The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-09-27
THE NEW YORK SITUATION.

The New York political situation
is complicated. Early indications
we're for a Republican split and a
Democratic victory; but the nemesis
Of Democracy. William Randolph
Hearst, with his following, is threat
ening to bolt the convention and
throw his support to Roosevelt. in
the event Roosevelt defeats the Old
Guard at Saratoga today and wins a
victory for the popular primary in
the Empire state.
Roosevelt at first seemed bound
for defeat. He was contemptuously
ignored by the state committee,
when his name was proposed for
chairman, and Vice-Presi-
dent Sherman chosen instead. But
II was unpopular and, in order to
put on a better face, the Old Guard
dragged the president of the United
States into the situation. with the
result that the president frankly re-
pudiated them.
Then the fight between Roosevelt,
on the one side. and the Old Guard,
on the other, for delegates COM
menced. IL is worth remembering,
as a coincidence, that Immediately
following a conference between Mr..
Roosevelt and the president, last
week, it was ascertained that the
unpledged delegates constitute the
deciding factor. and then the trend
of opinion was toward the success
of Roosevelt.
This is interesting, because the
great and good Lyman Abbott, who
sometimes gets mixed in his theology
but never in his Rooseyeltology,
criticized President Taft sharply for
letting it be known through the let
ter OF his secretary to an Iowa man,
that he had withheld patronage
from certain congressman, who had
refused to support, what he con-
ceived to be the Republican plat
form pledges, but that these con-
gressmen. having been nominated by
the people, would be treated like
tn others. We suspect Mr.. Taft OF
looking sharply to the endorsement
Of applicants for federal Jobs in
New York where they will do the
most good with uninstructed dele
gates.
The feature is worthy of consider
alton, since DR.. Abbott has seen fit
to censure the presidents use of his
appointive power. Any sensible man
knows that in the filling OF those
Offices, not under the civil service,
the president necessarily must take
advice. And from whom should he
better take than from the represent
tatives of the people OF those dis
tricts in which the offices are To-
Gated, and elected by capable men
THAT is, so far as the appointees
themselves are concerned.
But the congressman. being hui
man, name their political friends;
and it is not likely that the presi-
dent would appoint men OF opposite
political faith to his own, thus en-
abling the opposition party to build
up a machine on the strength of his
patronage: nor is Il to be expected
that he will take suggestions from
men of his own party. who are
known to be engaged in developing
a faction. or opposing the fulfill
ment of platform pledges made by
the party TO which they both be-
long. The question of presidential
appointments has two factors to be
considered: the effect on the public
service and the political effect, and
Lyman Abbott knows that.
However, we do not expect DR..
Abbott to object to the presidents
use of patronage in New York to
aid Roosevelt and the popular pri-
mary cause.