Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-02
BOURNE MAKES
ATTACK ON TAFT
SENATOR ACCUSED PRESIDENT
OF USING POWER TO SWAY '
CONGRESS.

! Washington, D. c., Feb. 2S.-Presi
dent Taft, by inference, was charged
with using his appointive power to in
timidate members of congress by Sen
ator Jonathan Bourne, in speech de-
livered in the senate last night. Until
recent trouble over an Oregon appoint
ment, Senator Bourne was the intimate
friend and golfing companion Of the
chief executive and the speech took the
senate by surprise.
The Beverly letter in which Secre-
tary Norton declared that the president
had withheld federal patronage from
certain senators and congressman, but
would discontinue that practice was
brought into the limelight. On previous
occasions insurgent senators have
threatened TO read this letter in the
senate, but until last night no public
reference had been made to it.
Mr.. Bourne opened his speech by Il
discussion of the Oregon law. He de-
clared that when this law is enacted by
all the states it will destroy the power
of the federal machine to renominate
a president or determine his success
sor The steam roller he says, will be
relegated to the political scrap heap
and its operators to the shadows pf
things forgotten, while fourth class
postmasters will cease to be political
asset for anybody or any party.
Thinks Taft is Briber.
Senator Bourne said that the use or
the presidential appointing power to
coerce members Of congress would be
either bribery or midation-bribery
If patronage was used as a reward and
intimidation If withheld as punish
ment In this connection he read sec
ton $3.50 Of the revised statutes, max
ing 1t a crime for any person to offer
or give anything of value to any mem
Der of either house of congress with in
tent to influence his vote or decision
upon any matter pending in either
house Continuing, he said:
'The natural inference from the
Norton letter is that the president of
the United States used federal patron
age to influence the action of mem
bers of congress. This is charge
which no citizen can discuss without
regret, vet the whole subject Is of SUCH
vital Importance in the preservation OF
representative government that l
would feel remiss in my duty II / failed
to call it to the attention Of the coun-
try and place in available form such
information relating thereto as may
come to my attention. i The undenied
statement indicates a deplorable ana
despicable subservience on the part OF
the legislative branch and dangerous
and demoralizing usurpation upon the
part Of the executive.
Liksnss Taft to Heeier.
IT would have as much respect for
common ward heller who buys votes
at the polls as for president Of the
United States who uses his appointing
power as g means Of forcing or per-
suading members of congress to de-
termine or change their course Of ac-
ton. One transaction Is as dishonest,
as corrupt. and as depraving as the
other, but the latter is more dangerous,
more insidious, more pernlcious than
the former because it strikes at the
very foundation Of free institutions,
sets a precedent for corrupt methods
in all official life and marks the begin
ming Of dictatorship and decadence OF.
the nation. .
"But, Mr.. President, the use Of the
appointing power to Influence the ac-
ton 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 mainten-
ance Of a political machine with the
purpose of forcing denomination Of an
executive or the nomination Of man
of his choice"