The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
Patronage FaVOrs Will Go to
 All Republicans Alike
LETTER IS MADE PUBLIC
Secretary Norton Expresses Tnft's Views on the Insurgent Question and the Proposal To Treat All
 Persons Alike
Beverly, Mass, September z

Beverly. Mass, September sSsS 1v- erly was not a little puzzled olVO, as to the exact meaning of the |. D : made public here today in which Sec retary Charles Dyer Norton, reflect ing the views of President Taft, an | nounced that the policy of withhold ing patronage from progressive" sem ators and representatives had been abandoned and that 1t was the pur- pose of the administration to treat all republicans alike. The letter was writ ten to an unnamed political leader in No interpretation of the document could be obtained from official sources. It was admitted that a variety of in- terpretations might be placed upon 1t | from the viewpoint of different polit- fcal observers, but 1t was insisted that the letter was a formal announcement of policy that soon would have been discovered in various appointments of postmasters, etc., that are about to be made in some of the progressive" states.
 The suggestion that the letter seemed to indicate turn toward the pro- gressives on the part of President Taft was met by statement that MT. Taft always has been a progressive" him self and that his record for progress sive legislation during his first year in office has never been equaled by cd dy,a{r, fcf, tt t<~,, It was said that the President wants to accomplish additional progressive leg islation at the coming short session of Congress and is anxious to rally the full strength of the republican ma Jority for the measures. In some circles there Is a disposition to regard the letter as an acknowledgement that the advice upon which the President acted in withdrawing patronage last winter was not of the best.
 | There Is also disposition In Beverly to regard the letter made public today as a further step in the process of re- adjustment which has been going on for some time now in circles close to the President.
 Insurgent Bad Term
 It was not admitted at the executive offices that recent progressive" sue cess in states like Iowa, Kansas, Cal ifornia and Wisconsin had influenced the President All of the progressive states have announced fealty to the national platform. Distinct objection Is raised in Beverly these days to the term "insurgent." On the other hand there Is a disposition to point out many of MT. Taft's utterances and acts of the past as evidence of a real pro- RraSSiVenagS ic o1c pointed out that the President has had to work with the machinery his party gave him. It is intimated that in the speech he is to deliver before the Ma tional League of Republican clubs in New York on October l the President may have something to say of his own progressiveness. This does not mean radicalism or rampant insurgency, it Is pointed out, but a recognition of the real progressive movement
 It Is recalled in Beverly that prior to his inauguration President Taft had many earnest conferences with leaders of the party looking to the overthrow of "Cannonism" in the House of Represen- tatives. It is declared that he was de- tered from this course by persons high In the last administration on the ground that to press the fight against Cannon, at that time would mean a split in the party and a loss of effectiveness in putting through and "clinching' the Roosevelt policies.
 Meantime the Norton letter is to be ther explanation MT. Taft's New York speech may shed some light on the situ- ation.
 Norton's Letter
 The letter of Secretary Norton in full follows:
 Beverly, Mass, 16, 1s10
 Your letters of the 9th are at hand, and l have delayed replying until after the primary elections. The President di- rects me to express to you and your friends his deep appreciation of the work which you have done, and the powerful assistance which you have extended to the administration from the beginning, an assistance that has contributed much to the legislation and other successes which have been secured. The President | recognizes that your efforts have been wholly disinterested; that you have fought sturdily and generously for what you believed to be his interest and the welfare and success of the party. While republican legislative proceedings in Con- gross were opposed by certain republic ans, the President felt it to be his duty to the party and to the country to with hold federal patronage from certain sen atOrS ana congressman who seemed to be in opposition to the administration eff forts to carry out the promises of the party platform. That attitude, however, ended with the primary elections and nominating conventions which have now been held, and in which the voters have had an opportunity to declare them selves. The people have spoken, and the party faces the fall elections the ques- tion must be settled by republicans of every shade of opinion whether the diff ferences of the last session shall be per- petuated or shall be forgotten.
 Danger Recognized
 "He recognizes the danger that in cer- tain cases expressions of feeling were so intense so as to make 1t difficult in some instances for factions to come to- gether and work for the party, but as he stated in his letter to the republican congressional committee. he believes 1t can be done and should be done The President Is confident that you will your selves meet your local and state situa- tion in this spirit. and that you will write to your friends and ask them to do likewise
 "The President feels that the statute of federal patronage has been greatly exaggerated and the refusal to grant 1t has probably been more useful to the
 
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