Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-16
Seeing the Handwriting on the
Wall He Decides 1t Is High
lime to Quit Playing
ravoriIeS
FEDERAL PATRONAGE TO
BE GIVEN IMPARTIAllY
President Writes a Letter In
Which He Makes Plain His
Position towards Both
Camps of Party
nv Associated pres<l

ference between so-caIled progress
ives" and regulars win be recognized
BY President Taft hereafter. but all par
" leaders will be treated alike as Re
rubIicsns in the matter of federal sup
port
The presidents views TO this effect are
given in letter from Secretary Norton
20 . Republican leader OF Iowa, whose
name is not disclosed
In the letter Secretary Norton stated
that while important Republican legis-
iatlon pending in congress was opposed
BY certain Republican leaders, the pres
ident fel. that his duty required him 10
withhold federal patronage from senators
and representatives who seemed to &C.
cupy a position hostile 10 efforts 70 full
nTI the pledges OF the party platform.
That attitude on the part OF the pres
ident ended, however. with the more
recent primary elections and nominating
conventions In which the people have
declared themselves. and the president
now looks upon ''progresSives' and reg
ulars' alike as Republicans. and as such
entitled TO his support and the support
OF the party. and the fall elections, says
Norton's letter. must settle the ques-
tioa whether the difference OF the last
session OF congress shall be perpetuated
or shall be forgotten The letter of Sec
Rotary Norton in full follows:
LETTER OF SECRETARY.
"BEEVRLT. Mass, Sept. Is. 1910.
Your letters OF the sth are at hand
and have delayed replying until after
the primary elections. The president d.
reefs me 70 express 20 you and to your
friend his deep appreciation 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 contributed much
10 the legislative and other successes
which have been secured. The presi-
dent recognizes that your efforts have
been wholly disinterested. that you have
fought sturdily and generously for what
syou believed 10 be his interest and the
welfare and success Of the party. While
Republican legislation pending in con-
gTesS was opposed BY certain Repub-
hcsns. the president felt Il 20 be his
duty 70 the party and 70 the country to
withhold federal patronage from certain
senator's and congressman who seemed
70 be In opposition to the administra.
tons efforts 10 carry out the promises
OF the party platform. That attitude. how
ever, ended with the primary elections
ana nominating conventions which have
now been held and in which the voters
have had opportunity 20 declare them
selves The people have spoken as the
party faces the fall elections: the cues
ton must be settled by Republicans of
every shade Of opinion whether the DIFF
ferences OF the last session shall be per
petuated or shall be forgotten.
DANGER Is RECOGNIZED.
he recognizes the danger that in
certain cases expressions of feeling were
so intense as 10 make il difficult in
some instances for factions to come to-
gether and work for the party but as he
stated In his letter 10 the Republican
congressional committee he believes IL
can be done and should be done. The
president Is confident that YOU will
yourselves meet your local and state sit
ustton in this spirit. and that you will
write 10 your trends and ask them to do
likewise.
The president feels that the vaIue Of
federal patronage has been greatly ex-
sggerated and the refusal to grant e has
probably been more useful to the men
affected than the appointments would
have been
ADMITS DETERMINATIONS.
In the preliminary Skir=nishes in GER
tain states like Wisconsin and Iowa and
elsewhere. he was willing in the inter
est OF what the leaders believed would
lead 10 party success. to make certain
discrininetions: but the president has
concluded that IL is his duty now to
treat all Republican congressman and
senators alike, without any distinction.
he viii now follow the usual rule in
Republican congressional districts and
states and follow the recommendation
made by Republican congressman and
senator's. Of whatever shade OF political
opinion, only requiring that the men
recommended shall be good men, the
most competent and the best fitted for
the particular office.
Sincerely yours.
Csigned)
CHARLES y. NORTON,
Secretary to the President"
Discussing the views OF President Taft
as disclosed by the letters OF Secretary
Norton, persons conversant with nation
al policies said that they should not be
As the party leadegs view the situation,
Iowa is not violently insurgent" The
Iowa Republican platform. IL is pointed
out, subscribed 10 such efforts as Presi-
dent Taft and his advisors have made to
fulfill the promises OF the national plat
form" and approved the efforts OF the
president TO secure the desired informs-
ton for a tariff revision through a board
OF experts"
THOSE HE SIGHTED.
Among those from whom, IL Il said,
the president temporarily withheld feder-
III patronage were Senators LaFoIletts.
Of wisconsin. Bristow. Of Kansas. and
Deliver. and Cummins, OF Iowa, and