The Washington times., 1909-12-31
LEADERS CLASHING
OVER PATRONAGE
Nagel and Warner Both
Want to Name District
Attorney.

Secretary Nagel. or the Department OF
Commerce and Labor. and Senator
Warner OF Missouri. have collidcd over
a question OF Federal patronage and IL
Is up TO the President 20 decide who
shall give way. The indications thus
far have been favorable for Secretary
Nagel who is "a st. Louis man, and one
OF his Cabinet in whom the President
has much confidence
II Nagel's friend gets the appointment.
the President will have to turn down
the Republican organization Of St
Louis However, he has shown a dis
position not 90 adhere to the organiza-
ZION politicians when it comes TO judi
CIal appointments.
IN this case, tse fight ia over a dis
Nlct attorney for the St Louis district
secretary Nageis candidate is Charles
Newton, an able lawyer. conceded TO be
TT for the place but not i'm the CON
ndence Of the organization. Senator
N aFner Is supporting Charles Houts and
me hepubllcdn organization OF ST Louis
- uolnb an ~ can FOR HOutS. candidacy.
President TAFT some days ago had de-
termined 10 appoint Newton. Before that
there had been criticisms of Houts
brought 10 the attention of the Presi-
dent, TO the effect that ne had at one
time been active in the defense of n pO-
htical clique IN st. Louis which was
charged with misconduct ia city offices
The very day il is understood, that the
name of Newton was TO SO to the Senate.
alorg came Senator Warner and Houts
10 see the President HOuts defended him
ser ana the President seemed impressed
with his defense. NewtOn's name was
not sent IN and the matter is hanging
IRE.
Interest Is Keen.
St. Louis and Missouri politicians are
AN bet w" over IT. Strong pressure is
being exerted on the President to con-
vince him he ought not ignore the Sen
ate in making his appointments. But
the President takes the ground that
when it comes TO judicial appointments
his plain duty is TO appoint the best
man. In a way, on account Of the fact
Secretary Nagel is involved, and be-
cause Il involves the question OF policy
IN making judicial appointments, the
case has national Importance.
Il is being impressed on the Presi-
dent from The direction Of the Senate
that such appointments as those Of
James Freeman Curtis. or Boston. 90
be Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury.
without the support Of the Senators in /
terested, are grievous things, detri- /
mental TO the party, and 10 be avoided. /
n possible. I'm all cases The President !
cannot see this quite as clearly as the
Senators.
In the case of Mr.. Curtis. however. |
the Senate VIII give way lie win be
confirmed after the holidays. The hold
ing up of the nomination Of MIR. Curtis
was intended primarily as a rebuke TO |
secretary MaCNeaEh. but at the same
time II was intended to warn the
PRESIDENT that u would be well for him !
10 go slow IN making appointments ex-
cept on recommendation of Senator's /
internal Revenue Commissioner Cabeu /
VIII be confirmed as well as Mr.. Curtis /
Another Mix-up.
Among the mix-ups over patronage /
which are Of unusual interest, there is |
one in Michigan that is causing a big
row between William Alden smith and /
his elderly colleague. Senator Julius /
caesar Burrows. It is over the selec- /
ton Of collector OF customs for the /
important port OF Marquette.
The Federal appointments IN ATchf- |
gan are usually made on rcc1mmeuda-
ton OF the Senators, who customary /
agree In this case, Smith wants 70
have an ardent worker for his cause
Charles Byrne, appointed. Some of Bur-
rows friends object % Byrue, and there
is no little feeling stirred up The
situation now IS at "a deadlock
While Senators Smith and Burrows
eet aiohB usually without Quarreliug
mere rs plenty Of reason 20 believe that
senator Burrows has never looked with
kindness on the selection Of smith 70
the Senate for the reason thar smith
IKE himself rs from the western haff
OF Or, me state. Senator Burrows term
" iH enc 2 year from next March. and
me east half Of the State wants one
OF the Senator's
Has Fight On.
This does not help the chances Of
burrows, and he has a real battle
ahead. He is opposed by Representa-
tive Townsend. who lives IN the east
half Of the State. and who IS now maxi
klg slrong organization and the fig~st
2 MS HE 10 beat Burrows. TOwusend's
Alances would be better had he not
zen with the insurgents Do the House
br time and then abandoned them on
me rules fight At the same time he
Us a formidable candidate. others arc
expected TO enter the race. and Former
secretary Of the Navy Newberry is a
The late uupleasautncss over Illinois
patronage seems 90 have blown over
II VIII be recalled that one dav NOT long
ago the President sent to tine senate mo
reappointmeuts OF two Illinois district
attorneys and one m-rsHaI. Seua+or
Jorimer had some candidates OF his
own, but me had not been consulted and
neither had Senator DrTi1n
Loud cries Of anguish went no from
the Illinois direction and Senator TDr-
mer was subjected f1 the ribald laugh
ter Of his enemies. who said fovousIv.
"Billy's been thTowo1 and 10 looks as
n Uncle Shelby helped toss him" TAX
was the combinations would be hcIDed
up, but the Senatorial opposition has
given way and the three VIII bc con- /
firmed.