Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-11
TALK At THE CAPITOL.
Activity of Federal Officials in
Choosing Delegates.
USUALLY IN TAFT'S BEHALF
Those Favoring Other Candidates
Are Complaining.
FLORIDA AND MISSOURI
These States Are Cited as Instances
whora fl{S ceh o1derc Hova Eyert-
AND MISSOURI
FLORIDA
These States Are Cited as Instances
Where Oficeholders Have Exert
ed Pressure.

There is a great buzz of talk among
politicians at the Capitol over the activ-
ity of federal officials in various states
in connection with the district and state
conventions, and other preliminary prep
arations for choosing delegates to the re-
publican national convention. Every
few days some one comes forward with
new tale of zeal by federal officials. and
the fact is commented upon that their
efforts are usually in one direction-in
behalf of Secretary Taft's nomination
Politicians in Congress who are I'M
sympathy with the ambitions of some of
the other candidates are complaining at
this situation. They point out that it is
different from the issue raised by Presi-
dent Roosevelt i'm his Foulke letter; it is
not that the President is dispensing pat
ronage to influence sentiment favora BILE
to Secretary Taft. but that men already
in Office seem to be swayed by singular
unanimity of purpose i'm rounding up
delegates for Secretary Taft.
Bitterness in Other Aspirants' Camps
They also say that it would be bad
enough if those officials were working for
a President in Office to secure his own
denomination. That has always caused
bitter feeling. noticeably in the case of
President Harrison. But these politicians
on the hill say that it is worse for the
federal officials to be forwarding the po-
liticaI fortunes of some particular man
who is known to be the Presidents s
choice. So there is much heart burning
and bitterness in the camps of the other
candidates.
Specific instances are being cited Of this
activity of the officeholdeing class. The
Taft forces in Florida, who are alleged
to have held a boiling convention after
the meeting had selected an uninstructed
delegation, made up slate Of officehold-
ers They named as delegates at large
the following:
Joseph F. Lee. United States collector
of internal revenue.
Henry 8. Chubb, receiver of the United
States land Office.
NJ. B. McFarlane, United States col
lector of customs.
J. n. Coombs, the administration's ref
cree on all federal appointments in Flor
ida.
In addition. the Taft forces appointed
delegates from two congressional districts.
They were George w. Allen and Henry
w. Chandler, from the first district. both
postmasters. From the second district
they were d. r. Gerow and ID. p. Papy,
also postmasters. These appointments. it
is claimed. are in conflict with the call
of the national committee providing for
selection of delegates, and will certainly
be contested.
Trouble in Missouri.
The friends in Congress of the other
candidates for the presidency are also
criticising recent events in Missouri
There, it is said, in the late dis
trict convention, in the first congressional
district. held at Lancaster. federal Of
ficeholders were conspicuously active in
Secretary Taft's behalf. United States
Subtreasurer Atkins, of ST. Louis it is al
legged, went way up to Lancaster and
took along with him Post Office Inspector
Bryson and Revenue Collector John Cat
lett.
The charge has been brought to Wash
ington that these federal officials exerted
oMceholders In the convention in behalf
of a delegation instructed for Secretary
Taft, and that even with this influence
instructions were secured by a bare ma
jority Of two.
With these instances at hand of report
ed busying of federal officials in the Taft
campaign, the hackers of the other can
didates say they will watch every dis
trict and state convention from now on
to pick out the federal employees who
may seem to be working in general har-
mony. although in widely scattered
fields.
Today a telegram was received at the
Capitol from Missouri alleging that the
Taft managers there are alleging that
they have Secretary Tafts authorization
over his signature for State Chairman
Dickey to control federal patronage. Some
of Senator Warmers friends were amazed
at this. as it was supposed that Senator
Warner as republican senator of a demo-
cratic state. would be the patronage dis
penSer.