There had, however, been serious complaints from many parts of the country about the use and abuse of Federal patronage in efforts to manipulate party conventions, and to dictate and control party nominations.

To destroy this evil was the primary purpose of the civil service order referred to.
I told the President that his explanation of the order was in harmony with my own construction and interpretation of it.

That is why I made the recommendation for a change in the postmastership at Summit.

The change was promptly made.

I then informed the President that there was another matter about which I desired to have a short talk with him, that was the recent election in Mississippi.