Evening journal., 1915-07-16
INCoMPETrNcg DIspLAcEs ErFECIENCY.

THE holding of a Pan American conference in Wash
ngton short time ago. a magnificent ef-
fort the part of the American Republics to get to-
gether for the promotion of their commercial
interests The subsequent appointment OF commit
tee by the Secretary the Treasury for continuation
of work along the same line, also move in the
right direction
But all these efforts so far the United States is
concerned repair the injury done to the United
States in Central and South America by this admins
ration in dischargine competent experienced diplo
matte representatives and filing their places with
with neither experience other special qualification
The administration not only sacrificed the commercial
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 dplo
matte efficiency
Immediately after securing the power, the admins
traton began tearing down the merit system which had
been built up by promotions based efficiency. So
sudden and relentless the onslaught that public
men could scarcely believe the reports of changes
made for IL but few months previous that Pres
ident Wilson had declared
MY warm advocacy and support both of the princi-
pie of the hde practice Of cvh service reform
is known to the whole country. and there is danger
that the poils system will creep in with my approval
or conniyance."
But repeated instances Of good cast out to make
places for political henchmen convinced the real
friends of good government that there to be no
regard whatever for the principle Of civil service re-
form DR. Charles w Eliot, President of the National
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 oppor
tunity to make changes He was quoted saying:
"Of the twenty-five ministers displaced thirteen had
had several years experience in Diplomatic Service,
while Of the appointees had had any expert
ence Several of the appointments Of obscure to
diplomatic posts have seemed to the public to be made
in payment Of political debts"
The minister to Colombia who graduate of
both Cornell University and Columbia Law School and
had been in the governments foreign service thirty
seven years working up by demonstrated efficiency,
was displaced to make for a Texas farmer
The man who secured two degrees from Columbia
and served ten years in the diplomatic service in
! France England Turkey and China. displaced from
his position as Minister Costa Rca at the Of S6
to make room for North Carolina editor who born
in that State aeventy-four years ago and had lived
| there all his life
The minister to Guatemala a graduate Of Yale
and Harvard Law School He spent twelve years in
the diplomatic service subordinate positions at Ber
lin and Rome and promoted successfully min.
lister to Panama Venezuela and Guatemala from which
latter place he dismissed the age of 81 order
that political reward might be given to a esyearolc
South Carolina preacher, who, when he leaving
for the Central American Republic admitted that he
had had official training a diplomat but said HI
chad been a minister forty years"
These few instances. which might be multiplied no
only in the diplomatic service but in the government
service al home illustrate the manner in which eff
cheney has been sacrificed making necessary repeti
ton OF he years Of constructive effort by Republican
administrations order TO place the public seryic
on the hgh plane it occupied prior to March 1918