The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-05
BITTER FIGHT TO BE WAGEo BY
ADMINISTRATION AGAINST
"INSURGENTs.-
THE BATTLE IS ON NOW
Senators and Congressmen Who Have
Taken a Stand Against the Taft
Policies. and Who Persist in Align
ing Themselves With the Opposition.
Are to Be Denied Patronage PIurs.

| Washington. Jan. 4-War without
quarter will be waged between the
Taft administration and such republi-
can Insurgents in congress as are
opposing and who oppose in the fu-
ture. the Taft Legislative program. The
battle is not with those tariff insur-
gents who quietly sheathed their
blades after defeat. but with those
| who have nursed disappointment and
are whetting their knives publicly in
anticipation of continued conflicts
! The battle broke suddenly today. At
first IL was a single shot: then a
! scattered firing. swiftly the thing
/ spread until tonight il has taken on
the aspects of a general engagement.
! the consequences OF which cannot be
! foretold
Out Of Harmony.
The substance of il is that senators
| and congressman who have taken a
stand against the present administra-
| tion and who continue to align them
selves with the opposition to the
presidents policies. are to receive no
! consideration In matters of patronage
Utterances such as that made by Sem
ator Cummins at recent dinner in
Des Moines. by Senator Bristow in
previous speeches. antiTaft articles
in Senator LaFollette's magazine. and
recent Interview by Senator Clapp
on the price of foodstuffs. are said
to have stirred the president to ac-
tion.
II has been reported further that
some republican insurgents in the
house have tried TO obtain the ap-
pointment OF men more or less openly
out of harmony with the Taft regime
Mr.. Tafts closest friends advised him
that II would be impolitic for him to
give sinews of war To those who, they
warned him, might even Cooperate
with the democrats i'm congress against
the Taft legislation program and in
the country at large by creating anti
Taft sentiment In advance of the 1912
convention.
III Is stated without reserve tonight
that he president has listened to such
advice and has decided to follow il,
In support of the position taken by
certain leaders of the administration.
the battle is now with the tariff In
surgents. II was pointed out tonight
that Senators Nelson. Brown Rurkett
and Borah, all OF whom voted against
the Payne-Aldrieh tariff bill appear
To be persona non grata at the White
Rouse. postoffice department. LAND Of
flee and internal revenue bureau.
where federal pie" Is served
Smoke Them Out.
No politician who would discuss the |
situation at al tonight dared venture /
an opinion as 10 the political outcome |
OF the contest. Some insisted that /, /
would arouse bitter opposition to Presi- /
dent Taft. while others declared that /
the effect would be to make all re-
publicans line up for or against the
president and smoke out. those who
nave carefully kept a neutral position.
Miller of the Eighth
Minnesota district. was the man chief
iy instrumental i'm blowing the lIl
orr of the situation today. He did
II by statement to the effect that
Postmaster General Hitchcock had in
formed him yesterday that his rec
concentrations for presidential post
masterships We're being held up be-
cause OIL his insurgent activities in the
house. He quoted the postmaster
general as saying ia substance:
"A great deal of pressure is being
brought To bear upon me to withhold
from the insurgent republican con-
sressmen the patronage in their dis
'ricts. l am loath to do this, and the
matter IS still under consideration"
Not Confidential.
Mr.. Miller said he told the postmast-
ar general he intended to carry the
ming TO the floor of the house. but
mat Mr.. Hitchcock urged him TO de-
,er any such action until the sub
ect could 5e further considered.
Whereupon Mr., Miller agreed to
twaft full developments before pre-
,lpitating an open fight. As soon as
he congressmen's statement become
Known the postmaster general called
aim up on the telephone and took him
o task for not regarding the con-
'ersation as confidential. to which Mr..
Miller replied that he had not So un.
iersiood il and felt that he had wi
Hated 10 confidence
Representative Miller said touiynC
nat a month or more ago he COM
lied with request from the postof-
Ice department To forward his rec .
upon several nustmast-
rshlps in Minnesota.
Nter waiting several weeks n.
allied AT the department. he says, but
ouid get no satisfactory information
nd Was for long time unable to see
ne postmaster general. He succeeded
n gaining an audience yesterday af- Ii
ernoon and il was IN that converse [
ion, according 10 Mr.. Miller. that Mr. I
Hitchcock informed him OF the ex- 5
stence Of a situation that had mads I
4 .a