Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1908 — DENIED BY ROOSEVELT [ARTICLE]

DENIED BY ROOSEVELT

Letter in Reply to William Dudley Foulke, Who Thought a Letter Was Needed, ACCUSED OF WORKING FOR TAFT His Services, as Alleged, Being in Official Appointments. G> President Says the Charges Are "False and Malicious’’— Foraker Makes Reply to President in the Senate. President Roosevelt lias made reply to the recent public statements that he has made use of federal patronage to further the presidential Interests, of Secretary Taft. The reply is in the form of a letter made public Monday and addressed to William Dudley Foulke, of Richmond, lnd„ and includes a letter from Foulke to the president suggesting the need of such a statement, and quoting several newspaper articles making the charges. The president begins by characterizing the charges as "false and malicious.” He follows this with an analysis of all appointments sent by him to the senate for its action to show that in no case has the proximity of a presidential contest influenced his actions. After declaring the charges “falst and malicious,” the president says: •'Remember that those now making this accusation were busily engaged two months ago in asserting that I was using the offices to secure my own renomination. It Is the kind of accusation which for the next few months will be rife. This particular slander will be used until exploded, and when exploded those who have used It will promptly Invent another. Buch being the case I almost wonder whether It Is worth while answering; but as it you who ask, why the answer you shall have.” How He Stakes Appointments. The president then says that politics has had nothing to do with bis appointments for the last eleven months. In some cases more Democrats than Republicans being appointed, and (n tile case of judges politics being wholly a secondary consideration. “There remains the allegation as to the appointment of Taft workers* to

postoflices in Ohio. In Ohio I have made fifty-eight postoffice appointments; twenty-seven of these were .reappointments, thirty-one were new appointments, the last including the cases where the incumbent had died, had been removed for cause, or had resigned. Generally the appointment was made exactly as in other states, upon the recommendation of the congressman from the district.* In several eases the appointments were made on tiie recommendation of Senators Foraker and Dick. A newspaper article alleging that “somebody lias instructed postmasters that they must obtain from their subordinates cither their resignations or their pledges of support for Taft delegates to tiie convention,” and this “even in Massachusetts” is declared to contain “not a particle of truth,” ami the president challenges those making fneli statement to “produce specific cases.” FOUAKER IS A SCEPTIC Unconvinced That President's Appointments Are Free of Politics. In the senate Monday, rising to a question of personal privilege Foraker replied to the denial by President Roosevelt of charges that he has used federal patronage for the purpose of influencing the national political con test. Tiie senator produced correpcnd enee relating to the appointment of Charles H. Rryson, whose nomination as postmaster at Athens, 0., was with held temporarily for the alleged reason that Bryson had given an interview while in Washington expressing the opinion that Taft was losing ground In'-the Ohio contest. Thf correspondence showed that Bryson had stood his ground and his declaration of political independence had resulted in another order from the White House making the appointment. The communications on the subject were between Representative Douglass (Ohio) ami Bryson. In a very temperate manner Foraker commented on the case, but. insisted that the records clearly showed an attempt to “coerce” Bryson, and that his fearless stand had been responsible for his retention by the president. Hie senator said that It was no exaggeration to say that there are a hundred cases In Ohio where the appointments bad beet made for political put-poses only, but that there are few where documentary evidence can be produced.