The sun., 1908-02-10

the district. In the Tenth distriCt l fol-
lowed the recommendation Of tho two
Senators. In other words, followed the
same course in Ohio as in other States
as regards all these nominations, the only
difference being that Ohio is the single
State where the bulk OF the Federal en-
ployeas have been inclined to be against
the Presidential candidate from the State.
In New York, Pennsylvania. Illinois, In
diana and Wisconsin, 30 far Rs know. the
enormous 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 in
Ohio has been limited to insisting, az
should insist anywhere else. that OppOsi-
tion to the purposes, policies and friends Of
the Administration shall not be considered
az a necessary prerequisite TO holding the
commission OF the President.
sIn my letter to the Civil Service Com
mission OF June II. 1902, which now holds
good. and will be enforced. officers are
warned not to use their places TO control
political movements, nor to coeroe their
subOrdinates. nor to neglect their public
duties for political work. nor to cause any
public scandal by their political activity;
but outside OF the classified service they
are not otherwise limited in political activ-
ity. No officer will be permitted to violate
the above injunction with my knowledge,
no matter for what candidate he may be
working: and I may add that the only
officers as to whom any question OF viola
tion OF this injunction has hitherto arisen
have been 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 il there had
been no Presidential contest impending.
and in no case has there been a deviation
from the course that would have pursued
had none Of those who actually are can
didates for the nomination been candidates;
nor has a single officeholder been removed
or threatened with removal, or coerced in
any way to secure his support for any
Presidential candidate. In fact. the only
coercion that have attempted to exercise
was TO forbid the oficeholders from pushing
my own denomination, this being done in
the following letter sent TO the members
oflmy Cabinet on November 10, 1907
! have been informed that certain office
holders in your department are proposing
10 kD 10 inc National convention a. uelNkdNFs
in favor OF renOminating me for the Presl-
dency. or are proposing TO procure my in
doTsement for such denomination by state
conventions. This must not be. ! wish YOU
to inform such officers. as you may find il
advisable or necessary to inform. i'm order
TO carry out the spirit Of this instruction. that
such advocacy Of my denomination or accept
anCe Of an election as delegate for that pur-
pose will be regarded as q serious violation
oT Offlpial nFnnriafE and will he dealt with
accordingly
Yours truly,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
Hon, Dudley !'nule, Richm6nd, md
FORAKER DECLINES TO COMMENT
Senator Foraker declined this evening to
Comment on that part Of the Presidents
statement which dealt with the appoint
ments in Ohio He said that he preferred
to read the entire letter carefully before
determining whether he would make
response II was said by close friends of
Senator Foraker that il he answered the
President it would he in a speech on the
floor Of the Senate at an early day.
Senator Burnham OF New Hampshire
laughed when that portion Of the Presi-
dents letter referring to the appointment
Of a pension agent at Concord was shown
him and declined tn make any statement
other than that the history Of the New
Hampshire case was well known and he had
nothing to add TO that history.
The Presidents explanation Of the ale
cations that Federal officers are very sc-
lively engaged in furtheTinR the purposes
Of Mr. Roosevelt To name his own successor
and that appointments to Federal offices
have been made with that end in view is
not likely to put an end to the discussion
OF these allegations as the President con-
cedes in his letter to Mr.. Foulke. The part
taken by Federal officers in the Florida
Republican convention, the certainty that
their conduct will be repeated by Federal
officers in other Republican conventions
and the transfer Of Frank Fl. Hitchcock
from the Post Office Department to the
temporary service of Mr.. Taft's campaign
mana gemeut have created an impression
too deep among public men hcr., Repub-
licans and Democrats alike. to make II
possible TO sidetrack the agitation OF the
sub iect through the publication Of a general
denial by Mr.. Roosevelt.
Some surprise is being eX pressed in " ash
ington over the Presidents explanation of
his reasons for selecting those Ohio post
masters whose nominations we're rejected
by the Senate. The understanding here
has been that some Of the men nominated
we're indorsed originally by the Ohio Sem
ators. but their appointment was refused
at first on the ground that the incumbents
Of the Offices for which they were recon-
mended had given satisfactory service and
that il was not until these men had become
active in the interest Of Mr.. Taft's candi-
dacy that they were named 10 the Senate.
The understanding OF the New Hampshire
pension agents case was that the two
Senators and the two Representatives from
New Hampshire had been unable TO agree
upon a man for the Office and had named
two men. each indorsed by one Senator and
one Representative. To that point there
is no divergence in the legislative and
Executive accounts OF the transaction. But
the understanding in the Senate was that
the New Hampshire delegation told the
President that either man recommended
would be acceptable to the entire delegation.
No mention Of any such statement to him