The Washington times., 1911-02-12
GETTING THE GOVERNMENT
: CLERKS TO HELP THEM
SELVES.

If you want something done, and
done right, do it yourself.
ii you want help, help yourself.
9rhat's the theory on which Mr.. Full
ton r. Gordon is proceeding in his
effort to show the Government civil
.seEvice employees how they can better
tKeir conditions
ITS all well enough to have news
p&pers campaigning for YOU, and to
receive occasional assurances that
bfoad minded public men are in sym
psthy with your contentious. 1t is
e3sier, likewise. than to get out and
do some Of the work yourself. But
itajsn't the way to get results.
The fight for the Government clerks
is.going to make progress just about
in proportion as the clerks themselves
take it seriously and work for results
There are plenty of things they can
do. without violating the regulations
ois the department. They can get to-
gether in a great mass meeting and
give voice to their sentiments and pur-
poses, for one thing, in a fashion that
Wal leave Congress in no uncertain
nind as to their sentiments.
That is the first thing that Mr.. Cor
don proposes. in the plan of campaign
which he sets forth in his announce
ment in The Times today.
After that, they can organize and
en1er upon the task of educating the
country to understand what they want,
why they want it, why they are en-
titled to it. and why it will be good
business and sound economy to give
it%to them.
Mr.. Gordon is going TO organize a
big mass meeting for the Government
employees and everybody else interested
in their effort for better wages. He
is planning to have addresses by lead
ing public men who have studied the
problems of the civil service. and who,
having studied, are prepared to say
that they sympathize with the efforts
to- solve those problems.
The truth is that Congress is not
opposed to a square deal for the clerks.
There is n vast fund of opinion in
both houses in favor of fair attention
to-the reasonable requirements of the
service. 1t is no overstatement of the
conditions to say that the next Con-
gress can be induced, by proper effort,
to. take up this question seriously and
earnestly.
A national campaign is Just ahead
of us; a campaign which gives every
premise of being closely contested and
uncertain. Both political parties are
going to be looking for opportunity to
align themselves in favor of fair treat
msnt of every important interest in
tte country.
Ehere is no reason on earth why,
with a proper effort, set on foot right
now and pushed with the zeal that the
Gorernment employees ought to display
inS such a cause. both national plat
forms in 1912 should not be made to
declare for a new deal, a modern deal,
EusinessIike management, in the civil
sefyice
Results may come sooner; we hope
they will; but the fight should be or
gahized with view to the long pull. =
Accomplishment thus far since The
Times campaign opened has been high
Iyt gratifying. Congress has come to
realize that the issue will not be
ddSned. 1t must get attention. Some
adequate conception of its bigness and
its pressing character is being i'm
pisnted in the mind, not only of Con-
4grxss, but of the country. The press is
responding with many favorable com
mSnts on the crusade of The Times.
Confessions are received every day,
q .