Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-16
MORTON WRITES TO IOWA MAN
No More Discrimination in Regard to
Federal Patronage,
PRIMARIES CAUSE a CHANGE
People Declare Attitude on Questions
of Party Policies.
FALL ELECTIONS ARE AWAITED
Question whether differences Are 60
he Pcrpetuated or Forgotten,
IL to BE settIed-GIves
Full Credit.

BEVERLY Mass, Sept. I5.-No differ,
ence between so-oalled "proEressives" and
regulars" will be recognized by President
Taft hereafter but all party leaders will be
treated alike as republicans in the matter
Of federal support. The presidents views to
this effect are given in letter from Sec
retary Norton TO Il republican leader OF
Iowa, whose name is not disclosed.
In letter Secretary Norton stated that
while Important republican legislation pend
ing in congress was opposed by certain
republican leaders, the president felt that
his duty required him to withhold federal
patronage from senator's and representa-
tives who seemed TO occupy position hos
tile to efforts to fulfill the pledges OF the
party platform.
That attitude on the part of the president
ended, however, with the more recent pri-
mary elections and nominating conventions
in which the people have declared them
selves and the president now looks on pro
gressives'' and regulars" alike as repub-
licans and as such entitled to his support
and the support Of the party, and the fall
elections. Secretary Norton's letter says.
must settle the question whether the diff
ferences OF the last session OF congress
shall be perpetuated or forgotten.
Text of Letter.
The letter of Secretary Norton, in full,
follows:
| BEVERLY. Mass, Sept Is, l91O.-Your
letters of the eth are at hand and have
delayed replying until after the primary
elections. The president directs me to ex-
press to you and your friend his deep ap-
probation 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 con-
| tributed much 10 the legislative and other
successes which have been secured The
president recognizes that your efforts have
been wholly d.sinterested; that you have
fought sturdily aud generously for what you
I believed to be his interest and the welfare
and success of the party While Trepub-.
lican legislation pending in congress was
opposed by certain republicans the president
felt 1t TO be his duty TO the party and TO
the country to withhold federal patronage
from senators and congressman who seemed
to be in opposition to the administrators
efforts to carry ont the promises OF the
party platform. That attitude. however
ended with the primary elections and NOM
mating conventions which have now been
held and in which the voters have had op
portunity to declare themselves.
People Have Spoken.
"The people have spoken. AS the party
faces the fall elections the question must
be settled by republicans OF every shade OF
opinion, whether the differences OF the last
session shall be perpetuateG or shall be for
! gotten.
He recognizes the danger that in GER
tain cases expressions OF feeling were so in
; tense as to make IL difficult in some in
stances for factions to come together and
work for the party, but, as he stated in his
letter to the republican congressional COM
mittee, he believes It be done and
should be done The president is confident
that you will yourselves meet your local
and state situation in this spirit and that
you will write to your friends and ask them
to do likewise.
The president feels that the value of fed
eral patronage has been greatly exagger-
ated and the refusal TO grant It has prob
= ably been more useful to the men affected
than the appointments would have been.
In the preliminary skirmlshes in certain
states like Wisconsin and Iowa and else
4 where, he was willing in the interest of
; what the leaders believed would lead 10
h party success to make certain discrimina-
e tions; but the president has concluded that
s It is his duty now to treat all republican
) congressman and senator's alike, without
e any distinction.
= He will now follow the usual rule in re-
. puDuSdIl NOi6ItssiOndl ulstIlCtS ana states
= and follow the recommendation made by
republican congressman and senators OF
whatever shade OF political opinion, only
requiring that the men recommended shan
be good men, the most competent and the
Z best fitted for the particular office Sin
cerey yours, CHARLES ID. NORTON,
Secretary to the President"
= Not a Concession 90 insurgency.
: Discussing the views of President Taft
o as disclosed by the letters of Secretary
e Norton, persons conversant with national
: policies said they should not be taken as q
a concession TO insurgency"
y As the party leaders view the situation
7 Iowa is not violently insurgent" The
l. Iowa republican platform. it is pointed out
+ subscribed to such efforts as President
'e Taft and his advisers have made to fulfil
Al the promises of the national platform" anc
" approved "the efforts OF the president Il
e secure the desired informa ton for a tariff
y revision through board OF experts"
Among those from whom IL is said tn,
- president temporarily withheld fedora
patronage were Senators La Toilette o.
Wisconsin, Bristow Of Kansas, Dolliver ant
Cummins OF Iowa and Representative Hub
bard OF Iowa