The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-23
WILSON FIGHTS,
BUT DENIES ANY
PATRONAGE ROW
Calls Senate Situation Too
UnimpOrtant to Take
Up His Time.
NO TAMMANY HOPE
SEEN In THE STRUGGLE

WASHINGTON. Dec. 20 --President Wilson
In his talk with the newspaper correspond
ents to-day tried to belittlc the impof-
lance of the strained situation that has
arisen between himself and the Senate
over patronage matters. With wave OF
the hand the President dismissed the idea
that there was any serious friction be-
tween the House and the Senate ana
added that nobody had stirred up row.
The Administration, he insisted, has
more important problems than those re-
lating to Executive appointments such as
are now under fire, and viii not permit
Its attention to be diverted from these
tasks.
II was manifestly the intention OF the
President to conceal what his intentions
are with regard to the rejected appoint
ment of John d. Lynn for the Western
district of New York and other recess
nominations against which the senate
committees have acted adversely.
The President spoke appreciatvelN OF
the Senate's right to reject any appoint
mcnt which 1t disapproved, but he gave
no intimation as to whether or not he
would insist upon allowing these rejected
recess appointecs to continue To hold Office
In the face Of the Senate's action.
while the President was assuring the
newspaper men of the tranquil and pleas
ant relations existing between him and
the Senate there were further rumblngs
on NH OF lne HRul tndt mas
already begun on this patronage question.
1t became evident that Senator Reed, to
who mthe nomination of Ewing q. Bland
for United States Marshal In Missouri
has been referred by the Judiciary Com
mittee. will report unfavorably on 1t and
that i'm other ways the Senate Is pre-
pairing to line up and assert it's preroga-
tives against the Presidents selections.
President Wilson's remarks were In
terpreted in two ways. Many believed
that they foreshadowed an effort by the
President to reach some agreement with
the Senate through compromises.
Some of Mr.. Wilson's friends lave been
urging him to adopt this course and avoid
the bitter fight that is sure to come If he
insists upon maintaining In Office men
who have been rejected by the Senate.
The Presidents friends have been telling
him that the embarrassments which would
result to his legislative programme would
be too serious to consider against the
offices now at stake.
On the other hand, authoritative state
ments have been made within the last
few days that the President intends to
stand by his appointments and to con-
tinue the men in office until the expra-
ton OF Congress on March L. These
Statements are still generally credited
here ard indications to-day tended to
support them.
It was learned for one thing that Mr..
Bland resigned yesterday as Municipal
Judge OF Kansas City. 1t is assumed
here that he would scarcely have taken
that action without definite assurances
from Washington that he would be re-
tanned in the Marshalship. Furthermore.
in the case of Mr.. Lynn the President
has taken no step to discuss possible
successor with any OF his advisers.
Whatever may be the result OF the pres
ent patronage muddle it is certain that
Tammany Hall will receive no comfort.
THE SUN told a few days ago how the
President had informed at least one Tam
many member of Congress fatty that the
organization need expect no support from
him.
Representative Fitzgerald OF Brooklyn.
who has supported the Administration
consistently. has been trying hard 20 land
a job or two for the McCooey organiza-
ton in Brooklyn, but is just about ready
10 give IL up as hopeless job.
Several good postmasterships are to he
filed in New York State and it is ex-
pected that they will go in within few
days and that all the nominees will be
anti-Tammany and supporters of the
Roosevelt McAdoo combination in New
York politics.