The National tribune., 1910-09-22
PRESIDENTS
CAMPAIGN LETTER

IAMf ALUM LEI lEk
Is Followed by Appeal for Party
Harmony-Regulars and Insur-
gents Look Alike, Politically.
Patronage to be Equalized.
Quietly. but persistently, President
Taft continues to forward his plans for
the Congressional campaign, which
demonstrates that he is not entirely
without hope. He has followed his
campaign book letter with another ap-
peal for party harmony in the cam
paign, and has announced that all Re-
publican Senators and Representatives
will hereafter be treated without dis
tinction" in the matter of patronage.
This patronage announcement wDs
made thru a letter which Secretary
Norton gave out to the newspapers by
the Presidents direction. 1t occasiored
a little surprise, as it contained stat
ment that the President had been re-
fusing patronage to insurgent Senators
and Representatives who failed to CO.
operate with him in enacting rhe laws
he wanted OF Congress for the fulfill
ment of party pledges.
One of the most notable paragraphs
in the letter reads that while Repub-
lican legislation pending in Congress
was opposed by certain Republicans
the President felt it to be his duty to
the party and to the country to with
hold Federal patronage from certain
Senators and Congressman who seemed
to be in opposition to the Administra-
tion's efforts to carry out the promises
of the party platform. That attitude,
however, ended with the primary cleo
tions and nominating conventions
which have now been held, and in
which the voters have had the oppor-
tunity to declare themselves
1t is known, that while the letter was
signed by Secretary Norton it was die
tated by the President. An appeal for
all the factions to come together for
the campaign is contained in the docu-
ment. The people have spoken" the
letter states, and as the party faces
the Fall elections the questions must
be settled by Republicans of every
shade of opinion whether the differ
ences of the last session shall be per-
petuated or shall be forgotten"
The closing paragraph of the letter
announces that "he tthe President)
will now follow the usual rule in Re-
publican Congressional Districts and
States, and follow the recommends
tions made by Republican Senators and
Congressman of whatever shade of po-
litical opinion, only requiring that the
men recommended shall be the most
competent and the best fitted for that
particular office"
The name of the person to whom the
letter had been addressed was omitted
from the copies furnished to the press.
1t is understood, however, to have been
written to Republican in Iowa, who
was one of many correspondents in
quiring why the President did not ap-
point the Postmasters, District Attor-
neys, Internal Revenue Collectors and
other Federal offices in the States when
such appointments were recommended
by insurgent Senators and Representa-
tives. Evidence had been pouring in
upon the President that his refusal to
allow the insurgents the same patron
age recognition that other Republicans
in Congress have was hurting the party.
For long time the President refused
to honor the political Endorsement of
Senator Bob" La Toilette, of Wiscon-
sin. The Senator wanted 9. certain man
appointed as United States District At
torney for one of the Wisconsin dis
tricts, but for months there had been
nothing doing" II the meantime Sem
ator Isaac Stephenson. VINO is Senator
La Foilette's colleague from Wisconsin
and who was voting for everything in
Congress that the regular leaders want
ed, WAS getting all the local patronage
If he asked for the nomination Of a
Postmaster in given town or city
where there happened TO be a vacancy
the noIn;na ton was made forthwith.
But Senator La Toilette was advertis-
ing TO his constituents early and late
that the President was making an ex-
ception of him and a few other insur-
gents unwilling to support the meas
rtr q 1,pl
for enactment in Congress. The fighting
Wisconsin insurgent rung the changes
on this patronage situation all during
the Spring and Summer. He played
politicsfwith the situation in numerous
localities, and some friends told the
President that the refusal of patronage
had actually helped Senator La Toilette
to pile UP a majority of 10000 for his
own reelection to the Senate for an
other six-years term. The Senator found
IL easy TO stir up excitement in a COM
munity over the fact that Jim Jones
had been recommended by him for the
Postmastership, but could not get il
because the President would not honor
his political Endorsements
AS in fWlScodisin there had been q
great outcry in Iowa, for Senators Cum
Minis and DolliTef could not obtain any
Federal patronage. Some big dickering
has been under way with the Iowa in
the fold for this campaign and help
hold that State in line fer the party.
The restoration of patronage is expect
ed to assuage Senator Doiiiver at least
altho Senator Cummins is already out in
the open denouncing the move as an
attempt to bribe the insurgents back
into the regular camp. Down in Kan
sas Senator Bristow was one of those
who could not designate Postmasters
the President would nominate, and he
made great fuss about it, evidently to
his own advantage. for Senator Bristow
has been popular idol in Kansas this
Summer. and was big figure in the
overwhelming insurgent victory won
there some weeks ago at the primaries
Consequently the nominations of
Postmasters and other Federal officers
In insurgent territory which the Presi-
dent has been holding up are now be-
ing made. There has been a right
sbout-face in this policy, and many of
the Presidents friends, even some who
think the making OF the letter public
was bad politics, argue that he is on
he right track. and that his recognition