Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-01
TO SAVE OLD CLERKS.
Patriotic Societies Called Into
Joint Conference.
CAMPAIGN TO BE LAUNCHED
Col. John McElroy Promotes Move.
ment to Keep Aged Employees on
Government Pay Rolls.

The proposed elimination of old
clerks from the department service or
their demotton will be combated by all
patriotic organizations in Washington
if a movement started today reaches
fruition. 1t viii. according to those
who have launched it.
Col. John McElroy, editor Of the Ma
tional Tribune, and prospective COM
mander-in-c chief. of the Grand Army of
the Republic, will call conference of
department commanders and presidents
of the G. A. R., Union Veteran Legion,
Spanish War Veterans, Army and Navy
Union. Woman's Relief Corps and SINH
lar bodies. At the meeting it is pro-
posed that steps be taken to organize
for a campaign against the elimination
and demotion projects
Col McElroy's Views.
Speaking of the matter today, Col, Nc
Elroy said:
The movement to drop the old clerks
is absolutely opposed to good business
policy and to the practice of all civilized
nations
1t is of the highest Importance that
the government employee should have
every inducement to remain loyal and
protect the governments interests.
opportunities to benefit himself at the
expense of the service.
The inducement and reward for loyalty
should be permanence in employment and
provision for old age. such as all great
railroads Of the country are making for
their employees not for humantys sake,
but as good business policy.
Nor is it true that age of pmplOyeS
necessarily diminishes their usefulness.
The contrary was demonstrated recently
i'll searching investigation which showed
that as a rule the Older employees were
more efficient than the younger ones To
deny this would be to deny that practice
and experience have any value.
Practice Elsewhere in World.
"As matter of public policy, all civil
hzed governments give a decided prefer
ence in public employ to those who have
served their time in the army and navy.
AS no man has any natural right to ap-
pointment in the civil services, the pref
erence extended to those who have served
the country in the army and navy creates
no privileged classes and can do no one
any injustice.
This governments traditional policy,
established by Washington and the other
lance upon the voluntary army for its
defense. 1t should more than any other
nation prefer veterans and the widows of
veterans for all places which they are
competent to fill.
From patriotic reasons and others
based upon sound military policy, l
think that all veteran associations and
societies should unite with the Grand
Army of the Republic in protesting
against the removal Of clerks upon any
arbitrary age basis.
There should be strong protest
against action which seems leveled
against veterans and their dependent ones.
There should be vigorous assertion
that these classes deserve preference
The Grand Army of the Republic
has always asked that this preference
should only extend to the veteran or the
widow who was: as competent as the nom
veteran for the performance of the du-
ties.
"If any man or woman is incompetent
for that particular place we do not in
sist for moment that he or she be re-
tanned. We think, however. that in the
great army of public employees a place
can be found for him or her which will
be suitable.
''And we have insisted that the veterans
of the later wars should have the same
consideration. / hope that all the vet
eran societies will make common cause
on this matter of principle