The Washington herald., 1908-02-11

TO whom does the shorter and ugiler
word apply?
That is the question which now repre-
sents the situation surrounding tie
charge that the President has used and
is using the Federal patronage TO ad-
vance the interests Of his supposed can
didate for the Presidency. William How
ard Taft.
AS in the strained situation growing
out Of the Presidents use Of Democratic
votes to pass the railroad rate bin; as
in the situation resulting from the Bel
lamy Storer incident: and as in numer-
Gus other instances which have served
to swell the membership Of the far
famed Ananias Club, the patronage ques-
tion has become an issue Of veracity. with
the President and his friends on one side.
and his opponents, including several
prominent United States Senators. on the
other.
Much Happens I'm a Day.
Yesterday throughout the country was
published the letter Of the President.
dealing with the charge that he had used
the Federal Offices under his control fin
securing adherents 10 Taft Yesterday
in the United States Senate one Of his
accusers, Senator Foraker. Of Ohio.
rival Of the Secretary Of War for Ohio's
Endorsement for the Republican Presi-
dental nomination, produced documents
which he claimed tended to prove that
his charge was good in one instance. ana
declared that he had personal knowledge
Of similar instances.
Yesterday in the House Of Representa-
tives. Representative Douglas, Of Ohio.
produced another document which he
claimed disproved the proofs produced by
Mr. Foraker: and yesterday. finally. Post
master General Meyer. IN statement is
sued 10 the press, further endeavored to
refute Senator Foraker's proofs.
Real Evidence of Letters.
As a result of this opposition Of So
called proofs between the combatants.
at present the President, it must be ad-
mitted. seems to have the better Of the
argument so far as the one instance relied
upon by Senator Foraker TO prove his
case is concerned. This, however, does
not affect the New Hampshire case. or
the evidence furnished by the Florida
State convention. Nor does it finally dis
pose of the question surrounding the
other Ohio pastmasterships. But it is
clearly up TO Senator Foraker to strength
en- his case in the matter Of the appoint
ment Of Postmaster Bryson at Athens,
Ohio.
The principal evidence furnished by the
letters produced by Senator Foraker in
the Senate seems TO be. not that the
President used the Athens office to further
Tafs candidacy, but that there is some
basis for the lingering belief that Mr.
Roosevelt. despite his repeated statement
to the contrary, is not an impossible. or
even an improbable, candidate for the
Republican nomination 10 be made at
Chicago next November.
Foraker Answers President.
Senator Foraker dlsclaimed any inten-
tion Of attacking the President, but con-
fined his showing mainly 10 the presenta-
ton Of documentary evidence in one case
Of alleged coercion, which. he said. was
typical Of a hundred others known 10 him
self
The case which Mr.. Foraker cited was
that of c. II. Bryson. the postmaster at
Athens. Ohio. An interview with Mr..
Bryson, in which he declared that Taft
could not be elected President and that
Foraker could secure some Ohio delegates
in the national convention. was printed in
Washington in November, after Mr.
Bryson had been appointed postmaster at
Athens under a recess commission.
The written evidence showed that Post
master General Meyer told Congressman
Douglas that the President had instructed
him not TO send in Bryson's name. and
that when Mr.. Douglas went 10 the White
House for enlightenment. William Loeb.
jr the Presidents secretary. referred to
the published interview and some other
newspaper clippings. and explained that
the President saw no reason for appoint
ing men entirely out of sympathy with
his policies" Mr.. Douglas said that he
had not been able to get hold OF the
qIiuniuge (which seemed To have pausad
the trouble.
Wants Roosevelt 10 Run.
Then Mr.. Douglas saw the President,
who told him blankly he would have TO
recommend another man. The Congress
man wrote 20 Bryson. and the latter re-
Continued on Page ,, COIwmn 3.
Another Drop In Prices of Lumber.
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