The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-06
PATRONAGE CLUB
IS BEING WELDED.
No s'Pie" Unless Eaten
at the Administers
tion Table.
NO ATTEMPT MADE
TO DEN Y CHARGE
Insurgents Are Bitter in Denun,
citation Of Policy Inaugurated
by Taft to Whip" Them
Into Line Cannot Be
swervcd by Official
Sop.

WASHINGTON, d. u, January o.
While no formal statement was forth
coming at tho White House to-day,
there was no attempt in admfntstra-
ton circles to deny that President
Taft Is Withholding certain custom
airy congressional patronage from
those 'insurgcnt' Senators and Rep
President say, show no disposition to
support administration measures.
President Taft is reported as taking
the attitude that II an obligation rests
upon him to give certain patronage to
representative OF his party. there Is
q reciprocal obligation upon the rep-
resentative to support the President.
A number OF the so-called sinsur.
gents were out In interviews to-day
saying that they heartily agreed with
tho President'g Legislative program,
and asserting that instead OF using the
'.1thip" on them, the President should
use 1t on those leaders who in the
past had opposed the Roosevelt poli-
cies which Mr.. Taft is seeking to enact
into law.
On the part Of the President, it was
said to-day that the Withholding OF
patronage does not apply to all OF the
insurgents" and has absolutely nott-
ing to do with their fight against
Speaker Cannon or the House rules.
Taft's Side of Case.
Victor Rosewater, Republican Ma
tionaI Committeeman from Nebraska,
one of the insurgent States, saw Presi-
dent Taft this afternoon, and in an au-
thorized interview said:
THE President said to me that he
wanted me to help correct the reports
that are being circulated 10 the effect
that he is using the patronage CLUB
to whip so-calied insurgents into
line. The President says that there Is
"a weli-foundsds custom that hus be-
,rns st m, lest tta 9.lCss.xi psr
certain appointments such as post
masters, the President should act on
recommendation of the member of
Congress in whose districts the ap-
member of the same political party.
This obligation resting on the Presi-
dent, however, is reciprocal. he feels.
The Republican Congressman. he de-
clared. is under a similar obligation to
support administration measures rec
commended by the President to carry
out platform pledges on which both
were elected. The President says he
has not turned down recommendations
of insurgent Republicans. but 10 sim
ply preserving the status QUO to Inn
press them with their obligation.
With amazement. In some cases, Dor
dering on anger, the insurgent Repub-
lican members OF the House to-day
read the published reports that they
were to be singled out by the admin
istration for punishment for their "re-
bellious conduct as members of the
majority of the House.
Policy Denounced.
Several of them were unsparing in
their denunciation OF a policy which
sought to punish man for freedom
and independence of thought and ao-
ton, as they expressed 1t. Not a few
were 10th to believe that President
Taft would lend his aid to an effort to
administer castigation to them for
supporting the very principles and
policies for which they claimed the
party itself stood pledged.
Representative Madison, Of Kansas,
expressed view of the matter, to
which several of his associates sub
scribed. He said In part:
4 I'VE insurgents. as we are called,
are not against Taft or his policies.
We are unanimously, I believe. In
favor OF every leading reform to which
the President and the Republican
party Is committed
ut is slanderous to say that we can
be swerved from the course Of sup-
porting these reforms by the withhold
ing OF any OF the patronage by any
body or be induced to support this or
that proposition by the offering of
official sop of any kind.
"It is not the insurgents of the
House but men like Aldrich and Cam
non whom the President will have to
induce to support his 'policies.'.'
Representative Hayes, OF California,
said to-day that he would call meet
ing Of the insurgents next week to
ascertain from the President where
they stood.