The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
AT THE CAPITAL.
President Taft's Policy With
Regard to Appointments.
Makes Politics Secondary to
Welfare of Government.
PEACE WITH CONGRESS
Will Exert His Influence to
Prevent Disagreement.
Has Kept Out of the Tariff Con-
tr0versy.

Washington, May 21.-PreSident Taft
is proceeding deliberately with the So
luton of the patronage problems which
confront him. Senators and representa-
tives occasionally exhibit impatience
! because he has not been expeditions at
times in the settlement of such con-
troversies. But there is such a wide
disparity in the ultimate results of the
proper treatment of the corporation
and the question as to whether Bill
Smith or Tom Jones should be sur
veyor Of customs at some particular
place. that in their rational moments
| it should be difficult for any of these
| critics. even the offceseekers them
selves, to find fault. Taft is playing
| the game of government first, and of
politics second. The public service is
| not going to suffer because an aspirant
| for a collectorship or a postoffice or a
| marShalShip does not get on the fed
/ eral pay roll as quickly as he desires.
| Moreover, President Taft doubtless
/ has come to the conclusion that eau
| ton in the selection of public officers
possesses its advantages. Hasty con-
| illusions sometimes result in picking
| the wrong man. He already mas
enunciated his policy of selecting men
| for the important offices under the gov
eminent who possess special qualifica-
lions for the work. AS a rule, he has
| avoided placing untried men in posi-
| tions of trust and responsibility. He
| regards experience as qualification
equally essential with good character
| to avoid making appointments which
may properly be construed as recogni-
ton of a faction in the Republican
party: his letter to Governor w. r.
Stubs, of Kansas. short time ago
clearly outlines the course he will nur-
she in this reSD0Ct.
There is every indication that Taft
will not engage In such serious contro-
versies with senators in the matter OF
appointments as did Roosevelt on oc-
casion. 1t is his evident purpose not to
shove down their Threats nominations
to which they take serious exception.
In his relations with the senate thus
far he has observed the spirit of the
constitution, which declares that he
shall make appointments with the adj
vice and consent of the senate con-
STRUNG that to mean that that body
should not be asked to confirm nOmi
nations distatesful to 1t. And, while
speaking of patronage, it already has
become apparent that the presidents
chief adviser as to appointments not
strictly congressional is Frank H
Hitchcock, the postmaster general. This
is as 1t should be, since Mr..
| Hitchcock, in his capacity as manager
Of the campaign, knows better than
be met by the administration. More
over, his judgment is discriminating.
There is every assurance that the
cordial relations established by the
president with congress at the very be-
ginning of his term will be a permanent
feature of the Taft regime. He has
manifested remarkable tact and diplo-
macy in his dealings with the mem
bers of both branches of the lawmak-
ing body and this is destined to bear
L 0Q1 yicln
Senators and representatives appre-
ciate the attitude of undisguised re-
spect which Taft has assumed toward
them. They in turn. are giving every
evidence of desire to cooperate with
him in disposing of the important
during his administration. This mu-
tuality of consideration should render
it not al all difficult to bring the two
coordinate branches of the government
together when the momentous questions
of properly controlling corporations
comes I'D next winter
Taft's course during the revision of
the tariff furnishes an impressive ex-
ample of his relations with congress.
He has resisted every effort thus far
made to have him project himself into
the controversy now in progress over
the reconstruction of the Dingley sche-
dulles. He stands committed to down.
ward revision and expects that to be
done on capitol hill. From time to time
the leaders of the senate confer with
him and ascertain his views: he does
not thrust his opinions upon them. La
ter on when the bill goes to conference
he will be consulted almost constantly,
so that when the measure is sent to
HIM for final action he will understand
il fully and know whether or not the
been fulfilled. But in the meantime
he will not demand the surrender to
him of any of the constitutional pre-
negatives of the lawmaking body.
The Washington Herald says: The
bread belt of Kansas is gradually
changing, according to Richard A. Will
Jams, of Kansas City. who is at the
Arlington.
.-It is moving to the northwest" con-
tinued Mr.. Williams. who owns large
wheat fields in various states The
extension in that direction is a natural
outgrowth of the increasing demand
for Kansas hard winter wheat, in con-
Iection with the rapid development of
the state. The diminished area of wheat
in south central Kansas is due to the
growing corn and alfalfa area.
For many years the south central
part of the state was the great wheat
producing section" said MIR. Williams.
Summer county held the banner so
long that other counties never thought
of competing. Yet Sumner county to-
day is way down in the ranks. Barton
county is the banner wheat county now.
But several other counties will push it
for supremacy in the future.
Both Cowley and Sumner counties
used to be looked upon as the two
greatest wheat counties in the world.
Now they are giving up wheat rails
ing to a very large extent, and
branching out into corn, alfalfa, and
live stock. This is due to two rea-
sons: First the farmers have had
hard luck growing wheat there in re-
cent years. Pests of different kinds
have been taking the crops. The
farmers reached the conclusion that
that section needed a change of diet.
So they began to plant corn and
alfalfa, and they found they could
make as much or more money on
those crops than on wheat crops