The Washington herald., 1914-03-12
gag RULE FOR
Federal CLERKS
Suffrage Cause Is Dealt Blow
by Civil Service
Ruling.
REGULATION IRON CLAD
Order Also Prevents Department En-
ployes Participating in Big Dem
onstration Planned May 9.

Those civil service employees of the
government who are taking an active
part i'm the woman suffrage question are
enjoined hereafter from being more than
= mere member Of any organization
whose exclusive purpose is the discussion
nf politics: they are prevented from be-
ing officers of any such political club,
and they may not address IL; neither are
they permitted to influence other MEM
bers by their actions OF utterances- They
also are restrained from taking part IN
any public demonstration or parade OF n
political character.
The fcregoing is the substance Of cir
cuiar statement beiRg sent out by the
chiefs of the various government depart
rents and divisions to those CLASSIFIED
civil service employees of the government
who are known to be active in the suf-
frase cause. and will have the effect OF
deriving the suffragists of the active help
of many of their most prominent work
ers. 1t also will deprive them of march
itg in the suffrage demonstration planned
I'm this city May s.
Ruic Wide Sweeping.
The circular contains the following
paragraphs of a pamphlet issued by the
Civil Service Commission, entitled In
formation Concerning Political Assess
mcnts and Partisan Activity OF Federal
Office Holders and Employees and calls
particular attention to this paragraph:
For an employe of the government, who
is the paid servant of all citizens of all
political faiths. publicly to display his
partisanship with respect to any pending
issue is detrimental to the service; an
cmployc. could not. of course, be per-
mittcd to support such an issue and
another employe forbidden to, oppose IT.
and his partisanship. while pleasing to
some. would he offensive TO others.
1T is we'll known that reform or So
called nonpartisan campaigns are fire.
Quently more bitterly contested than cam
paigns conducted on strictly partisan
lines. and however meritorious may be
the reform sought to be attained. If the
question is a political one a competitive
empluye may not take an active part in
its discussion or solution"
Referring to clubs and meetings, the
circular says: Employees may be men,
hers of political clubs. but il is improper
for them to be active in the organization
of such a club. to be officers OF the
club, or members or officers of any of ITS
committees. or act as such, or to ad-
dress a political club An employe
may become a member of a political club.
but may not take an active part in its
or affairs, and may not rep
resent other members or attempt to in
fluence them by his actions or utter
ances" 1
OF meetings. the circular SAYS: Service
in preparing for, organizing, or conduct
ing A political meeting or rally. ad-
dressing such meeting. or taking any
other active part therein. except as
spectator, is prohibited"
Expression Of opinions is regulated in
the following: THE right to express
his opinions on all political mat
ters is reserved to the employees by the
rule. He must corfine himself to the
private expression OF his views and must
refrain from political discussions or con-
ferences while on duty or In public places:
he must not canvass a district or solicit
political support for any party, faction,
candidate, or measure"