The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-19
CAPERS NO LONGER REFEREE

hS1GE66 0ySGTA~ Se1P0Ao Se1Jo 4AS
Always Opposed Crum and Recon-
mended, as rs Latter's Successor,
Capt. J. o. Ladd, of summerville.
Washington, March 16.-When
President Taft today sent the name
of F. W. Durant, Jr., to the senate
for confirmation, as collector Of the
port Of Charleston, lie set in motion
the new plan for patronage dispensa-
ton in the South that he has long
had in mind.
MIR. Durant s name was second on
the list of more than a hundred 9TH
ers. It is plain from this that the
president wanted not only to make
him collector in Crum's place, but TO
do so at once, in order that it might
become known what policy is to be
followed in such matters in the future.
There is no use in longer conceallng
the fact that the political days of
Commissioner John G. CaperS, of the
internal revenue bureau, who for some
years has dictated the filling Of gov
ernment officers in South Carolina,
are at an end, and, while it may not
be true that any one else has been
named vet to succeed him as referee,
the truth may as we'll be known, and
that is, that when the president de-
sired to make Mr. Durant's appoint
ment he did not consult Mr.. Capers,
but sent for Postmaster General
Hitchcock, who, with Postmaster Har-
ris, of Charleston, recommended Mr..
Durant's appointment. Mr.. Capers
was not taken into consideration in
any way, so far as can be learned.
1t. is safe, therefore, to figure on
the president 5 future policy so far as
making these appointments is con-
cerned, and that policy will be to get
the best white men from the Repub-
ican party, if they are to be had;
failing in this, then turn to others.
But he does not propose to follow
blindly the old ruts, depending upon
the ancient and obnoxious referee sys-
TEN. This means that not only Mr..
Capers, but others who formerly die
tated patronage distribution, will have
no status with the administration as
such hereafter.
The naming of Mr.. Durant is an I'M
portant step for more reasons than
one and augurs we'll for both Presi-
dent Taft and his friends in the
South, who are backing him up by
bringing forward their best men IN
filling vacancies under the admins
tration.
Mr.. Durant will probably be con-
firmed some time this week.
Capers Issues Statement.
When Mr.. Capers was seen tonight
and asked for a statement about this
matter he said: ~ have never recon-
mended Crum for appointment, and
when asked about the qualifications
Of Mr.. Durant, I recommended him
unqualinedly. Mr.. Durant married
the widow OF my class-mate, and l
have always entertained the warmest
feelings for him. When I lived in
Charleston, he lived just across the
street from where I did, and | know
him to be a man of the highest charac-
ter and a man of splendid ability. l
did not recommend him when l was
first asked about the appointment. but
recommended the appointment OF
Capt. J. O. Ladd, postmaster at Sum-
merville, an old Union soldier. Post
master Harris asked me about MIR.
Durant and I spoke in the highest
terms Of him, but said I had never
thought of him in that connection. l
did not continue to press Capt.
Ladd's appointment because he had a
good position in the postmastershlp,
and Mr.. Durant was wholly accepta-
BILE to me. I was also asked whom |
would favor if Democrat was to be
named and I replied "Billy Storen. >
Opposed Crum's Appointment.
AS for Crum's original appoint
ment, when the appointment was un-
der consideration I came to Washing
ton in company with 7. L. Grant, and
urged the appointment Of r. R. Tol-