Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-02-28
Former Intimate Friend and
Follower of President Startles
Senate by Unexpected Attack
to Which None Reply,
FAMOUS NORTON LETTER
BASIS OF ARRANGEMENT
Oregon Senator Wants Laws
Enacted Which VIII Prevent
Building Up Political Machine
or Distribution of Offices,
my Morning Journal Special Leased wirey

my Morning Journal Special leased wirey
| Washington, Feb, 81, --- President
Taft, by Inference. was charged to-
night with using his appointive pow
ers to intimldate members Of con-
gress. The inferred charge was made
in a speech in the senate by Senator
Jonathan Bourne OF Oregon, presi-
dent Of the new Progressive Republic
can league and until recent trouble
over an oregon appointment. the in
innate friend and golflng companion
cf the chief executive.
The surprising thing was that al
though all Of the senator's audience
construed his remarks as an attack
on the president, not word was ut
tered In reply.
The Beverly letter In which Sec
retary Norton said the president had
withheld federal patronage from cer-
tain senators and congressman, but
would discontinue that practice. was
brought into the limelight. On prevl-
Gus occasions lnsurgent senators
threatened to read this letter, but un-
til tonight no public reference had
been made 10 II.
Mr.. Bourne opened his speech by
a discussion Of the Oregon law. He
said when this Jaw In enacted by all
the states II will destroy tho power Of
the federal machine to rrenominate .
president or demand his successor.
The steam roller he says, Will be
relegated to the political scrap henp
and Its operators to the shadow OF
things forgotten, while fourth-class
postmasters will cease TO be a political
asset for anybody or any party
Senator Bourne said the use of thu
presidential appointing powers 10
coerce members of congress would be
either bribery or intimidation--hri
berry II patronage was used as a re-
ward, and intimidation II withheld as
punishment In this connection he
read section 5450 Of the revised stat
utes making II a crime for any per-
son to offer or give ANYTHING Of value
to any member OF either house OF
congress with intent 10 influence his
vote or decision in any matter pend
ing in either house,
Continuing, he said
"The natural inference from the
Merton letter IL that the president OF
the United States used federal pat
ronage TO Influence the action ef
members of congress. This Is I, charge
which no citizen can discuss without
regret, yet the whole subjec. Is ~
such vital importance In the preser-
walton OF representative government
that / would feel remiss In my duty
If | failed to call It to the attenti ~
OF the country and place beiote the
country such information relating
thereto as may come to my attention.
The undenled statement Indicates q
deplorahle and despieable subservi-
ence on the part of the Legislative
branch and a dangerous and hcmanli-
eating usurpation upon the part pf
the executive.
II would have os much respect tor
a common ward heeler who buys votes
nj the polls as for a president of the
United States who uses his appoint
ing power ns means of forcing or
persuadng members of congress to
determine or change their course OF
action. one transaction Is as dis
honest as corrupt and as depraving
as the other but the latter Is more
dangerous. more insidous, more per-
nicious than the former because ~
strikes AZ the very foundation Of free
institutions. sets q precedent for cor
rupt methods in all official life and
marks the beginning of dictatorship
aud decadenee OF the nation.
''Rut. Mr.. President. the use OF the
appointing power TO Influence the ac-
tlon Of members of congress Is only
ono means by which this power may
be abused. Federal patronage is also
an effective and dangerous power
when welded for the creation or
Of political maeflne
with its purpose of forcing nomination
of an executive, or the nomination OF
n man of his character.
Mr. Bourne outlined the manner N
which the executive employees are
used to control national
and particularly he COM
plained Of their use In sending delega-
lions from southern states which
never send republican representatives
to electoral colleges. Concluding he
said
Extension of the power OF the eS-
ecutive Is the beginning OF dictator
ship. The remedy Is 70 make presi-
dents directly accountable 20 party
and general electorates by enaetlng
lnws for presidential primary votes,
thereby destroying the power OF no-
litical bosses and their hackers, the
contributors. The people
can be trusted
"The composite citizen knows more
and acts from higher motives than