The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-12-03
PLAN WILL AID TAFT IN
SECURING SECOND TERM
Eighty Per Cent of Southern Postrnas-
ters Are Republican and Civil serv-
ice Will Give Democrats Their
Jobs BY Examination.
BY WArTERsoN srEAIEY

y FFENi Gh0OiN = EAEEI.
Washington December 2-(special1-
President-elect Taft is in full sympathy
with the order of President Roosevelt
| placing the fourth class postmasters un-
der the civil service. 1t is believed here
that the new President will urge that
the order be extended as soon as the
civil service commission finds it prac-
ticable. He will especially urge this
action in behalf of the southern states
The Presidents managers are of the
opinion that by taking this course he
will meet with Increased favor in the
southland and four years hence will aug
ment the already remarkable vote he re-
ceived in such states as Georgia and
North Carolina
The extension of the civil service ia
the southern fourth class postmasters il
looked upon as means of Kidding Mr..
Taft of odum which will attach TO him
by receiving the support of an element
largely out for triflng patronage. There
will be little use under such a system
| for the baneful influence of so-called
referees in the case of the presi-
| Dental postoffices and other large fed
eral positions, the personal acquaintance
of Postmaster General Hitchcock and the
President himself is usually sufficient 10
! settle squabbles over them. The Pres
| ident-elect realizes that ever since the
| war sound basis of democratic crit
| iclsm upon republican administrations
has been founded upon the activity OF
postmasters and applicants for postof
fces of the more numerous and there
I Tore smaller class
way through sub1ection to the pernicious
political activity rules of the civil service
commission the President-elect is declared
TO believe that the result will undoubt-
edly mean additional accessions TO the
/ republican ranks.
1 As might have been expected. a howl
| is going up from the southern republican
leaders, and the next few months viii
likely witness a wholesale scramble 10
make such changes as the promises OF
/ the last campaign necessitate Probably
80 per cent of the postmasters In the
south are republican. As they orop out
however, their successors will be appointed
through civil service examinations. and a
majority OF thom will obviously be dem
ocratic. The regular rule provides for
the appointment of one Of the first three
persons in the eligible list, but il is
stated at the commencing that in neartv
|
highest average receives the appoint-
ment. There is much talk among re-
publican congressman of defeating the
additional appropriation requisite to carry
the new civil service extension in effect.
amendment may be offered express
~ provlSsng that none of the appropriation
be used for examination of fourth class
postmasters,
Governor General Joe c. S. Blackburn
of the Panama canal zone reached WASH
lngton tonight with Mrs. Blackburn for
several weeks stay in the United States
They are the guests of Governor Black
burns son-n-law, Gen. W. p. Hall. Gov
ernor Blackburn will leave for Kentucky
Tuesday TO spend few days at his old
home in Versailles. While disclaiming any
connection with the engineering branch
OF canal work, Governor Blackburn,
nevertheless, shares the optimism of his
Ieilow officials in the progress OF the
canal towards ultimate completion.
AT the rate we are going" said Gov
ernor Blackburn tonight, I'VE will have
finished the excavation in three years
The work on the locks and dams is the
more important part. 1t is a difficult
task, but there is no doubt that we will
bring it 10 a successful conclusion and
build the great waterway"
Governor Blackburn stated that the
recent accident at the Gatun dam was OF
a trifiins nature. 1t could be repaired he
added. for about $1,000. and he expressed
surprised that il should have provoked
80 much comment in the United States.
Emile Gibson and j. X. Maxwell Ala
| bama clerks in the treasury, received 5000
promotions today
Senator Bankhead is in the city. Sem
ator Johnston arrives Saturday.