The Washington herald., 1908-02-10

successor. and he is stllI in Office These
facts We're either known TO the editors
OF the paper In question. or could have
been found out by the slightest inquiry.
Takes Up Ohio.
There remain the allegations as to the
appointment of Taft workers to post
Offices in Ohio In Ohio I have made fifty
eight post-office appointments; twenty
seven Of these were reappointments, thir-
ty-one were new appointments, the last
including the cases where the incumbent
had died, had been removed for cause. or
had resigned. Generally. the appointment
was made exactly as in other States, upon
the recommendation of the Congressman
from the district.
In various cases, however, as at Mau-
NEE, Strasburg, Bluffton, Greenyille, and
Leipsic, the nominations were made upon
the recommendation OF both Senators
Foraker and Dick, or of one or the other.
In four cases the nominations were re-
Jected by the Senate In two of these,
Dennison and Uhrichsville, the nOmina-
tions OF the new men were made on the
recommendation Of the then Congress
man. Mr. Smyser In each case the pre-
vious incumbent had not been giving
very satisfactory service, in one instance
he having failed to give sufficient per-
sonal attention TO the office. as reported
by the inspector. and in the other case
the postmaster. being also the publisher
and editor Of a newspaper, and various
irregularities having been noticed, some
resulting in violation Of law I'm the inter
est of the postmasters paper
The course followed was precisely SINH
lar to that followed in the case of the
various other post-offlces in Ohio in the
districts represented by Congressman
Keifer, Kennedy Cole. and others, and
precisely similar to the course followed
as regards the recommendations of this
same Congressman Smyser In other
offices.
At Spencerville investigation by the in
spector showed that it was inadvisable
10 reappOmt the incumbent. and that Mr.
WetheTill. who had been originally rec
commended for the position by Senator
Dick. should be appointed. Senator Dick
afterward withdrew his recommendation,
but the inspector reported that Mr. Weth-
erill had by that time already been ap-
pointed, and that TO withhold his COM
mission would be n great injury 10 him
and would defeat the ends OF justice.
The nomination was accordingly sent in.
At Wapakoneta the incumbent did his
work well, but the post-ofFice Inspector
reported that the feeling was almost
unanimous among his fellow townsmen
that there should be a change. and q
Air. Moser appointed. IL appearing that
the postmaster was not popular with the
people, while the man suggested for the
nomination was unquestionably the choice
Of the patrons Of the office. being re-
garded by them as a most progressive
and public-spirited young business man,
possessed Of more than ordinary ability
extremely popular with the people of
his native city, irrespective OF party al
citations"
Opposition Was Withdrawn.
I cali your attention to the fact that
the Senate withdrew its opposition TO
one Of these four men and confirmed
him, SO that the charge relates 10 only
three out Of the whole number, 1.l6i
post-offices; that Of these three. two
We're nominated I'm the usual fashion. on
the recommendation Of the outgoing Con-
gressman; and that the third nomination
was made on the report OF the Inspector,
and would have been made without the
slightest regard as 10 whether there was
a Presidential canvass on hand or not
The statements IN the editorial in ques-
ton are therefore untrue In every par
tcuisr.
Brands IL Untrue.
As for your quotation from another
running as follows
Federal oficehol1ers may be com
manded TO use their influence and their
authority in behalf Of candidate. Such
a command has been issued. and the
President should know of IT, .
somebody has instructed postmasters that
they must obtain from their subordinates
either their designations or their pledges
Of support for Taft delegates 10 the con
vention.
Even in Massachusetts. efforts OF this
kind have recently been made, but hap
PLY they have been stopped, partly be-
cause the postmasters on whom the at
tempts were made had the courage 10
resist, and partly from other causes" "-
There is really nothing to say except
that it does not contain the slightest
particle OF truth. and that the misstate-
ment is SO gross that Il IS difficult TO
believe it other than a deliberate inven-
tion. There is not the slightest founda-
ton for it. and no successful effort can
be made TO show that there is the slight
est foundation for H.
As regards the Massachusetts, post,
Offices. in all except five cases my ap-
polntments were reappointments; that is.
the incumbent was renOminated with the
consent Of Senators or Congressman at
the expiration Of the regular term. OF
these FIVE cases. new men were put i'm
three times because Of death and twice
because of the resignation of the in,
cumbent. In each case. whether Of ap-
pOintmeut or TeappOintment. I followed
the ordinary custom. accepting the suC
gestiOn either Of the Senators or OF the
or both, as in each case
the men suggested were emlnentIy III.
Not a particle of difference has been
made in this respect between those Con
gressmen who were for one Presidential
candidate and those Congressman who
were for another; and. so far as I know.
in every case the appointment has fully
satisfied the local people. In other words.
the appointments have been made not 10
control but TO recognize the sentiment of
the locality.
Calls for the Proof.
II such assertions as those OF these
papers are made In good faith. on know-
edge of facts. and with any other purpose
than 10 produce political effect by false
or by reckless statement with
out knowledge, let those making them
produce these specific cases to which they
refer. If in any such case the accusation
IS found true, It will have occurred with
out my knowledge, and I shall deal with
Il in the precise spirit of my instructions