Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1910-10-06
Patronage or Principle.

ing in Congress was opposed by certain
Republicans, the President felt it to be
his duty to the party and to The coun-
try to withhold federal patronage from
certain Senators and Congressman who
seemed to be in opposition to the Ad-
ministration's efforts to carry out the
promises Of the party platform.
THAT attitude, however, ended with
the primary elections and nominating
conventions which have now been held
and in which the voters have had oppor-
tunty to declare themselves.
"In the preliminary skirmishes in
certain states like Wisconsin and Iowa,
and elsewhere, he was willing, in the
interest of what the leaders believed
would lead to party success, to make
certain determinations; but the Presi-
dent has concluded that it is his duty
now to treat all Republican Congress-
men and Senators alike, without any
distinction.
A backward glance is necessary to
interpret the full import of this confess
sion.
When the Sixty-frst Congress assem-
bled, the Speaker Of the House Of Rep
resentatives was the most powerful
person in legislation. Twenty-nine Re-
publican congressman were pledged to
vote against Joseph G. Cannon for
Speaker The President, seconded by
Mr.. Hitchcock, through threats of pat
ronage discrimination, open and inn
Piled coerced a sufficient number of
them to vote for Cannon to insure his
election. Thus Cannonism was forced
upon the Sixty-frst Congress by Presi-
dent Taft's official persuasion. "
BY virtue of Cannonism the Payne
Adrich Tariff bill was driven through
the House
Republican Senators and Representa-
tives who believed this bin violation
of the promises of the party platform
and who voted according to their con-
victions have been relentlessly pursued
by President Taft from that time until
the present.
The President and Attorney General
Wickersham presented to Congress a
railroad bill satisfactory to Wall Street.
Progressive Republicans dared to amend
it notwithstanding the patronage club
over their heads
As early as last February La Fol-
lette's, well knowing the abuse of
power which the President had been
exercising for months, in an editorial
entitled Patronage and Party Soldar-
ity, warned the administration of the
folly of attempting to coerce the real
progressives into the support of bad
measures through official patronage.
Commenting upon that policy La Fol-
lette's said:
"The support of the progressives for
progressive legislation will be given
without reference to patronage or ia
vors of any sort That support will be
accorded upon conviction. And it is
idle for the President to presume that
he can secure adherence from the pro
gressive ranks for any policies, or sup
port for any legislation reactionary in
its character
THE use Of patronage as a reward
for the support of administration poll
cies or as a punishment for independent
thinking and voting in legislation is a
survival of the old discredited spoils
system, which an enlightened public
sentiment will not sustain.
When the issues are made up, as they
will be in the next political campaign,
more clearly than at any time since the
War, it will be demonstrated that
mems records, not their control of poll
teal appointments, will determine the
results
Federal appointments have always
been made upon the recommendations
OF Senators and Congressman. Other
wise, the President might~Mexicanize
the government The Constitution pro-
vides that the President shall nomi-
nate, and by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate shall appoint am
bassadors, other public ministers and
consuls, judges of the Supreme Court
and an other Offices Of the United
States whose appointments are not
herein otherwise provided for and which
shall be established by law" This was
manifestly a measure Of protection to