The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-03-05
MISUSE oE PATRONAGE

Senator Bourne held Forth with
great indignation In the senate over
what he termed The misuse OF the
appointing power of the president.
That power, he declared, Is wrongful
~ employed to coerce members OF
congress. This he insists, Is either
bribery or intimidation-bribery II
patronage is used as reward, intim.
idation II used as punishment.
There can be no galnsaying ii used
as a punishment.
There can be no gainsaying Senator
Bourne's contention. Even when the
president takes advantage OF his pow
en- OF appointment to further entirely
commendable legislation it Is an IL
legitimate practice, though one Of
which few, If any, presidents have
been gultless.
\ But senator Bourne appears com
pletelyRyo have overlooked the fact
that such an effort by an executive
would amount to nothing II the mem
berg OF congress had not become a
part OF a system which IN itself is
constltuticnally illegitimate and in the
operation of which they are guilty
OF the same sins-with others in addi-
lion-athat Mr. Bourne lays at the
door OF dhe. president. Strictly speak
ing, beyond the senates right of con-
..rmati0n of certain appointments,
members of congress have, under our
organic law, nothing whatever to do
with patronage That Is an exclusive
prerogatiye OF the president, and II
is only by his concession that con-
gressmen have been allowed a voice
In selecting the men for executive
appointment 10 office from tnelr dis
triets-a concession which has been
50 long observed at the white house
that 1t has come TO be regarded by
congressman as right to be jeal-
Ously cherished
And the worst OF II is that In ex-
erejsing this right they have used
she patronage which it gave them in
the very manner which Senator
Eourne 0bjees to on the part of the
president In Short, they have used
II for purposes Of bribery and IN
timidation" in constructing for them
seves machines" in their districts
for the promotion of their own per.
tonal and political interests
Every man who knows anything
about practical politics knows this ID
be true Every member of congress
knows it to be true And the fact
that Il IS true constitutes the reason
Why this power or patronage Is SO
highly valued by congressman; why
so many OF them are never heard o
except In their efforts to land offices
for such of their constituents as they
have selected for office; why, y,Auriher
m0re--and Senator Bourne's atten
tion is especially directed to this
why the president is able to bribC
and lntimldato congressman by his
disposition Of these offices.
! If II were not because congressmel
wish 70 misuse their patronage fol
bribery and intimidation, Ii would no
be IN The power OF the president 3,
bribe and ntimidate them by msus
ing It. Except for thus misusing il
congressman would not care for th,
! pdti ipHaSt NhlNU tHtN NOW COnalue
their greatest asset, but, indeed
would welcome the relief from tn,
yexatious responsibility of apportion
ing this patronage. eheerfuliy leavinl
II in the hands Of the president. WHIT
has, in fact, turned II over TO then
IN order to rid himself Of the sam
yexatious responsibility,
/ No such assault as Senator Bouln
makes on the misuse of patronage i
halt complete without a full recogn
ton OF the congressional side OF th
! evil.