The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-04-12
.luP 10 PREsIpENr rAET.

q
The Wheeling IntelIigencer says
the action OF President Taft in the
Fairmont and Clarksburg postoffice
cases shows clearly that the Congress
men have little to do with postoffice
appointments, or words to that effect.
Mr.. George Summers, of Washington,
the West Virginia correspondent of
several newspapers quotes Senator
Elltins as saying that he hasn't taken
any hand in the selection Of postmas-
tiers; that he knows they belong to
the Representatives" and that Prest.
dent Taft has tried repeatedly to drag
him into these controversies much
against his win but that he at all
times and under all circumstances re-
fused to interfere with recommended.
ton made by the Representative.
That shoves the responsibility up 70
President Taft. Does he or does he
not recognize the right of Congress.
man to select the postmasters of his
district? Is he or is he not acting
fairly with Mr.. Parrish and Mr.. vii.
1iams in refusing to appoint them al
ter they nave won their fight for re.
commentator? 1t might be interest
ing for some other applicants to put
themselves In the place Of these men
and see how they would feel after
securing a recommendation to be
turned down by the President, be.
cause, forsooth, the people we're de,
ananding that change be made in
( the United States Senatorship. These
applicants now seem to be for Scott,
but they ought to see that 1t was the
man who had held Office for twelve
years against the field and that turn
down for one is. turn down for all.
The quotations from Senator ElEins
are so pointed and direct and show
the Presidents attitude so clearly that
we quote them entire as follows:
a have more snakes raked up now
than | can kill, said Senator Elkins,
today, in discussing report from
Washington that he had taken part In
the holding Up of the first district
postmasters recommended by Repre-.
sentative Hubbard. In other words
he has enough troubles Of his own,
without engaging in any ones fight.
Senator Elkins has been consider
ably annoyed by reports that he was
assisting in the holding up OF post
office appointments and stated EN-.
phatically today that he is not mixed
up in any postoHlce fight, that he does
not consider that postoffice appoint
ment belongs to the Senator and that
he has all. he can attend to without
mixing up in the postofice fights OF
any Representative in West Virginia
= Il have troubles enough of my own"
said Senator Elkins, without becom'
ing involved in any postoffice contro'
yeries. The President knows that !
am taking no part in the postmaster
ship controversies in West Virginia
and there is no reason why the public
should be misled in regard to my atti'
tude regarding these appointments
when / know they belong to the Rep
resentatlves."
Senator Elklns stated that the Pre3'
ident had sent for him several times
to confer with him as TO West Virginia
postofice appointments, but that he
had insisted each time that the post
once matters were none Of his bust
ness and he had enough troubles with
out mixing up in the fights Represen'
tatiyes might become involved in. Mr.
3Elkins says he told the President IN
each case that he did not care to be-
come involved in the matter and
would rather not express any opinion
In regard to the appointments,