The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-10
President Denies Using
Patronage for Taft
His Answer to Charges Is An Attack on Fair
banks neutrality-suspicious. and Sem
ators Generally Given Deciding Voice.

certain Of the Western States. but III
Guiding various offices also here and
there throughout the Union, j have
either felt that the position was Of such
a character that the initiative IN the
choice could only with prOprlety come
from me or from one of the Cabinet
officers, or else / have happened per
sOnaly TO know, or 10 know OF, man
Of such peculiar qualifications that /
desired to appoint him on my own mi
Jiative.
Frequently Follows Suggestions.
There remain the great bulk Of the
offices, including almost all OF the post
offices. the cOllectOrships OF customs
the appraiserships. the land offices, and
the like. numbering some l,lJO or there
abolrts. Il is. of course, out Of the ques-
ton for me personally to examine or
have knowledge Of such q multitude OF
amendments, and. therefore, as Te-
CARDS them, I nominally accept the sug-
gestlous Of Senators and Congressmen,
tba elected representatives of the PEG
pie IN the Localities concerned dLNdS
TesaryinE TO myself the right TO insist
mon the mans coming up 10 the Tt-
0jIired standard OF character ana ca
Tlacftv and also reSerNlnB the IlShL AZ
nominate WhOmeVer choose II lot aiiS
reason 1 am satisfied that am not
receiyine. from Senator or Congressman
GOOD advice or If l happen personally
IL know some peculiarly Mt man.
.sTVhen the man has done well IN ONCE,
I prefer to reappOlnt him, ana 90 so
when can get the consent Of the Sen
ators from his locality but II they re-
ftIse the reapDOlntment cannot be made,
O-5frarilv. as a matter OF convenience
the appointment can best lie settIed Dy
consultation beforehand, the adVlCe OF
tI7e senator or Congressman VINO is
sIa.+ad and has peculiar means of know
inc the wishes of his constituents being
taken But where a Senator treats thls
NOT as a matter Of consultation or hhu-
tJaI agreement, not as matter or con-
venie.lce and eXpedIency, out as mat
ter of right on his part TO nominate
whomever he chooses. the custom Is
necessarily discontinued
Many Democrats Appointed.
oTn the South Atlantic and Gulf States
which have contained neither Senator.
NOR Congressmen Of my own party.
have been Obliged to seek my advice
from various sources. In these State.
7 have appointed large numbers Of
Democrats. in certain States the Demo,
Gratis appointed outnumbering the Re
pubIicans. For advice IN appointing the
Republicans have relied. wherever pos
sibIe. not upon oftcehOlders at all, bu
upon men of standing and position. who
would not take Office and on whose in
| tegrity 1 could depend.
CAS- instances merely. I will refer L
| Col Cecil A Lyon, OF Texas. command
ing one of the Texas National GUAR
! regiments and a man of Independent
| n. cans. engaged in active business, anC
4 TO Pearl Wight, of Louisiana, and to Mr.
/ COOmbs. OF Florida, also men OF indie
pendent means and of large business at
1 fairs. all of them being among thu
most respected men In their severa
| States"
| The President then takes up sTscif
| charges OF misuse of the patronage a.
| those charges have been brought by tn
| Indianapolis News, the New York Even
/ ing Post, and the Boston Herald HI
/ shows. by detailed evidence and discus
! sion. that the charges are untrue,
| He adds that any violation OF the civl
| service rules viii be punished wtthou
! hesitation