The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-25
ON POSTMASTERS
The Administrations Policy Is
Made Plain.
Are 10000 Places to Fill With
Democrats.
AND THEY'LL Be FILLED
In Spite of the Civil Service
Rules.
Subterfuge to Avoid Appear
ance of Spells.

Washington, D. c., Sept Is
Woodrow Wilson, who has been called
the schoolmaster in politics. knows
something about the postmaster in
politics.
There are. altogether, some 10000
postoffices in the United States, and,
consequently, the same number OF
postmasters. Gradually, but surely,
the political complexion of this great
army of federal employees is being
changed. Republicans are being re-
placed by Democrats. Since the fourth
of last March, nearly seven months,
President Wilson has sent to the SEN
ate the names of 2,299 Democratic
postmasters. 1t is true that in a very
large proportion of these changes
there was the legitimate reason of the
expiration of the Republican incum-
bent's term. 1t is noticeable, however,
that the postmasters of many large
cities have resigned Their places
were too alluring to the dominant
party and they had to step down and
out. 1t may also be a mere cOinci-
dence tat there has been much &C
tivity in naming postmasters in GER
tain states, while other states seem
to have been neglected, and that SEN
atorS from these states occupy prom
inent positions in connection with
pending or proposed legislation.
At any rate. President Wilson has
made nearly 1900 Democratic post
3
at least for a period of sixteen
years.
Been 16 Lean Years.
Nobody for moment questions the
justice or the wisdom of President1
Wilson's action There have been s
long years of lean and hungry waiting
on the part of the Democrats, and
the public crib looks mighty good to
them.
There are some Republicans-Con-
g.
stance-who are bold enough to say
that Ito the victor belongs the spOils.
They are perfectly willing to have the
Republicans turned out and their
places taken by loyal. hard working
Democrats because they expect the
political wheel to turn around, in
which event they will advocate that
the Democrats be made to walk the
plank-for misunderstanding, like the
other offices. are regarded as rewards
for party fidelity.
No administration ought, of course, |
to convert a great business institution
like the postal service into a political
agency, but this has always been so, |
and is Likely to continue Perhaps
that is the reason why-there is such al
good politician at the head of the post
office Experimentation Postmaster
General Burleson and Secretary Bryan
are the two recognized politicians of
the Wilson cabinet. Mr. Hitchcock, |
it will be remembered, used the postal |
machinery as an important agency in |
the political game. 1t means some |
thing when there are 10000 appoint |
mentS to make. And subordinate to |
and ranking with these postmasters
are thousands upon thousands of let
ter carriers and rural delivery men
who circulate among the people-a
Veritable army of partisan workers.
No wonder that the Republicans are
going out and the Democrats are COM
ing in.
Where Storm Clouds Hover.
Around the heads of the fourth
class postmasters, some 10000 in
number, the storm clouds are hover
ing.
Many years ago President Roosevelt
placed the fourth class offices in
New York, Pennsylvania. Ohio, In
diana and Illinois, and some other
states, under the protecting aegis of
the civil service law. President Taft,
when he knew that the Democrats
would win, placed all the fourth class
postmasterS in the same category.
This meant, of course, that they were
not to be removed, whereup the Re-
publicans were joyful and the Demo-
Gratis righteously indignant. If they |
had dared, the Democrats would have |
repealed the order, but they knew
that there is a growing sentiment in |
this country for divorcing the routine |
work of the government from parti-
san politics and so they decided to |
let the order stand.
The End Is at Hand
At the same time these Republican
postmasters might as well realize that |
the end of their officeholding days is
at hand. They are to be examined in
order to demonstrate their merit and
efficiency. There will however, be a
list of eligibles, three in number, for
each postmastership. Suppose the
Republican incumbent passes at 80
and the Democratic applicant gets rs.
Is there any doubt that the Democrat
will get the job? Not in the least
1t is a pretty piece of political Jug
glery this legal eligibility list 1t
enables the letter of the civil service
law to be obeyed, while it's spirit may
be unblushingly violated. Thus do the
postmasters continue to be the foot
balls of the politician.
All this comment is especially time