Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-26
Unfounded Allegations
as to Use of PATRONAGE

Sixth. Mr.. Roosevelt charges that never
before has patronage been SO shameless
ly used in politics as in my behalf to Sc
cure my nomination. I do not DENY that
under the present system of appoint
ments federal ofiiceholders will be inter-
ested in politics and take part therein.
land will support those to whose appoint
ment they attribute their preferment.
;; Under present conditions, however. and
under the policy which has been pursued
In this administration, there are in office
today at least 20 per cent of those who
were In Office by appointment under Theo-
dore Roosevelt. In view Of his candidacy,
1t is natural that a great number of these
oniceholders should favor him rather than
me and such Is the fact. and Mr. Roose-
welt can not be ignorant of II. In spite
of the very great activity of a number of
SUCH Officers against me, not single man
OF them has been removed.
Under the present system all presiden-
tial appointments to local federal Offices
In republican states are as general rule
made upon the recommendations OF the
senators and representatives OF the re-
publican party. subject, of course. to the
to be made for political purposes and
rewards. this Is as good a system as any;
but 1t ought to be abolished, and all the
offices embraced in a classified merit sys-
tCA i nave recommended THIS CnanR0 IN
three separate messages and have point
ed out that It would save the country
much more than 100000 in annual
salaries. would save valuable time Of the
executive and congressman, and would re-
lieve the politics OF the country Of the
bane OF federal patronage. Congress has
done nothing. however and so have fol-
lowed the usual rule, as my predecessor
did and as his predecessors did This
makes federal offices in republican states
conversational h0r
tronage. For example, in Indiana where
Senator Beveridge had secured the ap-
pointment OF a number of postmasters
and other officers. before his defeat, these
them-active in behalf Of Mr. Roosevelt.
In Montana, number Of federal officers
who bear my commission, recommended
by Senator Dixon. are reported to be ac-
tive Tor Mr. Roosevelt. In the south,
'where there are no republican congress-
men and senator's, it is different There,
referees, persons of responsibility, are Sc
lected. who are requested to make recon-
mendations for office. I continued MT
Roosevelts referees In every state, and
three Of those referees-one in Alabama.
one In Louisiana and one in Texas-have
now declared for Mr.. Roosevelt.
Under all these peculiar circumstances
the situation has arisen In which the So
called political patronage of the admins
tratiOn with respect to the nominations
in the next national convention is divided.
and the influence Of federal officeholders
in the Chicago convention will be less eff,
fective for any one candidate than ever
before in the history Of the party
Not only Is Mr.. Roosevelt enjoying the
support OF many federal offlceholders,
but the patronage Of a number Of the state
governors Is being used for him with bust
nesslike manipulation that lacks nothing
in effectiveness. The patronage of Gov.
Hadley in Missouri, OF Gov Stubs, in
Kansas, Gov. Glasscock in West Virginia,
Gov. Osborn in Michigan. and of Gov.
Johnson in California, Is all being used for
Mr.. Roosevelt. I am not complaining of
these instances. AS long as the merit
system Is not completely established they
will recur. I mention them only to show
that in raising the cry as to the shame
less use Of patronage against him Mr..
Roosevelt again departs from the rule of
giving his opponent q square deal.