The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-11
Ohio Man Accuses President of Trying to COsrct Can-
 didate for Postmaster
LONG ST0RY GIVEN IF
 OHIO POSTMAST

Senator Foraker Lays Bare the Inside
 Facts of the Fight Made Over
 Charles H. Brysons Apploa-
 ton and the Final Result
 Washington, February 10.-Rising to d question of personal privilege, Senator Foraker today replied in the Senate to the 1 denial by President Roosevelt of charges that he had used federal patronage for the purpose of influencing the. national po- litical contest. The Senator produced cor respondence relating to the appointment of Charles H. Bryson, whose nomination as postmaster at Athens, Ohio. was with held temporarily for the alleged reason that Bryson had given anintefview while i'll Washington expressing the opinion that 1 Taft was losing ground in the Ohio con- test. The correspondence showed that Bryson had stood his ground and his dec laration of political independence had re- suited in another from the White House making the appointment.
 1 In a very temperate manner Senator Foraker commented on the case, but in- sisted that the records clearly showed an attempt to "coerce'a Bryson and that hls fearless stand has been responsible for his retention by the President.
 MT. Foraker opened his remarks by say f~ i executive session. at the instance of the two Senators from Ohio, refused to con- firm certain postoffice appointments which had been made by the President.
 Urged by our friends of the press as 1 to the reasons why we had taken such
 action," said MT. Foraker T made Il statement in about these words:
 l That the action taken meant that there would not be in Ohio any further l prostitution of patronage for political pur- poses without being resented l That, the Senator said, seemed to be enough, and it was announced the Presi- dent would make a full and detailed an- ! swer to all the charges of that kind. MT. l F Foraker referred to the Presidents state ment just published in this mornings pa pers and said he did not propose to go ] into details in his reply to that statement, 1 because the appointment of postmaster outside the community in which he lived Is not of interest to the public. He read a part of the Presidents statement in which the latter declared that no Presi- dential candidate had been favored in any appointments.
 important Matters.
 "These general propositions are import ant" said MT. Foraker.. referring to the l Presidents words, While the people of l the country are not interested in specified i details of appointment, they are inter- ested in the general proposition enunciat-
 ed by the President: they are interested
 in knowing that the appointments are
 made with an eye single to the good or the public service The President by this statement recognizes the importance of | observing these propositions. It is difIl-
 cult to prove cases of this character"
 said MT Foraker, because ordinarily there is no evidence reduced to writing
 bearing on them.
 But fortunately" he added, I've have | one case in Ohio where there is written
 testimony. I do not charge anybody with
 bad faith I supposed all the while that l the President was acting upon the rec 1 concentrations made to him without
 knowledge of the basis of fact upon | which these recommendations rested | He referred to the recess appointment of Charles H. Bryson as postmaster at l Athens, O., who he said, was appointed l without his solicitation upon recommenda-
 tion of Representative Alfred Douglass. l He then read from local paper an in- terview with MT. Bryson in which he l stated that Taft had lost his following in 1 Ohio and Foraker had greatly grown in strength
 Nothing Against Taft. 1 At the conclusion of the reading of | the interview MT. Foraher observedSthat l there was nothing In it hostile to Sec l retary Taft but that 1t expressed an honest difference of opinion on, subject 1 entirely within his rights of individual | opinion. "A MT. Bryson returned to Athens" said | MT Foraker. entirely unconscious that l he had made any trouble until q few 1 days later when he received a letter from | Representative Douglass telling of talk | he had with Postmaster General Meyer on the subject of the appointment. Ac- l cording to this letter, Mir. Douglass had | l dent had decided not to appoint MT. Bry-
 son after all. Representative Douglass | said that the Postmaster General was
 nice about it, but determined and ew- dently was carrying out the Presidents s | order"
 l From the postoffice department MT. l Douglass went to the White House, 1 where he took up the matter with MT. | Loeb, the Presidents secretary, who said | the President could see no reason for 1 appointing men to office who were not l in harmony with his policies.
 l MT. Loeb, according to MT. Douglass l letter, said the President was determined that MT. Douglass recommend another appointment.
 MT. Foraker said that MT. Douglass l had told MT. Bryson that it would be advisable for him to come to Washing 1 ton and take the matter up himself. l After receiving reply dated Decem- Der g, in which MT. Bryson said he | would be in Washington within a day or so, Mr Douglass saw the President. The story of the conference at the |