The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-09-01
WILSON BRANDED AS
SPOKESMAN BY NEW
ENGLAND PAPER
Civil Service Reform League Justi-
fled in Its Protest.

the greatest newspapers in the coun-
try, is fighting President Woodrow
Wilson, the spokesman. In a recent
issue appeared the following:
Wilson as a Spokesman.
The broadside published by the Ma
tional Civil Service Reform League ON
its controversy with the Federal Civil
Service Commission over fourth-class
postmasterships raises but one aspect
of the civil service reform issue. AS
for the legal, even the moral, aspects
of the federal commissions attitude
in refusing to make public its records
to all corners, something can be said
no doubt on the score of the inviola-
bility OF confidential information con-
corning the office-holders and aspi-
rants for office, their qualifications
and personal characters. 1t is desir-
able, however, that there be as little
secrecy as possible in these matters
and, in the public interest, investiga-
tors of the standing of those repre-
senting the National Civil Service Re-
form League ought to be afforded all
possible facilities in investigating COM
plants and in scrutinizing the work OF
an ADMINISTRATION.
The inference is plain that, without
radically changing established rules,
the Civil Service Commission could
have promoted the inuisitorial octi-
vities of the league; instead of that, it
has chosen to balk them. This is not
a policy calculated to win public con-
fidence, and the officers of the league
seem to be justified in their protest.
1t is not easy to understand why the
Federal Civil Service Commits sion
should obstruct the league in Its in
quiries concerning the fourth-class
postmasterships. The chairman of
the commission, Mr.. McIlhenny, was
appointed by President Roosevelt in
1906 and, although a Democrat from
Louisiana, his soundness as a civil
service reformer might be taken for
granted. Mr.. Roosevelt would hardly
have nominated a spokesman. OF the
other members, Mr.. Galloway is a
Democrat and Mr.. Craven is Repub-
lican. Mr.. Craven at least would be
expected to oppose tactics by the
commission designated to safeguard a
Democratic administration from criti-
cism. Yet the commission is unit In
opposing the request of the league
1t offers to investigate the complaints
fathered by the league, it is true, but
that course will not satisfy altogeth
the compliments.
Looting the Postoffice.
The truth is that a great many
fourth-class postmasters have been
turned out of office during this ad-
ministration through the working oil
the executive order requiring exam
ination in order to hold their places
Many of them deserved to go; they
were political nominees in the first
instances. and placing them in the
classified service merely made petty
partisan workers. who were supports
of the local machine of the Republi.
can party bosses, officeholders fol
life. In the south, especially, the Taft
order was resented. Yet, in view oil
the long standing evil of sweeping ou'
thousands of fourth-class postmaster:
with every change of administration
at Washington, President Taft's actor
in the last days of his term was a
progressive step. President Wilson
should not have permitted the posta
service to go backward at that point
That many purely partisan appoint
ments from the lists of eligibles have
been made during the past three and /;
half years to please Democratic con
gresham is not doubted for a mo-
ment
An Uniustifiable Excuse.
The chief excuse for the admins
tation, as every one knows, is that fol
sixteen years under previous admins
trations Republicans had monopolizet
the Federal offices high and low. L
had got to be so that Democrats wer,
a prescribed class in the federal ser
vice, outside of the places they hac
secured in the classified service under
competitive examination. One car
sympathize with the Democratic re
sentiment at that fact. but one canno
approve of any lowering of admins
trative efficiency in order that the bal
ance between the parties in offic,
+. holding might be redressed. The mos
that can be said for the Democrat.
along the line is that they have beer
human; but they have been far from
ideal.
The president entered office civil
service reformer. He has been a disap,
pointment, on the whole Some, no
all, of Mr.. Hughes attacks on Mr.
Wilson's appointments are justified
The president doubtless consulted po
litical expectancy in adjusting hi.
course. preferring to accomplish
something big in legislation by keep
ing his party solidly at his back ir
congress rather than invite constant
ruptures with senators and represen
tatives over the patronage. He ha.
gained certain big things. but on ths
whole. the civil service has deterior,
atcd because of the infusion OF sc
many new, inexperienced office.
holders.
A General Reaction.
1t is a deplorable fact that public
sentiment is still insufficiently devel.
oped to make possible a highly eff.
oient administrative service in this
country. One of the most astonishing
md painful aspects of the return oil
The Republicans to power In certain
tates as the result of the elections oil
'ol4 was the emasculation by Reprbli-
can legislatures and governors Of the
civil service laws. A most fragrant
ease of this reactionarv spirit and ten
Ianrv took D1aca -, ToDoectjcut ur