The Washington herald., 1907-06-05
WOULD STIR SOUTH
Admins tratiOn Wants to
Give Section More Jobs.
McILHENY GETS A MISSION
Civil Service Commissioner Leaves
for Southern states TO Disabuse
People About Erroneous Notions
as to Political Prejudice in Gov
ernment Employment.

Having as an object an increased per
centage Of Federal oficeholders of South
ern nativity, John A. McIlheny. Of Louis
lana, the Presidents recent appointee as
a member Of the Civil Service Commits
sion, leaves to-day for Raleigh, y. C.,
and in that State, South Carolina, Geor-
gia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana,
for the next two weeks will urge upon the
people the advantages of taking civil
service examinations and placing them
selves in line for Federal appointments.
Mr. McIlheny, himself a Southerner, was
appointed by the President with the idea
Of increasing the interest Of the South IN
the opportunities afforded by the civil
service.
The President some time ago noticed
that the appointments in the civil service
from the Southern States were less in
proportion to population than from any
other portion Of the country, and that the
proportion, instead of growing larger
with time, was growing materially
smaller" said Mr.. McIlheny last night
Race Question Involved.
In looking into the reasons why the
! South has shown such Indifference to the
| civil service IN the past | find that there
| still exists in the minds Of the people the
/ belief that by reason Of the fact that the
administration Is Republican and the
South overwhelmingly Democratic, that it
| is useless for "A Democrat to make appli-
cation for an examination. as he never
would be appointed. As this is entirely a
misunderstanding, the Civil Service Com
| mission being a non-partisan non-polit-
/ icsl board. both in its formation and in
/ its operation. I wish 90 bring that fact
/ clearly before the people and show them
/ that il Is well worth their while 70 come
/ forward and take the examinations.
/ Il find also that while the white people
I of the South are abstainiug from taking
I the examinations. and are apparently in
/ different 20 the advantages Of the civil
/ service they object very seriously 10 the
I negroes filling the Federal Offices in that
/ service. / wish 10 explain 10 the people
/ that as the law recognizes no distinction
/ of color. We. operating under the law.
cannot recognize any distinction Of color,
and that If the negroes apply for the eE-
/ aminations and pass them. and the white
people abstain from the examinations.
the result will be that the Offices must
OF necessity be filled by the negroes. how
ever Objectionable IL may be 10 the white
people Of the South, and that the solution
rests with them.
Advantages of Civil Service Job.
"The advantages offered are these. The
young man Of poor or moderate means
can obtain a position with an entrance
s7iary Of S72) a year, and by his ability
ne can advance 10 salary Of 5000 OF
more. II he Is ambitious he can a. th,
same time. by reason Of the educati0na
advantages offered by the different insti
tutions located in Washington. study ans
obtain his degree IN any OF the profes
sions All Of the institutions located IL
Washington have night schools, and the
fees which they charge are very mod
crate The hours Of works I'm the Ciyi
service extend from 70 4.3o, and leav,
ample time for "a young man to take NJ
the study Of his chosen profession and
perfect himself in f."
Among other points az which Mr Nc
Ilbeny will speak are Raleigh Durham
Greensboro. y. c.; Spartansburg s e.
Augusta and Atlanta. Ga. Montgomery
Ala. Jackson Miss and New Orleans