The Washington times., 1916-06-09
Keen Disappointment Expressed
at Failure Of Republicans to
Incorporate 1t in Platform.
JORDAN MAKES STATEMENT
Onus for Republican Action PIac-
ed on Senator Lodge, Who
Has Always Opposed.

Failure OF the Republican convention
TO put a provision for pension and re-
tircment of civil service employees II the
Government in the platform will he dis
appointing to hundreds OF thousands
Of Government employees In Washington
ard the country over.
In the first plnce, the subcommittee,
headed by Senator Lodge, which pre-
pared the platform, turned down the
proposition, but when the entire cuni-
mittee considered It. strong efforts were
made to have suitable provision
adopted At one time It was thought
this might be done. Senator Sterling
OF South Dakota I'm the resolutions COM
mlttee spoke strongly for reversing ac-
ton of the subcommittee.
Senator Lodge. however. as chairman,
so far dominated the committee that no
rc-opening of the question was permit
ted. The result was that the civil scrv-
ice plank which was adorted did not
contain the pension and retirement pro-
vision Which has been urged by presI-
dent Gompers OF the American Fedora
ton of Labor. by Dr. Llewellyn Jordan.
OF the United States Civil Service Re-
tirement Association. and others. II is
not unlikely that failure TO put this
provision into the platform may have
important political results. This is GER
tain to be the case IL the Democrats
seize on 1t and put It into their plat
form.
To Seek Democratic Support.
DR.. Jordan will go to st. Louis for
the purpose of getting a provision
put into the Democratic platform.
har
of the Civil Service Committee, has
long opposed a pension and retire
ment system for employees in the
classified service.
DIR. Jordan was both surprised and
disappointed at the action taken. be-
cause It Is squarely the reverse of
the Republican platform of 1912 in
this respect. DR.. Jordan said:
Despite efforts of organized labor
and the long endeavors of many be-
levers in civil service retirement,
nothing was done. Senator Lodge
put his influence against 1t. As a
result, the Republican party is put
in peculiar attitude. Its platform
in this particular Is directly in con-
tradiction with what II was four
poIntment of organized labor and
100000 civil service employees"
Error, Says DIR. Jordan.
DR.. Jordan pointed out that the Re-
publicans would probably find they
had committed a serious tactical
mistake" II the Democrats were to in
dorse a pension and retirement sys-
TEN.
Senator Sterling" he said, did
everything he could for a pension and
retirement plank. He sought to have
the action of the subcommittee recon
sidered. But Senator Lodge person
ally opposed 1t and used his influence
in every way he could"
DR.. Jordan sent this communication
to Senator Lodge:
Your refusal to approve or reopen
the question of incorporating a dec
laration in favor of a pension and
retirement system as part of the
plank on the civil service in reaffir-
nation of the declaration of the Re-
publican party of four years ago Is
not only disappointing to the organ
lied labor movement Of this. country
but likewise bitterly disappointing to
100000 civil service employees in the
United States"