The San Francisco call., 1910-01-05
Charge That Rebels" Are Re-
fused Patronage in Dis
tricts Starts Fireworks
Representative Miller Repeats
Conversation With POST
master General
Opponents of Administrations
Legislative Program TO Be
Given No Quarter

w TASHINGTON, Jan. 4-War
M without quarter will be waged
" by the Taft administration on
such republican insurgents" in con-
gress as are opposing the Taft legis-
lative program. The battle IS not
with those tariff insurgents who quiet
ly sheathed their blades after defeat,
but with those who have nursed dis
appointment and are whetting their
knives publicly in anticipation of con-
tinued conflict
Battle Is Waged
The battle broke suddenly today At
first II was a single shot; then a scat
tered firing: swiftly the thing spread,
until tonight 1t has taken on the
aspects OF a general engagement, the
consequences OF which can not be
foretold
The substance OF Il Is that senators
and congressman who have taken a
stand against the present adminfstra-
zion and who continue TO align them
selves with the opposition to the presi-
dents policies are to receive no con-
sideration in matters OF patronage
Utteranoes such as that made by
Senator Cummins at a recent dinner in
Des Moines. by Senator Bristow in pre-
Vious speeches. anti-Taft articles in
Senator La Fonette's magazine and a
recent interview with Senator, ,Clapp on
the price Of foodstufIs are said to have
started the president TO action.
Insurgents Seek Patronage
II has been reported further that
some republican insurgents in the
house have tried 10 obtain the appoint
ulent OF men more or less openly out
Of harmony with the Taft regime.
Taft's closest friends advised him that
81 would be impolitic for him to give
sinews Of war 10 those who. they
warned him. might even cooperate
with the democrats in congress against
the Taft Legislative program and in the
country at large by creating anu-Taft
sentiment in advance of the 1912 con-
vention.
il is stated without reserve tonight
that the president has listened to such
advice and has decided to follow it.
In support OF the position taken by
certain leaders Of the administration
she battle is not with the tariff insur-
gents. II was pointed out tonight that
Senator'S Nelson, Brown, Burkett and
Borah, al Of whom voted against the
Payae-Aldrich tariff bill. appear to be
persona grats at the White House,
postomce department. land office and
internal revenue bureau, where federal
pie" is served.
Miller Starts Battle
Representative Miller of the eighth
Minnesota district was the man chiefly
Instrumental in blowing the lid off,
Of the situation today He did it by
statement to the effect that Postmaster
General Hitchcock had informed him
yesterday that his recommendation for
presidential postmasterships were being
held up because Of his insurgent ac-
tiyities in the house. He quoted the
postmaster general as saying in sub
stance:
"A great deal II pressure is being
brought to bear upon me to withhold
from the insurgeRt republican con-
gressmen the patronage in their dis
tricts / am 10th 10 do this and the
matter is still under consideration"
Miller said he told the postmaster
general he intended TO carry the thing
10 the floor OF the house, but that
Hitchcock urged him TO defer any such
action until the subject could be fur
ther considered, whereupon Miller
agreed 10 await fun developments be-
fore precipitating an open fight
AS soon as the congressmsn's state
ment became known the postmaster
general called him up on the telephone
end took him to task for not regarding
=ae conversation as confidential to.
which Miller said that he had not so
understood it and felt that he had vio-
lated no confidence.
Plan TO Discipline Rebels"
Another feature Of the attitude of the
party leaders toward insurgent mem
bers OF the house was hinted at in
disclosures today It was currently re-
ported that 'rebellioSs republican
members Of congress soon were TO feel
the hand of the national party organi-
zstion against them in their home dis
tricts. The plan, according to the state
ment Of one of the insurgents, who
also is said TO be marked as victim,
was for the organization at Washing
ton to stimulate opposition to renom-
inat.on OF those congressman by di-
verse fccal activities
Rival republican aspirants for their
places we're 20 be encouraged and If