The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-24
FRIDAY, JANUARY "A, 1908.


While the Senate had under discussion
those provisions OF the penal code which
protect Federal employees from assess
ments for campaign funds Mr.. Bacon
called attention, in no partisan spirit, to
a kindred evil-the participation of Fed
eral employees in political campaigns.
The Senator from Georgia was unable
10 see how it is any greater evil for
an employee i'm the executive department
TO contribute money to campaign than
for any officer or employee in the eX-
ecutive department 20 stunt his proper
attention to his official duties and de-
vote his time and energies % the adj
vocacy and promotion Of any political
party or any person who may be inter-
ested IN campaign" Mr. Bacon thought
that an executive employe DESTROYS of
taking part in a campaign should give
up his office, partisan activity being in
compatible with the efficient performance
Of public duties. which concern citizens
Of all parties
We presume MI BaCOn's remarks We're
inspired by his observation of the ac-
tiylJy of many Federal otHcehGIders in
behalf of the Presidential canvass of
Secretary Taft. a form Of political cam
paigung 10 which the Senator's animal
versions seem pertinent So fragrant has
the abuse of the Federal patronage in
Tafts behalf become chat il has invoked
severe criticism from all sections of the
country. This criticism has az last drawn
fire from the White House. and mo- one
Will be surprised TO learn that every
body who intimates that the President
is using Federal offices % further TafTs
nomination is regarded by lIv. Roosevelt
as an unqualified liar. But there are d
good many people who, i'm view of the
evidence of their senses. will be unable
10 adopt the Presidential point of view.
What is the meaning Of appointments to
Federal office Of Taft men, and Of meet
ings of political committees. composed in
large par Of Federal employees for the
purpose of indorsiHg Tafts candidacy?
What ground have the Taft campaigners
for claiming all the Southern delegates.
If ii is not that the Federal oficehOldsrs.
WHO constitute the Republican party In
the South, have been ordered 10 line up
for Taft?
Besides giving the lie direct 10 al.
charges that Federal patronage is being
used 10 further the Taft campaign, the
President according TO an inspired ar
ticle in the Boston Transcript. declares
that many Federal officeLolders are
working openly for other Presidential
candidates than Taft in Indiana they
are for Fairbanks; i'm Illinois for Can
non: in Pennsylvania for Knox, and even
in New York il is asserted, over half
81 them are actively engaged i'm booming
Hughes. Even If this be so. we do not
see that il helped the administrations
case. TWO wrongs do not make a right.
and the use of Senatorial OF Congress
sional patronage to promote the Presi-
dental aspirations Of Senators and others
does not justify or excuse the use Of
some other part Of the Federal ma
chinery in Taft's interest The whole
business is demoralizing to the Federal
service. and We would be glad if Senator
Baeons suggestion, that Federal en-
pIoyes he given to understand. as a con-
dition of taking office, that they must
keep out Of politics altogether, could be
enacted into law. The Federal service
should not be n mechanism for the pro
motion of any5odys political aspirations.
Somehow, when one speaks OF Nine.
TetraziHnj, one feels an irresistible desire
10 add "r9hl rabf rah