The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-08
WHERE TAFT BlUNDERED.
MISTAKES IN MAKING SOME
SOUTHERN APPOINTMENTS.
Will Not Select POstmastcrs Without
Consulting Senators OF Their Dis
tricts.

WdShiiSlOu, JuIe G-l lie ITcSl-
dent has withdrawn from the senate
the nomination of n. l.. Steele to be
| postmaster at Birmingham, Ala. An
interesting story is connected with
this action on the part Of Mr.. Taft
Birmingham is the home city of Sem
ator Joseph f. Johnson.
The present postmaster is ]. Rivers
Carter, who has held the position for
number of years and has given such
| satisfaction to the patrons Of the Of
flee that he was overwhelmingly in
dorsed by the business and profess
sional men for retention In addition
Hon. Oscar w. Underwood, who rep
resents the Birmingham district in
the house. let the appointing powers
here know that he would be pleased
If Mr.. Carter were retained, and
pointed out that the people generally
desired his reappointment.
But 1t seems that during the Roose-
velt regime at Washington the Presi-
dent selected for the Southern States
which have no Republican Congress
men certain Republican politicians or
Office holders who, are styled referees.
and they are practically given control
of the Federal patronage in their re-
spective States. Although he at first
talked as IL he would not depend up
on referees, President Taft has car
ried out the same policy.
For Alabama the referees are Joe
Thompson, of Birmingham, and p. d.
Barker. of Mobile. The former is col
lector OF internal revenue for Alaba-
ma, and the latter. in addition TO be-
ing national committeeman, is. and
has been for years. postmaster of Mo-
bile.
Birmingham is the largest postoffice
in the State, and from that point
heavy distribution of government
funds Is made. The patronage of the
Office Is also considerable. Postmaster
Carter did not suit the referees be-
cause they did not consider him
enough of a politician
They tried to have him supplanted
and Joe Montgomery appointed. But
even Postmaster General Hitchcock,
looked upon as the real practical poll
tician of the administration, could
not see his way clear to remove Car
ter and put in Montgomery, especial
ly as the business men of the CITY
would not indorse Montgomery. So
the referees had to hunt for another
man. They then took up Joseph Bow
ron, quite wealthy and some years
ago treasurer of the Tennessee Coal
and Iron Company. But as only q
few corporations asked for his ap-
pointment. he did not get the job.
Finally y. l.. Steele was trotted out
He was In Senator Johnston's office
only few hours before his nomin
alton was sent to the senate. but not
word did he say to the Senator
about what was about TO happen. al
though he then knew his appointment
had been decided upon. 1t turned out
afterwards that Joe Thompson, one
OF the referees, was the only person
who asked for Steele's appointment.
Senator Johnston then took a hand
He objected to Steele's confirmation.
and the nomination has been hanging
fire for months. Meanwhile Steele's
friends were busy trying to induce
senator Johnston let up, but he de-
ciines' for the Republican Senators
who talked with him about the case
said his position was right, and that
they would back him in his efforts to
prevent Steele's confirmation.
Last year when President Taft was
In South Carolina on his return from
the Pacific Slope he made stop at
Columbia, S. G. He met there Sena-
tor Smith, Of South Carolina. who in
cidentally mentioned that the term
OF the postmaster at his home city Of
Florence would soon expire. The
President requested the Senator TO
submit TO him a list Of candidates
there being five or six. Senator Smith
commenced TO explain the qualinca-
tions, remarking that the first was
perhaps the best man Of the lot.
you need not go any further" Mr..
Taft reported to have said. 81 will
appoint him" The appointment was
mado in December, hut much TO the
disgust of Senator Smith the Prcsi-
dent selected the only really objection
able Republican on the list and he
was compelled to inform the head Of
the nation that II he raked and scrap
cd the community he could not have