The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-10
FIGHTING OF APPOINTMENTS

We do not believe that the threat,
ened warfare of Republican Senators
in Washington carried to the point that
the Cabinet appointments OF President
Wilson will be held mp, would be a
practical proposition, For. whatever
filibustering may occur on the mass Of
Presidential nominations. it lie clear
that to hold up Cabinet appointments
would be not only unprecedented, but
damaging to the party that would un-
dertallc that kind of filibustering.
The filibuster now under way by the
Democrats TO prevent the confirmation
Of President Taft s appointments is, as
we look upon it, wholly unjustifiable.
The judicial appointments of President
Taft are unexceptionabe, These mp.
have been evidently the choice Of a
man well qualified TO Judge Of judicial
attainment5 and qualifications. There
can not Justly lie against President
Taft the charge either that he has con.
sidered politics in the appointment Of
judges or that he has undertaken to
pack the courts 10 any interest what.
ever. The judicial appointments offer
no reason at all for any filibuster on
the part of the Democrats, whatever
may be the case as to other appoint
mcuts. But as to these other appoint
meuts, the filibustcr against them is
also uniustifiable, because orderly pro-
cedure Of the government by duly
qualified and appointed officials is
highly desirable, and the people of the
United States do not enjoy mere par
tisan scramble for "the spoils. -
We have suspicion, however, forti-
fled by reports that come from Wash
ington, that this Democratic fiibuster
is made more determined by reason of
the fact that, as alleged, the Republi
cans are not presenting for confiTma'
tiou the non-partisaD appointments of
President Taft, but are urging as first
TO be considered certain personal and
partisan appointments In the interest
of various bosses and leaders through
legged. is the case of James Glove at
Provo, which Smoot. ag one Of the self
assumed leaders of the Republican Sen.
atorial membership, is so deeply inter
ested in, and which, 1umor says, he IN
dertook to sneak through the confirma-
tion of a few days ago. 1t is reported
that Smoot presented this Glove ap.
pointment in an executive session, with
the backing Of majority of tho Re.
publican Senators, urging the plea that
as Provo was his home town, precedent
and usage Justly gave him the right to
name the postmaster. He was, how
ever, laughed to scorn op this propo
sition. The reported incident gives
color TO the explanation made by some
of the Democratic Senators that it is
largely because Of such personal and
partisan demands that the Democratic
filibuster has attained the Dimensions
and strength that it has, AS applied
TO Utah, the Democratic Senators set
their faces sternly against the appoint
ing Of any of the old Federal bunch
here, aud are determined to clean out
that nest of political vipers, put in
office by one Of the most shameful and
3candalous political machines ever
known in the history Of the United
States. A number of the Democratic
Senators have been fully apprised of
.he situation bore by their party
friends in Utah, and are determined to
irop out the vile gang Of tricksters
and grafters that has so long domi-
lated political affairs in Utah from
The villainy of it all has gone to the
bone, and the local Democrats feel very
bitterly upon this question and have
mbued q number of their Democratic
friends in the Senate with the like feel
ng which they possess themselves. And
20 Senatorial courtesy, usage, and pre-
,edent are all to be disregarded in the
determined purpose to clean out this
vile nest of political buzzards.
If it is true, as we hear suggested, |
hat the real cause of the Democratic |
,ilibuster is because Of the determine
ion Of Republican Senators to grind |
heir own axes first, thou that filibus.
er is more easily comprehended than |
{ could be otherwise; for it is really
that the Democrats |
ial appointments and other general ap.
,ointments- But, as explained, these !
udicial and general appointments are
,ot presented for confirmation. but |
,nly those of the most objectiouabl bic /
md partisan sort. Therefore the fill |
,uster gains strength and the Rcpub /
ican Senators are tbwarted every time !
hat they undertake 10 grind their 20 /
itical grist.