Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-01-12
INSURGENTS AND PATRONAGE.

policy or the administration TO With
hold political patronage from those
senators and Representatives who with
hold their support from the regular
party organization.
Upon this subject the president, IN
a recent interview with member of
the republican national committee.
is reported to have said:
81 wantyou to help correct the reports
that are being circulated to the effect
that / am asir the patronage ciuo- to
whip so-called insurgents into line
There is we'll founded custom that
has become almost rule that in max
ing certain appointments, such as to
post Offices, the presidenG should act
on recommendation Nof the members
of Congress in whose district they lie,
if represented by a member of the
same political party. This obligation
resting on the president, however is
reciprocal. The Republican congress
man is under a similar obligation to
support administration measures re-
commended by the president to carry
out platform pledges on which both of
us were elected. / have not turned
down recommendations of inSurgent
congressman, but am simply preServ-
ing the statu quo TO impress them
with their obligation"
This is simply playing the political
game. and how can the president be
blamed for taking such a course? 1t
is not human nature to be continually
doing fayors for those who are not in
sympathy or in harmony with you,
but who, on the other hand avail
themselves of every opportunity to
belittle or injure you.
Where is there a man who in
private or business affairs would
bestow his fayors and honors upon his
enemies or assailants? Who could
expect a man with warm red blood to
do such mollycoddle thing. ?
Political appointments are to
certain extent a matter of courtesy
and a reward of party tealty and
service. and the president can not be
expected to extend such favors to
those who fight his policies. speak
disparagingly of himself and give aid
and encouragement to his enemies.
Congressman who, while protesting
to be republicans, have organized to
fight a republican administration,
would be very sure in asking for ap-
pointments to Office, to recommend for
the place such of their friends and sup
norters, as would, IN turn, also fight
the administration under witch they
served. -,
Where, then, is the consistency in
expecting the president to help build
up an Office holding machine which
he knows would be disloyal to him
and seek to bring about his defeat
There may be honest differences
of opinion among men of the same
party and the president is not the
man to visit his displeasure upon
members of his party who feel that
they cannot join with him in some of
the issues, but when they withhold
their aid where they could con-
scientiously give it, and oppose. him
IN everything. attempting to besmirch
his methods and impugn his inten
tions, that becomes an altogether
different matter.
A Washington correspondent to
the Chicago Tribune, recently made
the following comment upon the sub
Ject:
President Taft is not vindictive:
He feels he was elected by the people
to carry ont certain we'll denied
policies. One of these was the tariff
revision. During the struggle in
in connection with the Aldrich law
he received the support of the
organizations in both houses and
obtained from them concessions which
he deemed important, and which led
him finally to approve the bill.
1.-The insurgency which had existed
against the house organization, and.
to less extent against the senate
organization. gave evidence of direct
ing itself against the administration.
From the time of the adjournment of
the tariff session some of the men
who voted against the Aldrich bill
have taken steps repeatedly to spread
the revolt against the republican
party and even have gone to the extent
of attacking the president.
Several of these, il is charged,
went so far as to notify the post
masters who publish newspapers that
unless they attacked MIR Taft and
his policies they would not be recon-
meuded TOR appointment. Senator
Cummins has announced that he will
use his influence in behalf of the in
dependent candidates against the con-
gressmen who voted for the tariff bill
The effect of'this. il the jndg-
ment of the president and his advisers,
IL