The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-05
ADMINISTRATION
FIGHTS INSURGENTS

quarter VIII be waSed between the
TAFT administration and such Republi.
can insurgents" la congress as are
opposing the Taft legislative pro.
gram. The battle Is not with those
tariff insurgents who quietly sheathed
their blades. after defeat. but with
those who have nursed disappoint-
ment-
The battle broke suddenly today At
first 1t was a single shot; then a scat
tered firing, swiftly the thing spread
until tonight 1t has taken on the a3.
poets of a general engagement. the
consequences OF which cannot be fore
told
The substance OF it is that senators
and congressman who have taken a
stand against the present adminlstra-
ton and who continue 20 align them.
selves with the opposition to the presl-
dents policies.
Utterances such as that made by
Senator CummlnS at a recent dinner
in Des MoineS, by Senator Bristow
in previous speeches and anti-Taft
articles. LaFollette'S recent interview
by Senator Clapp on the price of food
stuffs, arc said to have stirred the
president TO action
IL has been reported further that
some Republican insurgents in the
house have tried to obtain the appoint
ment of the men, more or less, openly
out of harmony with the Taft regime
Mr Tafts closest friends advised
him that 1t would be impolite for him
to give Il sign of war TO those, who
they warned him, might even cooper
ate with the Democrats In congress
against the Taft legislative program
and In the country at large by Great
ing anti-Taft sentiment in advance OF
the 1912 conventions.
IL is stated. without reserve, to-
night, that the president has listened
to such advice and has decided to fol-
low 1t.
In support Of the position taken by
certain leaders OF the administration
the battle Is now with the tariff In
surgents. 1t was pointed out tonight
that Senators Nelson, Brown, Burkett
and Borah, all OF whom voted against
tho Payne-Aldrich tariff bill, appear
to be persona grata at the White
House, postof1ce department. land
office and international revenue bu-
reau, where federal pie" Is served.
No politician who Will discuss the
situation at all tonight dared hazard
an opinion as to the political outcome
OF the contest Some insisted that 1t
would arouse bitter opposition to
President Taft. while others declared
that the effect would be TO make all
n Go, oonincf IA
president, and Smoke out" those who
have carefully kept a neutral posi-
tlon.
Representative Miller of Minnesota.
was the man chiefly instrumental In
blowing the lid of" of the situation
today.
He did II by a statement to the ei'
feet that Postmaster General Hitch"
cock had informed him yesterday that
his recommendations for Presidential
misunderstanding were being held up
because Of his insurgent activities In
the house. He quoted the postmaster
general as saying In substance:
Awaited Developments.
"a great deal of pressure is being
brought To bear upon me to withhold
from the Insurgent republican con-
gressmen the patronage In their dis
tricts. | am loath to do this. and the
matter is still under consideration.
Mr.. Miller said he told the postmas-
ter general he intended TO carry the
thing TO the floor of the house, but
that Mr.. Hitchcock urged him 10 de-
fer any such action until the subject
could be further considered. Where
upon Mr.. Miller agreed to await full
developments before precipitating an
open fight
AS soon as the congressman state
ment became known the postmaster
general called him up on the tele-
phone and took him to task for not
regarding the conversation as confl-
dental. To which Mr.. Miller replied
that he had not so understood IL, and
felt that he had violated no conh-
deuce.
Representative Miller said tonight
that a month OF more ago he COM
piled with a request from the post
office department to forward his rec
concentrations upon several postmas-
terships in Minnesota.
Got No Satisfaction.
AIleI MdllIuE otNci di Nt'hR IL
called at the department. he says, but
could get no satisfactory information
and was for long time unable TO see
the postmaster general. He succeeded
in gaining an audience yesterday aft
ernoon, and II was in that conversa-
ton, according TO Mr.. Miller, that NJ.
Hitchcock informed him Of the exist
ence of situation that had made 1t
possible for him To act ar yet upon his
recommendations. Mr. Miller insists
that he had no idea that the Interview
was to be considered private. as there
were three other callers in Mr.. Hitch
cocks office at the time who might
have heard the conversation Repre-
sentative Humphrey, Washington. was
one OF the three present and ono or
both OF the others were congressman.
Before making the matter public he
had conferred with Senator Clapp- He
did not desire. he said. to precipitato
any final break. but no had merely
repeated remarks which he considered
were official and authoritative,
Postmaster General Hitchcock was
silent tonight and no other Ofllciai