National Affairs: In the Forest

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Brighter would be the life of any President who did not have to thread a cautious way through the dark, dank forest of political patronage. Guiding him through the labyrinth of petty factions to worthy appointments is the high duty of the Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

In Florida. But Chairman Huston of Chattanooga, Tenn., theoretically representative of the Southern wing of the G. O. P., primarily selected to steer the President successfully through the morass of the G. O. P., South, was unable to save President Hoover from stumbling into a swampy situation in Florida. Last week these facts emerged:

For seven months President Hoover had sought an able U. S. District Attorney for Southern Florida. In that State are two Republican factions: one, now dominant, led by National Committeeman Glenn B. Skipper; the other, by George Bean. One after another six candidates recommended by the Skipper group were offered the President for this appointment, only to be weighed by the Department of Justice and found wanting.

Finally impatient, the President picked his own man, Wilbur N. Hughes, once identified with the Bean group. Awful to hear were the wails of protest from Committeeman Skipper et al. Last month Dr. Fred E. Britten, secretary of the State Republican organization, wrote President Hoover a rebellious letter in which he said: "In the name of God and for the sake of righteousness as well as the economic prosperity of Florida I plead with you to withdraw this nomination." He threatened dire reprisals unless the President appointed men chosen by Mr. Skipper.

Riled by such insubordination President Hoover retorted: ". . . The appointive responsibility rests in the President, not in any organization. ... No longer shall public offices be regarded as mere political patronage. . . . The success of the Republican party rests upon good government, not upon patronage, and Florida will have good government so far as it is within my power to give it. ... I note your demand that the organization shall dictate appointments in Florida, irrespective of merit or my responsibility. I enclose herewith copy of a statement I issued last March [expressing a willingness to cooperate only with reputable Republicans in South]. That statement was no idle gesture."

Angry Senators. Chairman Huston postponed to another day a cutting out of political underbrush in Florida. Instead last week he accepted an invitation of Senator Walcott of Connecticut to lunch at the Capitol where he met many a Republican Senator. Each brought the same grievance.

Senator Patterson of Missouri complained that he was not even notified by the President at the appointments of two important Missourians—Dwight Filley Davis as Governor-General of the Philippines ; C. B. Denman as a member of the Federal Farm Board. Senator Patterson's first inkling of this "patronage" came from newsmen.

Senator Glenn of Illinois was deeply vexed that the President had not at least whispered to him his intention of appointing Illinois Congressman Thomas Sutler Williams to the Court of Claims.