The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
Wilson Seems Determined to
Let Republicans Serve
Out Commissions
ALABAMA'S LIST OF
DISAPPOINTED LONG
Only Consolation Is That Republican
Fourth Class POstmasters May
Have to Stand Examination
to Hold Their Jobs

The attitude of the Wilson administra-
tion has caused the sinking of the hearts
of the festive officeseekers in Alabama,
and especially those in the central sec
tion of the state who were anxious to
acquire the juicy berth of federal at
torney for the middle district. H
For this berth incidentally, there are
about II applicants, among the number
being Tyler Goodwin of Montgomery,
chairman of the state democratic execu-
tive committee; Henry Steagall of Ozark,
solicitor of the Third judicial circuit;
Representative Allen K. Merrill and Col.
Lee Clayton of Eufaula, the two last
named being relatives of Congressman
Clayton. Attorney General McReynolds,
it is generally understood, has courteously
informed the applicants that there will
be no successor to Warren Reese named
until the commission of that gentleman
has expired
The general belief that it will be the
policy of the new administration to per-
nit all republicans to hold to their fat
berths as long as their appointive terms
endure, has caused the democrats of Ala
bama, who had turned longing eyes to
postmastershirs. attorneyships and mar
shalships to quiver in the rage of disan-
pointment 1t seems that there will BE
no pursuit of the principle ito the victor
belongs the spoils," and thus the indica-
tlons bear out the early prediction that
Mr.. Wilson will not remember, all at
once, at any rate, the henchmen who
put him in office.
Among the Disappointed
If the present policy is carried out with
| out exception. Truman II. Aldrich will
continue to hand the citizens of Birming
ham their mail for more than two years
hence. Tom Long, j. deb. Hooper, John
Rosenstihl, Inzer Wyatt and others who
expected to succeed Pope Long as mar
shall will have to wait for several more
months. Robert N. Bell, Robert H.
| Thach Osceola Kyle, Tennent Simpson
and others who have aspired to the posi-
| tion of attorney have about reached the
| conclusion that their period of expectancy
will cruelty be extended indefinitely. And
| thus 1t goes all down the line. 1t Is now
| considered safe to predict that the re.
publicans will continue to hold office
throughout Alabama until the expiration
(, of their commissions. AS a result, there
| is already evidence of disappointment in
little grumbles that jar the earth.
| If there is surprise, it is needless sur
| prise for the students of the new admin
| istration have been predicting the present
condition from time immemorial 1t is
| not believed in Alabama, however, that
Mr. Wilson will continue good republi-
| cans in office after the expiration of
| their terms. 1t is not believed, in other
words, that he will permit only the bad
| to lay down the political shovel and hoe
with which they have long and profitably
| toiled.
Fourth Class POstmasters
! But the democratic officeseekers are
| not the only people in this state who are
disappointed The fourth-class postmas-
ters are slightly troubled, TOO, FOR, by
the grace of the jovial Mr.. Taft, they
were put under civil service with a good
| chance of hanging on to the juice chan
mel during the periods of their natural
| life. And now MIR. Burleson comes along.
| apparently with the sanction OF Presi-'
| dent Wilson. and states that there will be
| civil service examinations for fourth
class postmasters Mr.. Wilson evidently,
\ will not turn the rascals out" but lie
| will make them stand competitive exami-
| nations against good democrats.
| Mr. Underwood and other southern con-
i. eressinen, writing under the action of
| Taft in putting his little postmasters in
! for life were very anxious that Wilson
| use his presidential prerogative and re-
scind the order of the late executives; or
| II not that at least give democrats q
chance through examinations. 1t is due
to these democratic congressman that the
order of Bureson will be issued.
Rv the democratic congressman Taft's
| action in putting fourth class postmasters
rnder civil service regulation without
having required them to prove their worth
hv examinations, was dle to his desire
To maintain the republican machine in
ro,ver They considered it unfair that
Taft should have taken that action on
the eve of democratic success. They did
not complain of civil service rules and
regulation. But they wanted the oppor-
unity for preferment extended to all par
Ties And thus they went to work, ana
Il happened that they found a ready ear
attached to the head OF Attorney Cen
eral Bureson.
That several of the Alabama fourth
class postmasters will lose IN the exami-|
nations is considered certain. Aud thus