New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-16
BEVERLY IS PUZZLED
OVER NORTON LETTER
President Taft Will Treat Reg
uIars and Progressives
Alike.
PATRONAGE FOR LATTER. TOO

Chief Executive Recognizes the
Verdict of Recent Primaries
and Nominating Con-
ventions.
Beverly. Mass. Sept. 15.-Beverly was not
little puzzled tonight as to the exact
meaning of the letter made public here to-
| day. in which Secretary Charles Dyer Nor
! ton. rejecting the views of President Taft,
announced that the policy of Withholding
patronage from Progressive Senators and
| Representatives had been abandoned, and
that it was the purpose of the administra-
ton TO treat all Republicans alike. The
! letter was written to unnamed political
/ leader in Iowa, an insurgent stamping
ground.
No Interpretation of the document could
/ be obtained from official sources. 1t was
admitted that q variety OF interpretations
might be placed on it from the point of
view OF different political observers, but it
| was insisted that the letter was simply
formal announcement of policy that soon
/ would have been discovered in various ap-
pointments of postmasters, etc, that are
| about to be made in some of the Pro-
gressive states.
| The suggestion that the letter seemed TO
| indicate a turn toward the Progressives
on the part of President Taft met by
a statement that Mr.. Taft always has been
Progressive himself, and that his record
/ for Progressive legislation written into the
statute books during his first year in Office
has never been equalled by any other Re-
publican administration.
Wants More Progressive Legislation.
1t was said that the President wants to
accomplish additional progressive Iegisla-
ton at the coming short session of Con-
gress and Is anxious to rally the full
! strength of the Republican majority for the
measures. In some circles there is a dis
position to regard the latter as an &C
| acknowledgement that the advice on which the
| President acted in withdra wing patron
| age last winter was not OF the best. In
| this connection the following sentence
taken from MI Norton's letter is interest
| ing:
! In the preliminary skfrmishes in certain
states like Wisconsin and Iowa and else
where, he (the PresidenO was willing in
| the interest of what the leaders believed
would lead to party success to make GER
| tain determinations but the President has
concluded that il is his duty now TO treat
all Republican Congressmen and Senator's
alike without any distinction"
There is also disposition in Beverly TO
regard the letter made public to-day a a
further step in the process of readjustment
which has been going on for some time
low in circles close TO the President.
It was not admitted al the executive Of
! fees that recent Progressive success in
states like Iowa, Kansas, California and
| Wisconsin had influenced the President
| Neither was 1t admitted that results in
| these states were at all dispeasing to the
! President. Mr.. Taft declared last winter
that his test of real Republicanism was
support Of the party's national platform
| All OF the Progressive states have
| nounced fealty TO his platform. and the
| President is said TO be more than willing
to take the Progressive leaders at their
word, and he assuredly will give them an
opportunity this winter to carry some more
| Of the platform pledges into effect. The
| President declares through Mr.. Norton that
the value of federal patronage has been
greatly overestimated, but, taken for what
il may be worth. he does not propose to
! let il stand = hindrance to party har-
| Inony.
Term "Insureent" Objected To-"
Distinct objection is raised In Beverly
! these days 10 the term 'insurgent' On
the other hand, there is a disposition to
point out many OF Mr.. Taft's utterances
! and acts Of the past as evidence Of a real
| responsiveness on his part. It is also
| pointed out that the President has had to
| work with the machinery his part gave
| him.
| 1t IS intimated that in the speech he is
| to deliver before the National League of
Republican Clubs in New York on October
| the President may have something to
! say Of his own prosressiveness. This does
not mean radicalism or rampant insur-
! gency, it is pointed out but recognition
Of the real Progressive movement.
| Ii is recalled IN Beverly that prior 10 his
+. Inauguration President Taft had many
earnest conferences with leaders of the
/ party looking to the overthrow of Can
nonsm in the House of Representatives
I 1t is declared that he was deferred from
this course by persons high in the last
+ administration the ground that to press
/ the fight against Cannon at that time
would mean split in the party and a loss
/ Of effectiveness i'll putting through and
! 'cnching" the Roosevelt policies.
Meantime the Norton letter is TO lie al
! lowed to speak for itself without further
| explanation. Mr.. Tafts New York speech
may shed some light On the situation.
Secretary Norton's Letter.
The letter Of Secretary Norton. in fun.
follows:
Beverly. Mass. September H. 1910
/ hoCr letters Of the 9Th are at hand. and
i have delayed replying until after the pri-
! mary elections. The President directs me
TO express 10 YOU and to your friends his
deep appreciation of the work which YOU
have done and the powerful assistance
when you have extended to the admins
traton from the begtnning-an assistance
that has contributed much to the legisa-
i've ana other successes which have been
secured The President recognizes that
your efforlS have been wholly disintereste ed
that YOU have fought sturdily and gener-
ouslE for what you believed to be his in
terest and the welfare ana success Of the
party
While Republican legislation pending in
! congress was opposed by certain Repub-
licans the President felt il to be his duty
70 the party and to the country TO with
hold federal patronage from certain Sen
itorS and congressman who seemed 10 be
III opposition % the administration effort
TO carry out the promises Of the marty nj