The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-05-01
Taft Takes Teddy to Task
The President Answers: Attacks and Aaigns Roosevelt in
Massachusetts Speech Most Interesting Document
CONTINUED from Page Two.)
single instance has any attempt beer
made to show fraud.

single instance has any attempt beer
made to show fraud.
ut is true that the printing o.
the ballots was delayed, due to the
tardy litigation of the Roosevelt com
mittee, and the ballots We're not deliv
cred at some precincts until some
time after the opening of the polls
but this generally occurred in pre-
cincts where there was no contes,
whatever and did not prevent a fail
vote in every precinct where there
was contest. If there was fraud why
did not the Roosevelt committee show
it in court?
SIS it a square deal to run away
from the opportunity provided by law
to establish fraud and injustice and
only claim it in the newspapers and
in charges against ones opponent?
Charges Made Before Elections.
'In Indianapolis, am informed, the
complaint of the Roosevelt committee
that fraud had been committed in the
primaries appeared in an afternoon
newspaper sold on the streets before
the primaries were opened.
"The truth is that it has been per-
fectly evident from the first that the
deliberate plan of Senator Dixon has
been to claim everything exultingly
and with the utmost confidence and to
meet the reports of the elections of
adverse delegates by directing in ad-
vance the bringing of trumped up con-
tests.
1T is hardly necessary to say that
this is not in accordance with the
square deal.
Denies Unfair Patronage Charge.
"Sixth-Mr. Roosevelt charges that
never before has patronage been so
shamelessly used in politics as in my
behalf to secure my nomination.
81 do not deny that under the pres
ent system of appointments federal
Office holders will be interested in pol
itics and take part therein, and will
support those to whose appointment
they attribute their preferment. I'm
der present conditions, however, and
under the policy which has been pur-
sued in this administration, there are
in office today at least 20 per cent
of those who were in Office by ap-
pointment under Theodore Roosevelt.
"In view of his candidacy, it is
natural that great number OF these
officeholders should favor him rather
than me, and such is the fact, and Mr.
Roosevelt cannot be ignorant of it. In
spite of the great activity of number
of such officers against me, not single
man of them has been removed.
Fought for Merit System.
Under the present system all pres
idential appointments to local federal
offices in republican states are as a
general rule made upon the recon-
mendations of the senators and rep
resentatives of the republican party
subject, of course, to the condition OF
fitness.
IF appointments are to be made fol
political purposes and rewards, this
is as good a system as any; but II
ought to be abolished, and all the of
fees embrac ed in classified merit
system. l have recommended this
change in three separate messages and
have pointed out that it would save
the country much more than 100000.
600 in annual salaries, would save val
liable time of the executive and con-
gressmen, and would relieve the poll
tics of the country of the bane of fed
eral patronage.
Congress has done nothing, how
ever, and so have followed the usual
rule, as my predecessor did and as his
predecessors did.
Indiana Men Helped Roosevelt.
This makes federal Offices in re-
publican states congressional Father
than executive patronage. For exam
pie, in Indiana, where Senator Bever-
idge has secured the appointment OF
a number of postmasters and other Of
ficers, before his defeat, these appoint
ees of his were-a number of them
active in behalf Of Roosevelt.
"In Montana a number of federal
officers who bear my commission,
recommended by Senator Dixon, are
reported to be active for Mr.. ROOse-
welt.
'In the south where there are no
republican congressman and senator's,
it is different. There, referees, per-
sons of responsibility, are selected,
who are requested to make recommen-
dations for Office. continued Mr..
Roosevelt's referees in every state,
and three of those referees-one in Al
ALBANIA, one in Louisiana and one in
Texas-have now declared for Mr..
Roosevelt.
State Officers Roosevelt Aids.
Under all these peculiar circum'
stances the situation has arisen in
which the so-called political patronage
of the administration with respect to
the nomination in the next national
convention is divided, and the inf1u
ence of federal officeholders in the
Chicago convention will be less effect
i've for any one candidate than ever be
fore in the history of the party.
"Not only is Mr.. Roosevelt enjoy
ing the support of many federal office
holders, but the patronage of a mum
Der of the state governors is being
used for him with businesslike ma
nipulation that lacks nothing in eff
fectiveness.
1.-The patronage of Governor Had
ley in Missouri, of Governor Stubs
in Kansas, Governor Glasscock in
West Virginia, Governor Osborn in
Michigan and of Governor Johnson in
California is all being used for Mr.