Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-08-18

ministratiOn because of its application
OF the 'spoils system to the diplomatic
service and to the heads of the census
bureau and coast and geodetic survey,
and proposes as cure, his election,
and that he will have government in
a business like way and put in
charge of every important department
men eminently fit to discharge their
duties President Wilson has put in
charge of every department men en-
inently fit to discharge their duties,'
and his appointments have been un.
satisfactory only to that small group
who fought Brandeis so viciously. But
for the sake of argument, let us grant
as true the facts on which the criti-
cism is based.
"The 'spOils system means filling
presidential appointive offices such as
the chiefs of bureaus, assistant secre-
taries, members of commissions and
department of justice, postmasters
above the fourth class, revenue coll
lectors, various fiscal officers, diplo-
mats, and large body of officers
having supervisory duties, with men,
bers of the dominant political party.
1t is system peculiar not to one but
both parties, ever since Jackson orig
mated it in 1929. and the Republicans
have been more ruthless in it's ap-
plication than the Democrats. Its sup
porters contend that to abolish it and
substitute civil service would obliter.
ate political parties and make it inn
possible to carry out party policies.
and reduce our government to one Of
bureaucracy. Its enemies claim that
to place so much power in parties In
vites inefficiency, that man cannot
serve well two such masters as his
party and the government, because
party would promote where govern.
ment should fire, and offer a SUBJ
stitute either the extension of the
civil service or the creation of a nom
partisan or bipartisan board of gov
ernment experts to fill all important
appointive offices, and promote gov
ernment employees who deserve it.
This latter remedy means a further
centralization of power, and is sug-
gested by ex-President Taft. But no
one except Judge Hughes has had SO
little respect for the common sense
and sense of humor of the American
people as to contend that the evils OF
the 'spoils system can be cured by
substituting the Republican for the
Democratic party. 1t is as sensible
as to try to cure a man of a cold
by giving him the yellow-fever.
"To charge the faults of the 'spoils
system to the Democratic party is as
just as for monarchist to blame US
with the disadvantages of democracy
as compared with a monarchy.
Comparison Of Two Men.
"Mr. Wilson translates words into
deeds. Note his speeches about help
ing humanity, their fulfillment by giv-
ing first aid to the farmer with rural
credits, to the wOrking-man with the
department of labor, the eight hour
day on government work. the child
labor law, to merchants with the trade
commission, to honest bankers and
our financial system at home and
abroad with the federal reserve act,
and to all the people by saving us
from war.
"Mr. Hughes is like militant az.
nostic or atheist, he would destroy
our faith in Wilson and offer US no
valid substitute.
Performance, construction, creation
are divine attributes. Criticism, de-
struction, iconoclasm, are human
frailties."