Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-05
Curtis and BristoW Fail to Set
tie Patronage Fight.
FOUR PLUMS IN BALANCE
Chief Executive Still Hopes for Sat-
isfactory Settlement.
CONFERENCE LASTED AN HOUR
Representative Walter I. Smith and
Representative Boutell May Get
Judicial Appointments.

ouuiNldi
President Taft tried hard today to start
the initial steps in 4 settlement of the
republican tacti;,naI troubles in Kansas.
at least 50 ri as patronag GO is concerned.
but Wien the rowwow over no
peace pipes were smoked.
Senator curtis. chief of the Kansas
regulars. and Senator Rristow, the tall,
plIIIned knight of the radicals each left
the executive offices 1n about the same
frame Of mine as when he went there.
Neither wanted to talk much. being will
ing only to admit that no progress had
been made Senator BristoW remained
herind long after his colleague had
gone. but his time was spent in confer
ence with Secretary Norton. who has the
reputation Of knot unraveling that is pos
sessed by few. Between the President
and Mr.. Norton there is still hope that
the two statesmen may he brought to-
sether and some satisfactory basis for
settlement reached.
There are four lucrative federal Offices
to be disposed Of in Kansas. When Ser
ator BrlStoW got outside the administra-
ton breastworks at the last session of
Congress the President turned to Senaf or
Curtis for recommendations. One Of these
was of Harry Bone, now of Topeka, for
another term as United States a;tornev
Senator Bristow objected to this nomna-
tion and prevented confirmation by the
Senate Upon the reaSsembing OF Con-
gress In December the President did not
again send in the name Of Mr.. Bone, but
he did send in the nominations of A. W.
Smith to be pension agent at Topeka and
Fremont Leidy to be collector of internal
revenue.
Mr.. Bristow Is Obdurate.
The term Of William H. Mackey, jr.,
United States marshal, expires February
/. and this must be settled also. Senator
Bristow will not permit any Of the Curtis
recommendations to go through until the
question is settled.
Both senator's are frank in saving that
it seems impossible for them to get TO-
but Senator BristoW is willing to divide
the patronage, each senator taking two
places. Senator Curtis position is that
he is placed in an awkward position in
doing this. in view Of the fac, that three
Of his recommendations have already
been approved by the White House, and
he is committed to them in such a way
that he would look ridiculous to forsake
one of them
Senator Bristow would not object to be-
ing allowed to name the United States
attorney and United States marshal, leav-
ing the collector of internal revenue and
pension agent to Senator Curtis. Such an
arrangement would give Senator BristOw
the two best positions and for that rea-
son is Objectionable to Senator Curtis.
Senator Bristow has recommended to
the President the nomination of w. l..
Huggins of Emporia, for. United States
attorney, and has candidate for United
States marshal, whose name he is not
willing to make public at this time.
Conference Lasted an Hour
The President had both senator. in the
cabinet room, where he talked with them
for an hour. 1t was the first time the
two Kansans had conferred for a year.
Their last meeting was in the executive
Offices, when the President tried to get
them together. That meeting was fruit
less Of results.
Senator Curtis, formerly member Of
the House. thinks there should be not
over 100 members in the House. Its
not the business of the Senate to fix the
ator. but having had experience In both
bodies l think l know something Of the
situation in each. The Senate. with nine
ty-two members. does exactly the same
work as the House with its big member
ship. If the House had only 115 or 200
members it would be able to do much
better work giving longer consideration
to legislation. The country would fare
better. l am sure.
Statesmen May Be Judges.
President Taft is understood today
To be giving serious consideration to
the nomination Of Representative Wal
ter J. Smith OF Iowa for United States
judge of the eighth circuit in place of
Judge Willis Van Devanter, promoted to
the Supreme Court The President.
sentative Smith and highly appreci
ates his qualities and peculiar fitness
for the bench. Mr.. Smith was ten years
on the bench in Iowa and left his ju-
dicial career to come to Congress
Another man under consideration for
judicial life is Representative Boutell
of Illinois, defeated for denomination
and reelection. The President has a
high opinion Of Mr.. BOutell. who is not
in the eighth circuit and could not he
named to the vacancy there Several
other judicial vacancies. however, prom
Use an opening for the Chicago man If the
President should decide to send his
name to the Senate.
Representative Dawson OF Iowa talked
with the President today about the bill
that passed the House at the last ses-
sion of Congress removing the Naval OBJ
servatory from it's connection with the
civilian control. Mr.. Dawson suggested
that the President might be able to have
the bill passed by the Senate. II dis
posed to do SO. The President favors a
change along the lines proposed in the
bill.
Going to Chicago Next December.
President Taft today accepted an i'll
vitation to visit Chicago next December
when there will be held in that CITY the
National Irrigation Congress, the United
States land and irrigation exposition and
the international livestock show. The in
vitation was presented by a committee
composed of Isham Randolph. Thomas
ID. knight and Harrison NJ. Parker Of
Chicago.
Another invitation was tentatively ac-
cepted. 1t is to speak Memorial day,
May 10. in Arlington cemetery, when the
District G. A. r. will hold special serv-
ices. This invitation was presentedOby
H. A. Johnson and G. A. Ross.
Rev. William Wilkinson Of New York,
known as "the Bishop OF Wall Street"
uhore 10 often prcacheS and lecturas