Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-09
TAFT IGNORES DIXON
Charges Against 0fficehoIders
to Receive No Reply.
Letter IN PROPER HANDS
Civil Service Commissions Duty to
Investigate Complaints.
MAY ALSO APPEAL TO CONGRESS
President to Pay No Attention to
Roosevelt's Attack Upon
His Supporters.
LETTER IN PROPER HANDS
MAY ALSO APPEAL TO CONGRESS

President Taft will not pay any atten-
ton to the letter addressed to him by
Senator Dixon declaring that federal Of
ficeholders pulled Off some powerful
stunts in the Kentucky county conven-
tions Saturday.
The unofficial White House view is that
the letter of the Montana senator. man.
ager for Col. Roosevelt. was intended
wholly for. publication, and that there
was not the least idea on the part of
Senator Dixon. when he gave the letter
out. that President Taft would reply.
In the next place. it is pointed out. the
complaint pertaining to the political &C
tivity Of Kentucky federal ofdceholders
has gone to the civil service commission,
the organization provided by law for that
purpose. The White House has never
attempted to make a direct Investigation
Of charges of this character, and they
have, for many years. passed through the
hands Of the civil service commission, the
decisions of which are seldom reviewed by
the President.
Position Defined in Message.
1t is stated by the Presidents close
friends today that the Presidents last
message, to Congress. on economy and
efficiency makes recommendations that
will forever stop the charges of using
federal patronage to nominate candidates
for the presidency. These recommends
tions were that the thousands Of federal
officeholders. postmasters, customs col
lectors, internal revenue collectors and
others, should be placed under the civil
service and removed from politics. 1t is
within the power Of Congress to enact
LEGISLATION in twensy-four hours to do this.
Senator Dixon. as q member Of the upper
house, 1t is pointed out, has introduced
no bill of this kind.
President Taft is not going to pay any
attention, either, to the utterances Of Col.
Roosevelt that the Taft campaign Is be-
ing managed by professional politicians.
Fraud Cry Aids Taft.
1t Ii a deeply grounded opinion of the
Presidents managers that every time a
new cry Of fraud percolates through the
country IL adds that many votes to the
Taft forces, the band-wagon boys in all
communities usually keeping their. ears
open for the advance sounds Of defeat.
which is invariably accompanied by
charges of corrup ton. dirty work, partici-
patton Of federal odiceholders, etc. AS
these noises reach the undecided throngs
they promptly decide that the band wagon
they want to ride in Is that of the other
side, which Is gathering In the delegates
and saying little about 1t.
President Taft proposes to adhere to his
policy, fixed many months ago, Of refus-
| ing to be brought into a personal contro-
yersy with Col. Roosevelt. His sense OF
dignity is one reason for this attitude and
his gratitude to Col. Roosevelt, debt
that many now believe to be wiped out
Is another.
omceholders Supporting Roosevelt.
Administration supporters call attention
| to the fact that Col. Roosevelt II recetv.
ing support Of many federal ofnoehoiders
! notably In Texas, where the Roosevelt