Evening star., 1909-05-15
TAFT TREBUKES STUBS
Governor of Kansas Told Not
to Try to Use President.
APPOINTMENT HELD UP
Robert Stone Not to Have $4,000
Unless Delegation Consents.
FRACTIONAL ROW IN STATE
Executive of Nation Objects to Being
Represented as Partisan
of Either Side.
APPOINTMENT HELD UP
FRACTIONAL ROW IN STATE

President Taft has pulled off sensation
IN Kansas politics that will cut figure
in that state for several years
In a tart letter to Gov. w. r. Stubbs
the President declares he will not permit
any political faction anywhere to use him
for political purposes. He goes step
farther and revokes the appointment of
Robert Stone of Topeka, personal friend
of the governor. as attorney in the De-
partment of Justice at 5000 a year.
The story reveals the factional differ
ences among the republicans of Kansas
To an extent not heretofore known. This
row was evident In the last campaign, in
which Joseph l.. Bristow defeated ex-
Senator Long, personal friend of the
President.
Gov Stubbs and Mr.. Bristow were ar
rayed against Senator Long and his fac
tion. The bitterpess was manifest
throughout the campaign.
President Taft was aware OF 1t all and
kept out of it. He greatly desired to
name Chester l. Long to an important
cabinet appointment and would have done
but for the trouble.
He turned down this friend that he
might not be accused in the remotest de-
gree of interfering in state fight. 1t
was quite natural, therefore, that he
should resent any attempt of the BristoW-
Stubbs faction to make 1T appear that he
was with them as against the Long fac
ton.
Gov. Stubbs is an avowed candi-
date against Senator Curtis for the
United States Senate. At every oppor-
tunity he takes fall out of Representa-
tive Anthony, the tall, good looking rep
resentative from the Topeka district, a
personal friend of Senator Curtis.
Stubbs' Mission to Capital.
Gov. Stubbs was in Washington
several weeks ago trying to get the ad-
ministration to let down the national
banking laws so as to permit Kansas
national banks to take advantage of the
state guarantee bank laws. The Presi-
dent, Secretary MacVeagh, Controller
Murray and Attorney General Wicker
sham were all against the scheme. The
Attorney General rendered an opinion
against the contention Of the governor
and the banks.
While here Gov. Stubbs asked the
President to name a Kansas man to a
good position in the Department Of Jus
tice. The President consented. suppos-
ing that whoever was named would have
the backing of the delegation from the
state as well as the governor.
Gov. Stubbs sent on Robert Stone, a
lawyer, hailing from Topeka, the home
town Of Senator Curtis. Stone was
named by Attrney General Wickersham
TO a three-thousand-dollar place in the de-
partment-
Senator Curtis and Representatives An
thony and Miller heard of the appoint
ment through what are known as the
Stubbs newspapers of Kansas. These
organs let off great cachinnations of irony
and delight that Gov. Stubbs had secured
the appointment without the knowledge
of the Kansas congressional delegation.
The articles appeared to have been in
spired by the governor.
A afterWard senator
and two representatives went to the
White House and pulled on the Presi-
dent these articles and the other evil
dences of gloating Mr.. Taft proceeded
without delay to bring out the Taft maui
heretofore reposing in corner of the
executive offices. and to use il heavily
on the Kansas governor.
Two Letters Written.
He wrote two letters. one to Gov.
Stubbs and one to Attorney General
Wickersham. In the latter he told the
head of the Department of Justice TO
temporarily. at least. revoke the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Stone. and said that
Gov. Stubbs had "thoughtlessly placed
US in position that is entirely inde-
fensible."
In his letter to Gov. Stubbs, the gist of
which has leaked out before it reached
the governor, he said he had supposed
the appointment would be credited to
pected to consult the delegation about II.
To my great surprise" says the Presi-
dent. Il am shown now an article in which
AIR. Stones appointment is heralded as a
humiliation to the members of the dele
cation and as a joke on them; not only
hat. but also instrument for the de-
teat of one Of the congressman, Mr.. An
.hony.
II think you must yourself see, COVER
n"r. that / Cou'j not for a moment put
delegation. especially to particular friends
II mine. like MIR. Anthony and Senator
Curtis
The President then states that If the
delegation shall approve the appointment
sf Stone it will again be made.
The President winds up by saying:
Il can't allow myself or the depart
nents under me to be made the means
,f the promotion of the political fortunes
II one faction or the other in a state as
important Kansas"
President and Ohio Factions.
President Taft has been consistently try
ing to keep out of factional warfare in
Ohio and bring the party there together.
To do this he has made several personal
appointments. The fact that one of these
Appointments has not yet been confirmed
~ the Senate has not been overlooked hv
Ohioans.
April ~. nearly a month ago, the Presi-
tent sent To tne senate the of
George w. Huntley. a railroad conductor.
% be collector of customs at Toledo The
domination was sent TO the committee en-
commerce. of which Senator Burton is a
member. II was referred to Senator Bur-
on as subcommittee for recommends
ion To the full committee.
Strangely, the committee has not acted
tpou the nomination and the Senate has
iot confirmed il. Being of a personal
nature, il was supposed by Ohio poll
icians that Senator Burton would act
promptly and have the nomination con-
irmed
As he has not done So Ohio people are
beginning 10 wonder whether Senator Bur-
on is placing himself in the attitude OF
folding up the personal selections of the
PRESIDENT. or whether there is an under
1anding between him and the President
hat confirmation shall be delayed short
ime.
At any rate. the situation is causing no
md of comment The usual step in a
natter of this kind is to promptly con-
trm personal nomination of the Pres-
lent as an act of courtesy.
Senator Dick talked with the President
cday about deferred appointments at
Continued on Seventh Page)