The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-28
TAFT|SATTACKED BY SENATOR BOURNE Charges President Is Using
 Undue Influences NO DEFENSE OFFERED Senators Do Not Attempt to Defend Taft, Although Attack Was
 Sharp and Direct-aRourne
 Was Friend
NO DEFENSE OFFERED

Washington, February 27.-President Taft, by inference, was charged to- night with using his appointive powers to intimidate members of Congress. The inferred charge was made In speech in the Senate by Senator Johathan Bourne of oregon, president of the new rros ressive republican lea s'et and, un til recent trouble oNel all Oregon ap- pointment. the intimate friend and golf ing companion of the executive. The surprising thing was that although all of the senator's audience construed his remark as an attack upon the President not word was uttered in reply.
 The famous patronage, letter writ ten by Secretary Norton to an unnamed Iowa congressman while President Taft was at Beverly last summer, de- claring that the President had withheld facial patronage from certain senators and congressman, but would discon- tinue that practice, was brought into the limelight On previous occasions insurgent senators have threatened to read this letter in the Senate but un- til tonight no public reference had been made to 1t.
 Senator Bourne said that the use of the presidential appointing power to coerce members of Congress would eith- CT be bribery or intimidation-bribery if patronage was used as a reward and intimida ton if withheld as punishment. In this connection he read section 5450 of the revised statutes. making 1t a crime for any person to offer or give a a har of either house of Congress with intent to influence his vote or decision on any matter pending In either house. Com tinuing. he said:
 The natural inference from the Nor ton letter is that the President of the United States used federal patronage to influence the action of members of Congress. This Is a charge which nc citizen can discuss without regret, yet the whole subject is of such vital inn portaace In the preservation of repre- remiss in my duty if l failed to call 1t to the attention of the country and place In available form such informa = ton relating thereto as may come to my attention. The undenied statement indicates deplorable and despica ble subtervence upon the part of the leg islative branch and dangerous and
 
 of the executive.
 "I would have as much respect for common ward heeler who buys votes at the polls as for a President of the United States who uses his ap- pointing power as a means of forcing or persuading members of Congress to determine or change their course of action. One transaction Is as dishonest as corrupt, and as depraving as the nf hnr hue lot ous, more insidious. more pernicious than the former because it strikes at the very foundation of free institutions sets precedent for corrupt metho ods in all official life and marks the be ginning of dictatorship and decadence of the nation.
 But, MT. President. the use of tn appointing power to influence the ac. tion of memb CTS of Congress Is only one means by which this power may be abused. Federal patronage Is also a,i effective and dangerous power wh Wielded for the creation or maintenahf of a political machine with pur ls of forcing renomination of an esecr tive or the nomination of a man of choice }
 Extension of the power of t. ecutive is the beginning of diott ship. The remedy Is to make the D.e idents directly accountable to earf
 general electorates by en ,rs,rS AVS Tor presidential primary votss thereby destroying the power i,s- litical bosses ond their backerA he campaign contributors The peopt be trusted The composite citizens 4 n more and act from higher motiveslN any single individual however tre,, experienced or well developed Ir S1 composite citizen selfishness Is tIna mixed while in the individual ft r usually dominant. afNa