it is worth while answering, but this which you ask, you shall have.
 Since the Congress assembled two months ago, I have sent to the Senate names of all the officials I have ap- pointed for the entire period since Congress adjourned on the 4th Of March.-last, that is for il months. Elk cludng army and navy officers, scien- tnc experts, health officers and those of revenue cutter service l have made during this period about 1852 appoint ments subject to confirmation by the Senate 1164 being postmasters. Of these appointments in the diplomatic and consular services and in the Indian service have been made without regard to politics; in the diplomatic and con- sular services, more democrats than re- publicans having been appointed as we are trying to even up the quotas of the south ecn states.
 In naming judges, I have treated poll tics as wholly secondary consideration, and instead of relying solely upon 'he recommendation of either senators or con eressmen have always, conducted inde- pendent inquiries myself, personally through members of the bench or bar whom happen to know, or through At storney General Bonaparte, Secretary Taft, who was himself a judge; Secretary Root, because of his great experience at the bar. or Senator Knox, who was formerly attorney general.
 In a number of other offices, chiefly as- sstant secretary or heads of budgets at Washington, but also governors Of terri tories or men holding peculiar positions such for instance, as that of commission CT of education in Porto Rico-and also In a few other cases, notably those or mar shal in certain of the western states, but including various offices also mere ana there throughout the union, I have either felt that the position was of such char acter that the initiative In the choice could only with propriety come from one or the cabinet officers or elsee have nap pened personally to know. or to know of, el man of such peculiar qualifications that I desired to appoint him upon my own initiative
 Great Number of Officers.
 There remain a great bulk of offices, in- cluding postoffices, the collectorships of customs, the appraiserships, the land of- fcers and the like. numbering some l250 or thereabouts. It is, of course. out or the question for me to examine to have knowledge of such multitude of appoint ments and therefore as regards them l normally accept the suggestions of sem ators and congressman the representatives of people in the localities concerned, al- ways reserving to myself the right to in- sist upon the mans coming up to the re- uuired standard of character and capac- ity. and also reserving the right to nomi- nate whenever I choose if for any reason I am satisfied that am not receiving from senator or congressman good advice, or If I happen personally to know some pecu- Iiarly fit man. Where the man has done well in office, I prefer to reappoint him. and do so when I can get the consent of the senators from his locality. But where a senator treats an appointment not as a matter of consultation or mutual agree ment not as a matter of convenience and expediency, but as a matter of right on his part to nominate whenever he chooses, the custom is necessarily discon- tnued
 In the South Atlantic and Gulf states, which have contained neither Senators nor Congressman of my own party, have been obliged to seek my advices from their sources. In these states I have appointed a large number of dem- ocrats, in certain states the democrats appointed outnumbering the republicans. For advice in appointing the republicans I have relied wherever possible not upon office holders at all. but upon men of standing and position who would not