The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1909-05-29
Mr.. TAFT Is INDEPENDENT
Disregards Politics in Making
Appointments.
some SELECTIONS BIG SURPRISE
Politicians Are Worried Over Pres
ident's Attitude. Breaking Away
From Old Customs in
Southern States.

Washington.-Pre Taft Is
developing a tendency to independ-
ence that is giving the politicians
much worry. This tendency has not
been in evidence as yet to any siren
uous extent or in any strenuous fash
ion. Nevertheless, it is in evidence,
and the politicians istressed
over it. They are wondering, what
the end of It is going to be-,
The latest forceful exhibition of
/ this disposition is seen in the ap-
pointment of William Williams of
New York, to be Commissioner of I'M
migration for the port of New. York.
This appointment not only does not
meet the wishes of the New York
| Republican organization. but the or
ganization is, as matter of fact, not
| a little displeased over it. Repre-
sentative Herbert Parsons, chairman
of the New York County Committee,
was not in favor of Williams, and
wanted Secretary Whittle of the
county committee named. The pres
ident took the position that he was
interested in having the man most
competent for the job named, so
he addressed himself to disregard
ing politics and picking out man
whose past record in the immigra-
tion service satisfied him he was the
individual best suited for the ap-
pointment.
The case of Williams would not
be SO interesting If 1t was the only
one of the kind, but as matter of
fact the prominence Of this case en-
phasizes the disposition the Presi-
dent is manifesting In a number of
cases. A number of his judicial ap-
pointments have shown the little re-
gard for political demands. The in
stance of Judge Charles A. Willard,
appointed to succeed Milton D. Pur-
dy in Minnesota, Is case In point.
Willard was appointed because Taft
wanted him, and way was found
to circumvent the objections Of SEN
ator Nelson. Now, Willard, Is con-
f1rmed, though Nelson stood out for
year or more successfully against
that action.
+a.---4-ha -nrezidant Ia
breaking away from the old Repub-
lican politicians, and is consulting
Republicans and Democrats freely.
He is seemingly showing sincere
desire to appoint men of merit there
without reference to introductions
that are wholly political, though of
course, he feels that by proper pol
icy of appointments much can be
done to break up the solid South.
In Ohio, the other day, the Pres
ident appointed Hyman D. Davis as
United States marshal for the north
ern district. Senator Dick opposed
the appointment outright. Senator
Burton did not oppose it, but he did
not recommend Davis in the first
place. Davis was not his selection.
but the selection of John Hays Ham
mond.
These instances are sufficient to
show that while Mr. Taft is getting
along on terms of peace as far as he
can with the politicians and the
Republican leaders, he Is given to
doing things good deal as he sees
fit. The peculiar feature of this sort
Of thing is that up to date his ap-
pointments are not being opposed in
the senate.
The question some of the Repub-
lican political leaders are asking now
is whether this tendency of Mr.. Taft
Is not going to be manifested in
plenty of other things before his ad-
ministration gets very old. Plenty
time is left for the president to act
independent of the wishes of Senator
Aldrich and Speaker Cannon as re-
gaYds the tariff, and there is a &
strong belief in many quarters that
he may do it.
At any rate, he is gathering up
some data for his own use and has
got some figures from the Treasury
Department to show he Is keeping
the consumer in mind and 10 finding
just what the poor man is taxed Oh
the necessaries of life.