Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-01-06
TAFT JOINS CANNON
And DECLARES WAR AGAINST
Insurgents IN Congress.
vii! Whip Them into Line by With
drawsI OF Patronage. Insurgents
Stand ~ Their Guns and Whet
Knives for the Fray. Miller Opens
the BaI1.

s"NVSo wi VIZ CtTdys C1uUSC O0cOS
the Bali.
WASHINGTON,Jan. 4-War with
out quarter will be waged between
the Taft administration and such
Republican insurgents" in congress
who are opposing and who oppose
In the future the Taft legislative
program. The battle is not with those
tarin insurgents who quietly sheath
ed their blades after defeat, but
with those who have nursed disap-
pointment and are whetting their
knives publicly in anticipation of
continued conflict.
The battle broke suddenly today.
At first 1t was a single shot; then
scattered firing; swiftly the battle
line spread, until tonight it has TAX
en- on the aspect of general engage
ment. the consequences of which can
not be foretold.
No Patronage Promised
The substance is the senators and
congressman who nave taken a stand
against the present administration
and who continue to align them
selves with the opposition to the
presidents policies, are to receive no
consideration in matters of patron
age.
UtteranceS such as that made by
Senator Cummins at recent dinner
in Des Moines; by Senator Bristow
in previous speeches; anti-Taft ar
ticles in Senator LaFollette's maga-
;rt
ator Clapp on the price of foodstuffs
are said to have stirred the presi-
dent to action.
1t has been reported further that
some Republican insurgents in the
house have tried to obtain the ap-
pointment of men more or less open
ly out of harmony with the Taft re-
gimc.
President Accepts Advice
Mr.. Taft's closest friends advised
him that it would be impolitic for
him to give sinews of war to 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 anti-Taft sentiment in
is stated without reserve tonight that
the president has listened to such ad-
vice and has decided to follow it.
In support of the position taken
by certain leaders of the administra-
tion the battle is not with the tariff
insurgents. 1t was pointed out to-
night that Senators Nelson, Brown,
Burkett and Borah, all of whom vot-
ed against the Payne-Aldrich tariff
bill, appear to be persona grata at the
White House, postOffice department,
land office and internal revenue
bureau, where federal ''pie' is served.
Politicians All Reticent
No politician who could discuss
the situation at all tonight dared
hazard an opinion as to the political
outcome of the contest. Some insist
ed it would arouse bitter opposition
to President Taft, while 9TH
ers declare that the effect would
be to make all Republicans line up
for or against the president, and
'smoke out" those who have care
fully kept a neutral position.
Representative Miller, of the
Eighth Minnesota district, was tho
man chiefly instrumental in "blow-
ing the lid off, of the situation to-
day He did is by statement to the
effect that Postmaster General Hitch
cock had informed him yesterday that
his recommendation for presidential
postmasterships were held up because
of his insurgent activities in the
house.
Mr.. Hitchcock Quoted
He quoted the postmaster general
as saying in substance:
"A great deal of pressure has been
brought to bear upon me to with
hold from the insurgent Republican
congressman the patronage in their
districts. I am loath to do this and
the matter is still under considera-
tion."
Mr.. Miller said he told the post
master general he intends to carry
the thing to the floor of the house,
but Mr.. Hitchcock urged him to de-
fer any such action until the subject
could be further considered. Where
upon Mr.. Miller agreed to await full
developments before precipitaing an
open fight.
AS soon as the congressman state
ment became known the postmaster
general called him up on the tele-
phone and took him to task for not
regarding the conversation as con-
fidential, to which Mr.. Miller replied
that he had not SO understood it and
felt that he had violated no confid-
ences.
Names Not Acted Upon
Mr.. Miller said tonight that
month or more ago he complied with
a request of the postoffice depart
ment to forward his recommends
tions on several postmastership in
Minnesota.
After waiting sevefal weeks he
called at the department, he says.
but could get no satisfactory inform