The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-10
President Writes Letter De.
nylng the Charge and Ex.
planning His Position.
CALLS INSINUATIONS
FALSE AND MALICIOUS
III Selecting Office-Holders Ho
Declares He Has Always
Chosen Men Of Character
and Standing, Placing
Fitness Above
Party.
WASHINGTON. D. G. February o.

. WASHINGTON, D. c.. February o.
President Roosevelt to-day made an
swer to the recent public statements
that he has made use of Federal pat-
ronage to further the presidential In
terests of Secretary Taft. The an
swer is in form Of letter addressed
to William Dudley Foulke, of Rich
nond. Ind, and includes letter from
Mr.. Foulke to the President suggest
| ing the need OF such statement
The President begins by characterize
ing the charges as false and ma
licious" He follows this with an
analysis of all appointments sent by
him to the Senate for It's action to
show that In no case has the proximity
of a presidential contest influenced
his action. The Presidents letter to
Mr.. Foulke follows:
The Letter.
February Z, 1905.
The statement that I have used the
Offices in the effort to nominate any
! presidential candidate is both false and
| malicious. 1t is the usual imagina-
| tion invention which flows from de-
| sire to say something injurious. Re-
member that those now making this
accusation were busily engaged two
months ago In asserting that I was
using the offices to secure my own re-
nomination. 1t is the kind of accu-
sation which for the next few months
VIII be rife. This particular slander
will be used until exploded, and when
exploded those who have used it will
promptly invent another. Such being
the case 1 almost question whether
1t is worth while answering. but as It
Is you who ask why. the answer you
shall have.
More Democrats.
Since the present Congress assem-
bled two months ago ! have sent to
the Senate the names of all the Off
cials l have appointed for the entire
period since Congress adjourned on
the Ath of March last--that is, for eley
en- months. Excluding army and navy
officers, scientific experts health OFF,
| GERS and those of the revenue cutter
service, have made during this pc
riod about 1,352 appointments, subject
to the confirmation by tho Senate, 1,164
being postmasters. OF these appoint
ments in the diplomatic and consular
services and in the Indian service have
been made without regard to politics.
in the diplomatic and consular service
more Democrats than Republicans hay
ing been appointed. as we are trying
to run up the quotas of the Southern
States.
Independent Inquiries.
In nominating Judges have treated
politics as wholly secondary consid-
Grafton, and instead of relying solely
upon the recommendations of either
Senator's or Congressman, have always
conducted independent inquiries myself,
personally, through members of the
bench or the bar whom | happen to
know. or through Attorney General
Bonaparte, Secretary Taft, who was
himself Judge; Secretary Root, be-
cause OF his great experience at the
bar, or Senator Knox, who was former
ly my Attorney-General.
In number of the other offices,
chiefly assistant secretaries or heads
of bureaus here at Washington, but
also Governors of Territories or men
holding peculiar positions-such, for
instance as that OF Commissioners of
Education in Porto Rico-and also in
few other cases. notably those of
marshals of certain of the Western
States, but including various Offices
also here and there throughout the
Union. have either felt that the posi-
tion was of such character that the
Initiative in the choice could only
with propriety come from me or from
one of the Cabinet officers, or else
have happened personally to know or
to know OF a man of such peculiar
qualifications that 1 desired to appoint
him on my own initiative.
Standard of Character.
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 1850 OF
thereabouts.
1t is, of course, out of the question
for me personally to examine or have
| knowledge of such a multitude of ap-
pointments, and therefore as regards
| them / normally accept the suSges-
| tions of Senator'S and congressman, the
| elected representatives. of the people
| in the localities concerned, always re-
| serving to myself the right to insist
| upon the mans coming up to tho re-
| uuired standard of character and Ca
pacity, and also reServing the right
to nominate whomever l choose II for
any reason I am satisfied that am
not receiving from Senator and Con-
gressman good advice. or II happen
personally to know some peculiarly
tit man. Where the man has done we'll
in office | prefer to reappoint him. and
do so when l can get the consent of
the Senators of his locality, but If they
refuse, the appointment can best be
scttl.d by consultation beforehand. the
advice of the Senator or Congressman.
who is elected and has peculiar mean1
of knowing the wishes of his constitu-
ents being taken
But where Senator treats this not
as a matter OF consultation or mutual
agreement, not as matter OF conveni-
ence and eNpediency. but as matter
OF right on his part to nominate
whomever he chooses. the custom Is
necessarily discontinued.
independent Sources.
In the South Atlantic and Gulf
States. which have contained neither
Senators nor congressman or my own
party, have been Obliged to seek my
advice from various sources, In these
States I have appointed large numbers
OF Democrats; In certain States the
Democrats appointed outnumbering the
Republicans, For advice in appointing