Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-28
Says. President Uses Patron
age to Influence Congressman.
NORTON LETTER THE BASIS
Oregon Senator Declares Coercion Is
Bribery or intimidation.
QUOTES LAW ON SUBJECT
Shows by Revised Statutes It Is
Crime to influence Vote
Of Members.

That Norton letter regarding the re-
sumption of patronage to insurgents in
Congress was made the basis for de-
nunciatiOn Of President Taft in the SEN
ate last evening by Senator Jonathan
Bourne.
The use Of the presidential appointing
power to coerce members OF Congress
would be either bribery or intimidation,
said Senator Bourne-bribery IL patronage
were used as reward and intimida-
ton IL withheld as punishment
The former golf partner Of President
Taft then read section $3.50 OF the Re-
vised Statutes, which sets forth that 1t
Is q crime for any person to offer or
give anything of value to any member
OF Congress with intent to influence his
vote or decision upon any matter pending
in either house.
The natural inference from tho Nor
that the President OF the United
States used federal patronage to in
fiuence the action Of members of Con-
gress. This is a charge which no citi-
whole subject is of such vital impor-
lance In the preservation of representa-
tive government that I would feel re-
miss In my duty IL failed to call 1t
place in available form such informa-
ton relating thereto as may come to
my attention.
Indicates Deplorable Condition.
1.-THE. undenied statement indicates a
deplorable and despicable subservience
upon the part Of the legislative branch.
and dangerous and demoralizing usur-
patton upon the part OF the executive.
Il would have as much respect for a
common ward heller who buys votes at
the polls as for a President of the
United States who uses his appointive
power as a omeanS Of forcing or per-
suading members Of Congress to de-
termine or change their course Of &C
ton.
Zone transaction is as dishonest, as
corrupt and as depraving as the other.
but the latter Is more dangerous, more
insidious, more pernicious than the for
mer, because 1T strikes at the very foun-
dalton Of free institutions, sets a prece-
dent for corrupt methods in all official
life and marks the beginning of dictator
ship and decadence Of the nation.
But. Mr.. President, the use of the ap-
pointing power to influence the action OF
members of Congress is only one means
by which this power may be abused.
Federal patronage is also an effective and
dangerous power when welded for the
creation or maintenance Of political
machine with the purpose Of forcing the
denomination OF an executive or the
nomination Of a man Of his choice"
Control of National Conventions.
Mr.. Bourne outlined the manner in
which civil employees are sometimes used
to control national conventions, ands par
ticularly he complained of their use in
sending delegations from southern states
which never send republican representa-
tives to electoral colleges. Concluding,
he said:
Extension of the power of the ex-
ecutive is the beginning of dictator
ship. The remedy is to make Presi-
dents directly accountable to party and
general celebrates by enacting laws
for presidential primary votes. there
by destroying the power of political
bosses and their hackers, the campaign
contributors. The people can be trusted
The composite citizen knows more and
acts from higher motives than any
single individual. however great, eX-
perienced or well developed. In the
composite citizen selfshness is min
imized. while in the individual it is
usually dominant"
Senator Bourne opened his speech
with a discussion of the Oregon
primary law. When such a law is
made nation wide. Mr. Bourne con
tended, the steam roller will be put
on the political scrap heap and it will
be impossible for the federal patron
age machine to renominate Presi-
dent or determine his successor.