The New York herald., 1921-09-24
HARDING REMOVES
UTAH US. SURVEYOR
Sends Kindly Letter to Thore.
son Asking Resignation
Before Using Axe.
special Desyafch TO THE NEW YosK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c., Sept. 23.

SPEECH DCtpofch 20 The NEW iokk HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washinxton. ID. c.. Sept 23.
President Harding removed l. C.
Thoreson to-day as surveyor general of
tho land ONCE for the Utah district. He
took the action following Mr. 1'hore-
sons refusal. on two occasions. the
Last time at the personal request of
the President. 70 submit his resignation.
The nomination OF a successor. T.. u.
sorenson. already has been sent to the
Senate.
That the situation will develop a bit
ter nxht became clear tonight when
Senator King tUtah) denounced Mr.
harding's action as 'crude and brutal"
Senator King declared he would oppose
20 the end the nomination OF Mr.. Soren-
son 10 The Office. preventing. II possible.
his confirmation.
AIR. Thoreson IL a Democrat. having
been appointed TO the position. with Of
fices ~ salt Lake City. by Woodrow
Wilson, Mr.. sorenson Is q Republican.
Announced az white House.
The fact that President Harding had
removed Mr.. Thoreson became known at
the white House after the publication
to-day ~ two letters that passed be-
tween the President and the official.
These letters had been preceded by two
more between Mr. Thoreson and the
acting Secretary OF the Interior
MI Hardipgs letter was a kindly re-
quest that Mr. Thorcson give up the
poNt by reslgnlng. He explained that II
vas the desire o. the Administration TO
have men IN positions OF responsibility
who are IN fun sympathy with the pur-
pcscs and plans Of the Administration.
Hs mentioned also the current demand
for recognition OF aspirants within the
party Tor consideration In tho matter OF
patronage.
Mr.. 1horesons reply. also courteous
In tone. was a dccllnaLon OF the Presi-
dents request for the resignation. The
surveyor took the stand that the Germ
of four years had not expired and that
10 could not without injury TO his
name. retire In the circumstances. lie
called attention to the fact that his
predecessor In office. a Republican. had
b@en allowed to complete his term by
serving thirteen months after Woodrow
Wilson became President
Upon tho receipt OF the letter Mr..
Harding removed Mr. Thoreson from
the office and sent the nomination OF
Mr.. Sorenson 20 tho Senate.
oaers vtseress Opposition.
"A arm going 20 vigorously oppose the
confirmation OF sorenson." senator King
declared. "and challenge the attention
~ the senate 10 the crude and brutal
system employed by the President to
find places for office seekers Ia the Re-
publican party. ! shall call attention.
a. did Dir. Thorcson In his letter 10 the
President 10 tho fact that this IL not an
office that calls for a policy or execution
Of a policy. Thcreson n a competent
surveyor and has efficiently conducted
the office.
There is no administrative policy IN
the Job and Mr.. Harding must know II.
Mr.. Thoreson's predecessor. Republi-
can. held for more than a year into MIR.
Wilson's term, until hts term had cx-
pircd. That has usually been the precc-
dent OF all administrations. This Ad-
ministration wul find parallel only In
that OF Grants second Adrninistrntio ton.
20 FAR as It's activity Tor seeking spoils
of office is concerned.
1T is rather n matter OF common
knowledge that thousands Of hungry
Office seekers are bounding Republican
members OF Congress- aud the Admins
tration In yielding TO this demand foe
places Ia ignoring efficiency and prece-
dent in ofic.. Good puhlic officers are
being removed for purely political and
partisan purposes.
II predict that the course % this Ad-
ministration viii produce 4 national
sea ndsi and provoke protests from
patriotic Americans who are for cf'i-
cheney and economy In public affairs"