Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-15

BEVERLY, Mass, September 15-No
difference between so-called progress
ives and regulars will be recognized
BY President Taft hereafter. but all party
lssAers will be treated alike as republi-
cans in the matter of federal support.
The Presidents views to this effect are
given in e letter from Secretary Norton
to a republican leader of Iowa. whose
name Is not disclosed
In the letter Secretary Norton stated
. that while important republican legisla
ton pending in Congress was opposed by
certain republican leaders, the President
.felt that his duty required him to with
hoM federal patronage from senators and
representatives who seemed to occupy a
position hostile to efforts to fulfill the
pledges Of Sbe party platform.
Primaries Changed Attitude.
That attitude on the part of the Presi-
dent ended, however, with the more re-
cent primary elections and nominating
conventions. in which the people have de-
ciared themselves. and the President now
looks upon ''progressives" and regulars
alike as republicans. and as such entitled
TO his support and that of the party, and
the fall elections, Secretary Norton's let
ter says. must settle the question whether
the differences of the last session OF
Congress shall be perpetuated or for
gotten.
The letter of Secretary Norton in full.
follows:
BEVERLY, Mass,
September Ii, 1910.
your letters of the 9th are at hand,
and l have delayed replying until
after the primary elections. The
President directs me to express to you
and to your friends his deep appre-
citation OF the work which you have
done and the powerful assistance
which you have extended to the ad-
ninistration 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 you believed to be his inter-
est and the welfare and success Of
the party
Believed It His Duty.
While republican legislation pend
ing IN Congress was opposed by GER
tain republicans the President felt it
70 be his duty to the party and to the
country to withhold federal patronage
from certain senator's and representa-
tives who seemed to be in opposition
to the Administrations efforts to carry
out the promises OF the party plat
form.
That attitude, however. ended with
the primary elections and nominating
conventions which have now been held
and In which the voters have had op-
portunity to declare themselves. The
people have spoken as the party faces
the fall elections: the question must be
settled by republicans of every shade
OF opinion whether the differences Of
the last session shall be perpetuated or
shall be forgotten.
He recognizes the danger that in
certain cases expressions of feeling
we're SO intense as to make il difficult
in some instances for factions to come
together and work loyalty for the
party, but. stated I'm his letter to
the republican congressional commit
tee, ne beueyeS IL can be done and
should be done The President Is con-
hdent that you viii yourselves meet
Your local and state situation in this
spirit. and that you will write to your
friends and ask them to do likewise.
Its Value Exaggerated.
The President feels that the value
OF federal patronage. has been greatly
exaggerated, and that the refusal TO
Srant II has probably been more use
full to the men affected than the ap-
pointments would have been. In the
preliminary siirmishes i'm certain
states like Wisconsin and Iowa and
elsewhere he was willing. In the in
crest of what the leaders believed
would lead TO party success to make
certain determinations: but the
President has concluded that II is his
duty now to treat all republican con-
gressmen and senators alike. without
any distinction. He will now follow
the usual rule in republican congress
sional districts and states and follow
the recommendations made by repub-
lican representatives and senators, of
shade of ptpfiticaI opipi0p