The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-05-06
IMPATIENT At PATRONAGE DELAY
Congressmen Want to Know "Where
They Stand."-Nany Appear
Displeased.

Washington, April 30.-More than
half of the democratic members OF
congress we're not originally for the
nomination of President. Wilson. How
much does this sad fact effect the in
duence of the "in bad" majority with
regard to the distribution OF presiden-
tial patronage? There may be other
questions more interesting to the peo-
pie of the country, but this question
is the most interesting one at the pre-
sent time to the average member, OF
kcongress, whether representative or
senator
AS President Wilson remarked to the
newspaper correspondents the other
day, this has been singularly cool
spring. Very little patronage has
~come down" Particularly is this
true of the smaller Offices, Of which the
number is very great, and in which
there is the most whispered and vital
congressional concern. Because Of the
delay in the allotment of the pie
most of the members have been Tor
weeks uneasy, and now the rumbl1nss
of their Unsurpassed wrath may be
heard at almost any time in the re-
cesses of the capital Many members
are demanding to be told where they
stand,' and are saying that if they do
not receive definite Information they
will submit no further endorsements.
Putting it Up to Wilson.
Representatives from at least half
dozen States have this week either
verbally or in writing requesred Mr..
Wilson to give them unequivocal an
swers as to how far their recommenda-
tions are to be honored in the selection
of postmasters, who have always been
considered the most typically political
Offices at the disposal of an admins
tration. It was said by Postmaster
General Burleson soon after he quail
fed that as to postmasterships ne
would be gaided in his recommends
tions to the presfdent by the endorse
ment of the respective democratic
congressman.
Many members went to work with a
feeling of satisfaction, knowing that
Mr.. Burleson had himself stepped right
out of congress and had an intimate
personal acquaintance with "back
home" politics. But as time went on
it began to appear that the expected
policy was not materializing. The fol-
loving letter just received by Presl-
dent Wilson from representative
who halls from a Southern State, and
who, though not an original Wilson
man, IS by no means reactionary, ex-
actly expresses the feeling which now
disturbs the peace of many another
democratic congressional bosom:
81 Want to Know My Status"
"Before I made any recommendations
to the postmaster general of postmas-
ters in my district, asked him if such
annointments would be confined to
men who favored Mr.. Wilson, as
against other democratic candidates.
prior to his nomination. He replied,
Not at ALL asked him if postmasters
were going to be appointed on the re-
eommendation of congressman, and ne
replied that they would be unless un-
fit men we're recommended.
"You carried, in the primaries every
county in my district Overwhelmingly,
and the men I have recommended are
willing to submit their candidates. to
the patrons of the respective Office for
which they are applicants, and would
be glad for them to do that, in order
that you may be shown the standing
of the men I have recommended.
hadve made the best selections that 1
could from the applicants, with a view
fitness.
eff nothing but original Wilson men
are to be recommended, I am perfectly
willing to make my recommendations
from them. If there is any other
standard you desire to fix, am will
ing to conform to that, and make rec
concentrations in accordance with it.
I want to assist the administration IN
this mater, in every way that I car,
by making personal Investigations,
using what knowledge I have Of men,
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