Evening journal., 1914-12-30
WEDNESDAY DEC. so 1914.
MARSHAL TOWNSEND's REMOVAL.

WoODWRoW WILSON is a Democratic President
W Thomas w. Gregory is a Democratic Attorney
General. Willard Salisbury is Democratic United
States Senator The Wilmington Every Evening is a
Democratic newspaper Those facts being ndispu-
able it is pleasure for to call public attention to
the following editorial criticism by the Every Evening
or inc Wilson administration and the Delaware junior
Senator relative TO the outrageous and uniusuhable
warfare made upon George l.. Townsend, Republican.
until yesterday United States marshal for the Delaware
districts
The unjust and impotc scheme. engineered NV Som
aior Salisbury and officially supported by Attorney
General Gregory for the expulsion of United States
Mafshal George H. townsend from his Office for tho
purpose of making room for of Senator sauls-
burys impatient political friends, has reached the
point OF armed hosnlltlos Marshal Townsend. last
evening, received from Attorney General Gregory.
telegram cuity announcing that he had been removed
from Office. This morning by mail came the official
order. signed by President Wilson announcing the re-
moNal Naturally. Marshall Townsend will resist sum-
mary removal without cause and subseoucnt proceel
ines will no doubt throw light upon tho scheme I'm
an details Thus official sanction has been given TO
precedent which i'm the event of nolticag rovorsai
in the national administration following the next Pres
idental election, would doubt be avaiod OF TO tho
limit IN turning out Democratic Federal officers i'm
Delaware and showing Republican partisans into their
places.
The developments Of the righteous opposition which
Marshal Townsend Will ntorposo TO this indofensible-
so far the facts known up to this time-act of
brutal summary removal also viii TO make pub
lic the reasons for Senator Saulshury's mpationce
20 nave partisan friend installed in this important
Federal position impatienco that caunot book watt
ing until the expiration of the ncumbcnts term That
ihe partisan ohendlng oi pernicous political activity
which precedent assigns a departure from
the regular procedure and resort to summary removal
may lusty ne urged against Marshal Townsend is in
conceivable The entire community knows ne has not
been ordinarily much less pernicousy active in pol
itcs since he assumed his Office And IL Is equally
incredible that any charges of personal wrongdoing
would lie against him
While Il is not all surprising that Senator Sauls-
bury should resort 20 Nhat we'll described as
peanut politics" I'm this any other matter Il IS
very surprising that he has so completely brought the
tn al fttfll
be even more surprising 10 hear that he has the
approving cooperation of President Wilson I'm scheme
that will prove dscredt to the administration as
well as an injury TO the Democratic party
The Republicans had in their control the Office Of
the United States marshal from 1861 until August 2
1856, when Charles IA Newln. Democrat was ap-
pointed by President Cleveland. President Harrison
Republican, was elected i'm 1888 Notwithstanding this
partisan change in national administration Mr. New
lin was allowed TO serve his full term of four years
and on August .. 1890. President Harrison appointed
u Mahahy Mr. Cleveland was reelected in 1892 and
Mr. Mahaiy allowed TO serve until August 10 1893
when he was removed on charges preferred and sup
ported ny strong proof OF unwarraned political activ
iiy while occupying a Federal Office. Hewson E Lam
nan Democrat, was ON August 10. 1893. appointed by
PRESIDENT cleveland and Notwithstanding the election
Of President Mckinley ina 1896. was allowed TO serve
his fun Term and short time over being succeeded
by i Cannon Short appointed by President Mckinley,
September TO- 1897 Mr. Short served his full term Of
tour years and something over and succeeded by
w r.. Finn. April l. 1903. Mr. Finn was reappoint ed
April !. 1907 and died I'M office In November 1910
Judge Bradford appointed Ralph T. Finn 10 succeed
his father such time as the Office should be filled
by Presidential appointment Mr. Townsend. the pres
cnt incumbent. appointed and commissioned April
n. 1912 for term Of four years, that his commits
sion would expire April II. 1916
This paper has always stood for and believed in
Civil Service reform and the securing of the best
possible service 10 the government by the retention of
efficient and faithful employees We recognize, however
that the Office of United States marshal is not within
tho classified service and Il is proper that party COM
ing into power should have the right appoint persons
its political faith TO such offices upon the ex-
piratiOn OF the term OF the incumbent unless the in
cumbent may be sooner removed for proven charges of
p inehciency or unwarranted political activities. lnas
much as such charges have been suggested against
Mr.. Townsend, feel that 10 removs him from Office
at this time would be sad return 70 pernicious
partisan practice which would go far TO impair tn,
efficiency Of the public service.
Another reason which should appeal 20 the Demo
cratic party for not removing Mr.. Townsend under
such circumstances until the completion OF his tern
OF Office lies in the fact that there is nothing certain
in politics, and while we believe and trust the Demo
cratic party will be continued control of the Presi
dency at the election years from now yet Nigh
happen that the Republican some other party wou
come into power If so. what better precedent couI
such party ask Immediately upon assuming power
than the dismissal Of Marshal Townsend this time
a warrant for the summary dismissal of ever
Democratic Federal Office holder in the State with
out the necessity of preferring charges against
and before the completion of the for which the
have been appointed. In other words. looked al froi
Democratic point of view. II is poor politics TO i'm
peril the position of every Democratic Office holde
In order 10 secure, at somewhat earlier date the an
pointment Of Democrat 20 the Office of Unite
States marshal In the national administration a
Washington should change In 1916 the Democrat al
pointed this time could hardly hope In view of m
precedent established. TO hold his Office tha
years ard half while by waiting a compare
lively short time he would be onably sure ths
party coming into power in the future would dat
10 violate precedent which gains in strength Wit
vcry year that passes and would permitted TO ser,
fun term OF four years.
does the Wilmington Morning News. a conserv;