The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-07-15
EFFICIENCY DISPLACED
BY INCOMPETENCE

| Washington, July i4--(Spceial cor
respondencel--The holding Of Pai
American conference in this city ;
short time ago, was a magnificent ef
fort on the part Of the American Re
publics to get together for the promo
ton Of their common commercial in
terosts. The subsequent appointment
of committee by the Secretary Of tht
Treasury for continuation Of worl
along the same line, was also a move
in the right direction.
But all these efforts, so far as tht
United States is concerned, cannot re-
pair the injury done TO the United
States in Central and South America
by this administration in discharging
competent, experienced diplomatic
representative and filling their place:
with men with neither experience MOI
other special qualification. The admin
istration not only sacrificed the com
mercial interests of the United States
but forfeited large measure of the
respect this country earned by many
years of effort to build up high
standard Of diplomatic efficiency.
Immediately after securing the pow
err, the administration began tearing
down the merit system which had been
built up by promotions based on efiic-
iency. So sudden and relentless was
the onslaught that public men could
scarcely believe the reports Of changes
made, for it was but few months pre-
vious that President Wilson had de-
clared
"My warm advocacy and support
both Of the principle and of the bona
fide practice of civil service reform is
known to the whole country, and there
is no danger that the spoils system
will creep in with my approval or con-
nivance."
But repeated instances of good men
cast out to make places for political
henchmen, soon convinced the real
friends of good government that there
was to be no regard whatever for the
principle of civil service reform. Dr.
Charles w. Eliot, President Of the Ma
tional Civil Service Reform League,
outlined the situation at the annual
meeting of the League in December,
after the new administration had had
nine months Of opportunity to make
changes. He was quoted as saying:
"Of the 90 ministers displaced, Is
had had several years experience in
Diplomatic Service, while none Of the
new appointees had had any expert
ence. Several of the appointments OF
obscure men to diplomatic posts have
seemed to the public to be made in
payment of political debts"
The minister to Columbia, who was
graduate of both Cornell University
and Columbia Law School and had
been in the Governments foreign SER
vice 81 years, working up by demon
strated efficiency, was displaced to
make room for Texas farmer.
The man who secured two degrees
from Columbia, and served 10 years in
the diplomatic service in France,
England, Turkey and China, was dis
placed from his position as Minister
to Costa Rica at the age Of &c to make
room for North Carolina editor who
was born in that State "a years ear.
lier and had lived there all his life.
The minister to Guatemala was
graduate of Ya'e and of Harvard Law
School. He spent twelve years in the
service, in subordinate pc.
sitions at Berlin and Rome and was
promoted successfully as minister to
Panama, Venezuela and Guatemala,
from which latter place he was dis
missed at the age Of 81, in order that
political reward might be given to a
63-year-old South Carolina preacher,
who, when he was leaving for the
Central American Republic, admitted
that he had had no official training as
a diplomat but said he chad been
40 years"
These few instances, which might be
not only in the diplomatic
service but in the government service
1t home, illustrate the manner in
which efficiency has been sacrificed,
making necessary a repetition of the
,ears Of constructive effort by Repub-
lean administrations in order to place
he public service on the high plane !
t occupied prior to March 4, 1913.