Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-25
SOUTH MAKES DEMAND
FOR SHARE Of OFFICES
Senator Johnston Voices Dis
content Over Slow Progress
of Appointments.

A demand that the south be given her
fair share of diplomatic and consular po-
sitions was made in the Senate yesterday
afternoon by Senator Johnston of Ala
bama. He declared that not a single am
bassador Of the United States halls from
the southern states. Counting Kentucky
as border state. he said. not one of the
thirty-five ambassadors and ministers of
this country are from the south. The
District of Columbia has five of these
offices. including two of the ambassador
ships.
Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire in
terrupted to ask if ii was not true that,
so far as ambassadors and ministers are
concerned. they have rendered their resig-
nations to the President.
Il am talking about the present situa-
tion, replied Mr.. Johnston.
But will it not be remedied by the
senator's President when he reaches that
point?" asked Mr.. Gallinger.
II hope it will be remedied. but ii seems
to be going along very slowly" was the
reply of Mr.. Johnston. remark which
was greeted by laughter.
Resolution of Inquiry.
Senator Johnston submitted a resolution
calling upon the foreign relations commit
tee to inquire into and report to the SEN
ate the number Of persons in the diplo-
matte service and the consular service,
the states from which they were appoint
ed, the aggregate of salaries of the APP
pointees from the several states and the
District Of Columbia, and also the politi-
cal faith of the Office holders AT the time
of appointment.
On objection of Mr. Gallinger the reso-
luton went over. although Mr.. Johnston
asked unanimous consent for its immedi-
ate consideration.
Senator Johnston's Comment.
In support of his resolution Mr.. john
ston said, in part:
THE salaries in the aggregate of con-
suls general and Of consuls from all the
southern states amount to $4,000. while
the aggregate salaries OF those from Ohio
alone amount to sos, 800; those from the
District OF Columbia alone to $72.5OO;
New York, $64 800; Illinois, $4,000; Penn
sylvania, $4,000
POSTS in the consular service held by
democrats. especially southern democrats,
pitifully few in number, Notwithstanding
the fnsistent professions of recent repub-
lican administrations OF the non-partisan
character Of the method employed In the
selection of applicants for admission, sub
jecting them to q fair examination with
out regard to party utilization or state OF
residence, are comparatively Insignificant
and SinconsequentiaI, and most certainly
out OF keeping with the Importance of the
communities and commonwealth from
which they come. An investigation Of the
consular list with the salary class, will
show this.
IAN investigation of the departments
method of examination in recent years
will show that of go persons in the con-
sular service. taking no account of va
cancies, only eighty. or % per cent. have
ever taken any other than a political or
favored examination while by a special
kind OF examination brought into vogue
by the Roosevelt administration and
practiced Under the Taft administration.
the test has been SO severely rigid as
fully to warrant the suspicion that it was
conceived and constructed to protect the
favorites of those two administrations.
Specific Charge Made.
In short over 200 of the persons now in
the consular service have never taken
any kind of examination to test their real
fitness for their posts: and 50 per cent OF
that number are republicans from north
ern states or from the District of Co.
lumbia, where residence in the social
centers in the vicinity of the White House
has given them. through republican presi-
dents, an open sesame to the best in the
foreign service of the government, from
ambassadors to the cream of the consular