The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-24
THOMPS ON DECLINES
TO RESIGN PLACE ON.
'VEAGH'S REQUEST.
Resignation of Revenue Col
lectOr Called for on the
Presidents Authority
THOMPSON WRITES
GIVING HIS REASONS
Delivers Some Pointed Thrusts Both
at MacVeagh and Taft and Says
Taft Has the Power
of Removal

dt MAC edgn ana 4 AIT ana says
Taft Has the Power
of Removal
Franklin Macyeagh. Secretary of the
Treasury, has requested the resignation
of Joseph o. Thompson, collector of IN
ternal revenue, and Mr.. Thompson has
gently but firmly declined to tender it.
Secretary Macveagh writes Mr..
Thompson under date of July 20, stating
that he has received the Presidents au-
thority TO ask you to send your resigna-
tion," and in his reply under yesterdays
date Mr.. Thompson delivers few thrusts
calculated to get between the ribs of both
the President and Secretary Macveagh.
Mr. Thompson points out that he has
twice verbally given the President an
opportunity of appointing his successor
and tells the Secretary: 81 will not now
crafty you even to the point of lessen
ing your complications by rendering you
my resignation" He says further that
the President has the power of removal
which he has the liberty to exercise.
Incidentally Mr. Thompson throws
some light on the inside history of a
federal judgeship in Alabama. He tells
Secretary MacVeagh that when he first
resigned verbally to the President three
years ago the President informed him of
his intention to withdraw a federal
judge in Alabama" in whose behalf the
President said he had as Secretary Of
War used his influence with Senator Ket-
fridge and others.
TIL two letters are as follows:
Secretary MacVeagh's Letter
Treasury Department,
washington, July 20, 1912.
Dear Sir-The treasury department
some time ago recommended to the Pres
ident that your resignation should be
asked for. The President at that time, in
view of your prominent opposition to his
denomination, declined to act upon the
recommendation. The department has now
renewed more urgently this recommends
ton, and l have just received the Presi-
dents authority to ask you to send your
resignation since the commissioner of in
ternal revenue and myself wish it for the
good of the service. Very truly yours,
FRANKLIN MACVEAGH,
Secretary.
Hon Joseph o. Thompson, Collector
of Internal Revenue Birmingham, Ala
Mr.. Thompson's Reply
Birmingham. July %, 1912.
Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your let
ter of July 20. requesting my resignation
as collector of internal revenue for the
district of Alabama. You unwittingly
assigned the reason for my removal in
your defense of the Presidents position
in not taking earlier action.
1.-THE President will we'll remember that
I verbally resigned about three years ago
on the evening I dined with him at the
White House, at which time he informed
me of his intention to withdraw a repub-
lican federal judge In Alabama whom
he had. while as Secretary of War; in
formed me that he was using his influence
with Senator Kettredge and others to
bring about his confirmation, and had
otherwise interested himself in the federal
judges behalf before becoming President.
The President at that time strongly urged
me to retain my position, assuring me
of his obligations to me.
Again, just prior TO the expiration of my
last bond called upon the President and
informed him that my bond would soon
expire. and before renewing 1t l desired to
know if 1t was his wish for me to retain
the collectorship, whereupon he very corr
daily clasped my hand in both of his
and said, I want you to renew that bond
and keep that office il you go upon the
highway and fight for LaFollette.'
Obligations to Roosevelt
AT that time Colone1 Roosevelt was
not candidate. Some mention was made
of my visit to oyster Bay previous to that
time, whereupon / told the President that
Colonel Roosevelts had not in anywise
mentioned the presidency to me, but add
ed, I shall not say. anything to you that
would lead you to believe that | would
be unmindful of my seven years official
connection with Colonel Roosevelt and my
great admiration of him as a statesman
and leader of men, The Presidents re-
ply was that 1 should know that he too
was under tremendous obligations to
Colonel Roosevelt, he having made it pos
sible for him to become President.
Il afterwards expressed my desire to
be helpful to the President in his renomi-
nation, but by February of this year mat
ters had so shaped themselves in the
nation that l thought it would be utter
folly for the party to support him again,
and in substance so informed him by
letter
Il have nothing but the kindest feeling
for the President personally and am
unwilling yet to believe other than that
the supreme bench position I urged
him to keep in mind before his candidacy
for President in 1908, but no one. not
even his most intimate associates can
truthfully say that his administration as
chief executive has been in auywise sue
cess. due largely if not wholly to his en-
vironment and to unfortunate appoint
ments such as your own where in your
own department you seem TO have brought
about so much confusion shat you have
subjected yourself to congressional in
Vestigation. and il is hardly to be sup
posed, from what the pubic has been
advised through the press, that you will
be able to put your house in order by
the fourth of next March as the rank
and file OF the American people will in
November rise to the full majesty of their
strength and hurl the present administra-
ton from its place.
Will Not Crafty Secretary
Having twice verbally given to the
President an opportunity Of appointing
my successor, l will not now crafty you.
even to the point of lessening your conf
plications by rendering you my resigna-
ton. The President has the power of
removal which he has the liberty to ex-
ercise He has repeatedly removed other
officeholders, who are Roosevelt support
ers, since the Chicago convention before
their terms of office expired and whose
removals were no more justified than
n