The San Francisco call., 1910-07-24
PRESSURE ON TAFT
WORKED BY Wires
Director OF Geological Survey
Plays Political Game to AS
sist His Subordinate
George Otis Smith Sends Mes
sages Broadcast to Secure
Parker's Appointment
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call


WASHINGTON, July 23.-Dozens of
kilograms urging that pressure be
| brought to bear on President Taft to
appoint E. w. Parker as chief of the
bureau of mines have been sent out
of Washington to prominent men over
the country in one of the hottest bureau
campaigns which has ever been waged
here.
Unusual as the bringing pressure to-
bear suggestion is, the feature which
made the older department heads and
members of congress who are still in
Washington gasp when they learned of
the methods used in the campaign was
the fact that the kilograms were signed
by a bureau chief of the department OF
the interior, the full name and title,
George Otis Smith, director, geological
survey" appearing at the end of each
message.
PROPRIETY Is QUESTIONED
While the good time of public Of
ficers is being used up in the campaign,
in writing kilograms and letters ga
lore, yet it should be said in justice to
all that the kilograms are not going
out as official business Telegraph
franks are being conserved with a
vengeance. Director Smith, however,
has not told any one whether the tele-
grams were paid for by himself or
Parker, his candidate.
Members of congress who are inter
ested in the conservation movement
think that it is not exactly the proper
thing to make a football of President
Taft's best piece of conservation legiS-
lation in the game of bureau politics,
and that the policy of forcing the in
dorsement of a candidate on the presi-
dent through the means of ,tele-
graphic campaign such as is being
waged is almost going the limit.
THREE MEN IN CAMPAIGN
Three men are prominent figures in
the bureau campaign and these are
Director George Otis Smith, DR.. Joseph
A. Holmes, former chief of the tech
nology branch of the geological sur
vey which became the bureau of mines
in accordance with the act of congress
July 1. and E. w. Parker, statistician
in charge of the division of mineral
resources, a subordinatel and friend of
Director Smith in the geological sur
vey. The lines of the fight have been
closely drawn, with the field against
Doctor Holmes and with the survey
forces working hard for Z. w. Parker.
Holmes is now technologist of the
bureau of mines, and Smith is the tenn
porary head and his superior, having
been appointed by President Taft to
organize the bureau July 1. Holmes
has been in charge of the line of work
of the geological survey which is now
performed by the new bureau for some
years, and in view of his experience
in mine and fuel Investigations and
study for the prevention of mine ac-
cidents he naturally has been the lead
ing candidate for the new place from
the beginning. He is opposed, now
ever, by Director Smith, who is under
stood to have the sympathy of Secre-
tary Ballinger, his superior.
DIRECTOR WORKS ALONE
3. Holmes has. received indorsemepts
from practically every one else having
an interest in the mining industry, in
Guiding both the mine operators and
the miners themselves, and these have
long been in the hands of President
Taft, along with a petition from 81
senators asking that he be appointed
So far as the present campaign is
concerned, Parker is still in it, and his
only opponent is obliged to rest on his
oars and take no part in the active
work. Owing to the fact that Holmes
is now a subordinate in the new bu-
reau, which has only a temporary head,
he must maintain dignif1ed silence,
for any activity on his part would be
disloyalty to his present chief
Director Smith, as permanent head
Of the geological survey and tempo
rary head of the bureau of mines, how
ever. considers himself free in his dual
position to continue campaigning for
Statistician Parker. The latter, be-
cause of the friendlineSs and activity
of his chief, finds there is no need to
work for himself and is also able to
maintain dignified silence. Mean
while the work of bringing influence to
bear on President Taft is going mer-
rly on.