Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-04-22


change and also that 1t meets with the
approval Of the president. There are
reasons why the arrangement cannot
be put into effect Just at the present
time, for the change means much and
requires good deal of thought; but
1t Is certain that one day the post
masters of all classes below the first
class will hold their offices under what
will practically amount to the civil
service rule.
Moreover. the postmaster general
has in mind plan by which ultimate
ly, perhaps not during this admins
tration but later when political opin-
ion" has been educated to the inno-
walton, to make It within the power of
any subordinate official IN the
branches of the postoffice department
all over the country to profit by civil
service rules to the extent that by
attention to business and a showing
of ability they may advance in the diff
ferent grades until finally they can
become postmasters by promotion,
rather than by, as is the case now,
direct appointment.
May Welcome Change.
II the second and third class post
office are put under the civil service
rule, It may be that the members of
congress will at first resent the
change, but 1t Is certain that it will
relieve them of good deal of trouble.
In the case of first-class postoffices
President Roosevelt and some of his
predecessors In office also said that
postmasters who were acceptable to
the people whom they were serving
and who were making good records
from the department point of view
ought to be continued in office. This
rule was put into effect as far as 1t
could be, and there were a good many
representatives in congress who OBJ
jected to its application strongly be-
cause first-class postoffices are good
places and they are fine rewards for
| the political faithful.
II the second and third class post
offices are put on civil service basis
along with the fourth-class offices 1t
means that men now in the service
and who do their work to the satis-
faction of the department and people
can keep their places until death re-
moves them or old age units them for
their work. The civil service advo-
Gates for many years have urged that
something of this kind be done and 1t
seems probable that during the pres
ent administration 1t may be done
and 1t is said that Mr.. Taft does not
fear that there will be much objection
either from Democratic or Republican
members of congress.
More "Baek From Eiba" Rumors.
The meeting of Theodore Roosevelt
and Clifford Pinchot, and the report,
seemingly authentic, but which later
met with a partly conclusive denial,
to the effect that Mr.. Roosevelt had
broken his friendship with Mr.. Taft,
have started stories again to the effect
Elba" ending to Mr.. Roosevelt's four
years of retirement from public office.
This is a matter which best can be
treated plainly from the standpoint of
many of the Washington friends of the
former president, who think that they
know his views on a Second elective
term" for himself, or for third term,
as most people generally speak Of 1t.
There are many close friends of the
former president who would like to see
him in Office again, but those friends
say that they do not believe he would
consent to run, although it may be
that if the party's demand was unani-
nous, he might be induced to become
once again the candidate of his party
for the presidency.
There are men in Washington who
talked with Mr.. Roosevelt about the
Second elective term" proposition pri.
or to the time that Mr.. Taft was an
avowed candidate for the nomination
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Roose'
welt issued two statements saying spe-
cifically that he would not be candi'
date for the nomination In 1908. He
did not say in these statements that
he never would be a candidate again
and 1t should be said that as far as
can be learned he never told any OF
his friends directly that he would not
consent to run again for the presi
dency at some future time. but he die
say some things that made them be
lieve it was not his intention ever
/ again to become candidate for the
! presidency.
Mr.. RooseveIt's Position.
Those who talked with Mr.. Roose
velt about the possibility of his agar
seeking the presidency say explicitly
that he gave no positive expression o.
personal feeling on the subject of the
propriety of third term. or Second
elective term" If you will. for an!
man, but that he did say certain
: things which led them to believe tina
he thought that the American people
! would not like the idea OF putting an,
man in the White House for the thirt
! time. From what can be gatheret
from those who talked to Mr.. Roose
veit about this matter 1t seems he fel
that the people at heart were opDose,