The Washington herald., 1913-03-11
DISTRICT PLUMS
Still in THE AIR
Continued from Page One.

refuse to discuss patronage, but he does
| refuse to discuss II with everybody, and
he refuses 10 subordinate important pub
lie questions to the desires of office
seekers. In other words. he will discuss
Patronage with those who have a right
to act with him in an advisory capacity
Senators, members of Congress and
members of the Democratic National
Committee. Generally speaking. none
others need apply. He does not care to
give over hours of his valuable time
to ascertaining just what fancy job each
one Of the several million lifelong Demo-
Gratis and original Wilson men would be
satisfied with That is up to those who
occupy advisory positions in distributing
patronage.
Depends Upon Cabinet.
1t is obvious that the President. with
some Loo jobs to fill-potentially speak
ing-cannot pass upon the merits of each
candidate for an Office; that he must
depend quite largely upon the judg-
ment and discretion of others, and that,
therefore. in so far as the patronage con-
Germs the more important positions, he
must discuss the question quite generally.
His announcement that jobs in the exc
cutive departments will be dispensed by
the Cabinet officers in charge of each
department., must be taken. it is be-
lieved, in its literal Interpretation. to
apply to the smaller and less important
appointive positions, and to mean, as
regards the choice patronage plums, that
no appointment will be made without the
fullest approval from the Cabinet officer
directly interested
This was strongly indicated In the
Presidents statement to Senator Stone
and Speaker Clark. who called upon him
yesterday morning to- pay their respects
~s,e
ments. some eight or ten in all. The
President listened willingly to their
views. but without committing himself.
and told them that they could file these
applications either with him or with the
Cabinet officers, under whose jurisdic-
tion the places desired fall
Clark II silent.
Speaker Clark was decidedly noucom- |
initial when he left the White House. |
and when the Speaker is noncommittal |
his replies to questions often are so brief |
and pointed as to he decidedly unpleas- |
ant for the questioncr. A large group |
of newspaper men sought to sound the |
Speaker out he climbed into taxi |
after having been photographed. and
were met with a gruff refusal TO be in
terviewed. AS they drew back from the |
door of the cab. veteran Of veterans
of the White House newspaper corps
walked up to the door. Grinned broadly,
and asked: You don't mind my look
ing at you. do You colonel?" Speaker
Clark's face broke into a broad smile, as
he took OF his big hat, the better to
accommodate his friend.
Among the appointments in which |
Speaker Clark and Senators Stone and
Reed are interested are:
Former Gov. Lon V. Stephens for Comp
troller of the Currency.
Former Gov. Dockery, to be one Of the
Assistant Postmaster Generals OF the
Post-office Department.
Breckinridge Long. of ST. Louis, to be
Assistant Secretary of State.
Judge J. W. Witten, chief law clerk OF
the Interior Department. to be Commits
sioDer OF the Land Office
John W. Ferris, of Missouri. to be
of Pensions.
Eustis c. Wheeler. OF St. Louis, to be
assistant to the Attorney General
John O'Rear. OF Mexico, to be min
ster TO one of the South American re-
,ublics ,
% the Capitol for confirmation as Third
Assistant Postmaster General shortly
ifter the visit of the Missourians.
Nomination. Sent In.
The President sent to the Senate yes
erday the following nominations. which
we're referred to various committees for
eport: ,
Daniel C Roper. of South Carolina. to I
e First Assistant Postmaster General; I
alexander NJ. DOckery, of Missouri, to ,
&c Third Assistant Postmaster General: ,
ames !. Blackslee, of Pennsylvania. to :
e Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gener- /
i: Peter J. Hamilton. of Alabama, to be 7
Tnited States judge from the District of 7
'orto Rico. and DR.. Charles P. Neill. 7
District of Columbia. to be Commission (
r of Labor Statistics. r
Underwood's Man Named.
Former Gov. Alexander NJ. Dockerv
ominated for Third Assistant Postmas- \
er General. was strong Clark ad- n
erent. a.
Daniel c. Roper. of South Carolina. T.
'ho was mentioned for First Assistant n
ostmaster General. has been oscar I'm +
erwoods right hand for several years +,
the Ways and Means Committee Mr.. :.
Underwood wanted him appointed =
James Blakeslee. of Pennsylvania. who h
as named to be Fourth Assistant Post +,
Iaster General. was another attache of Il
lie Ways and Means Committee. He [,
a cousin of Representative A. Mitchell o.
almer and secretary of the Democratic Il
tate committee of Pennsylvania. The nj
an of the administration. He handles ii
l the fourth-class post-office appoint d
ents and is the real political power RI
the department.
Opposition to Bill. di
There is some curiosity to see who will -
: chosen for Second Assistant. That Is a.
lie Office that has charge of the trans -
ortation of the mails, and the pay Of \,
Iilroads. 1t is the branch where ths n
al r hard work of the Post-office De- &c
irtment Is done, and requires a head a.
unusual executive ability, a man :,
ipable of active and energetic work h
Tery day Of every week in the year :,
The nomination Of Charles P. Neill, of In
e District of Columbia, to-be Commis- .,
oner of Labor Statistics met opposi- .,
On from certain Southern Democratic n,
,nators the moment 1t was announced w
was referred in executive session to a,
e Committee on Labor. Senator Till n
an of South Carolina at once sent h,
ord to Senator Borah asking him not n
take action on this nomination until ST
e committee had been recognized by
e Democrats. He also notified the -
airmaD that he wished to be heard on d
e nomination before any action was
ken. Other Senators who Join Mr. -
llman in holding up this case will be
'erman of North Carolina and Smith
South Carolina