The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-04-05
GRAND FORKS, DAKOTA MONDAY APRIL s. 1oe

Republican national convention at Chi
cago was compared with the latest
government blue hook. 1t was found
that Of delegates to the Chicago con-
vention federal Office holders consti-
tuted one in ten and of the delega-
ttons from tho southern states nearly
one In three, and of come southern
states, more than half.
These Office holders were political,
that is. outside of the Jurisdiction of
the civil service act, and in most cas-
es their appointment was subject to
confirmation by the United States
senate.
"The office holders in the south
practically control the Republican
party organization in their respective
states and frequently resort to un-
means in order to retain their
= Histor; 4~.m.n,,o,. no.
litical asset q Soc;ictn ate for nom
ination. AS the soItfig. i Democratic
states have as many votes in the Re-
publican national convention as the
Republican states of equal population,
under ordinary circumstances the
southern delegates would control the
balance of power in the national con-
vention.
These organizations controlled by
office holders are mainly interested in
the distribution of the patronage and
the naming Of delegates to conven-
tions. 1t is not to the interest Of
these office holding cliques to elect
Republican congressman or to bring
about party growth and party success,
which would mean curtailment or loss
OF the control of the patronage.
Conditions in the South
THE conditions in regard to the
activity of unclassified federal office
holders in politics are at their worst
in the south. but throughout the coun-
try, In accordance with established
custom, they are expected to be active
in primaries and conventions in the
interests Of those to whom they owe
their appointment and by whose favor
they are continued in office. This
leads to neglect of official duty and
absenteeism on large scale, and the
government is now paying large sums
In salaries to officials whose main in
terest and activity is devoted to poll
tics. while their Offices are left in the
control Of subordinates.
"The active participation by per-
sons who have personal interest at
stake in caucuses, primaries. conven-
tiona and elections seriously inter.
feres with free choice of candidates
by the people, and in some parts of
the country actually prevents it. The
federal office holders number over 300
600, OF which number one-third are
still outside tho civil service rules.
These higher officers, welding wide
political influence through their Of
ficial positions and subject to possible
dictation from Washington will. aa
long as they are permitted to take an
active part in politics, constitute a
menace to FREQ institutions.
"As the most effective and immed-
late remedies for existing conditions,
the committee urges: Cd the exten-
sion by the president of the classified,
competitive service to the utmost limit
that the laws allows; (2) legislation
by congress permitting the classif1ca-
ton of the officers whose appointment
is now subject to confirmation by the
senate, but who perform purely min
isterial functions; (3) a clearer def
milton and Strengthening of the exc
cutive order governing political activ-
ity in the unclasslf1ed service and the
vesting of the power to investigate
cases arising under this order in the
Civil Service commission or some other
body independent of departmental
dictation.