The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-04
REPUBLICANS STILL SWING Ou ID JUICY P|UMS
Between 80 and 90 Per Cent of Federal Employes at Washington Are Not
 Democrats

Washincton, February 3.--(Speciai) administrations, between so and 90 per cent of the employees of the govern ment. according to approximation considered accurate, are republicans. This is due to the fact that President Wilson did not follow the advice of that democratic leader, Samuel J. Tilden, who used the battle cry. Turn the rasca1s out"
 President Wilson, rather than attempt the role of the spoilsman, proceeded on two theories An efficient clerk should not be dismissed simply because new regime has been ushered into office, and civil service rules and regulations must be honestly observed.
 Of course there is complaint all along the line Thousands of democrats who desired juicy plums are mad through and through And members of Congress who desired to compliment their constitu- ents with soft berths, in which for years robust republicans have luxuriated, are mad through and through.
 Why" they ask, does Wilson think it necessary to run the government by the assistance of republicans bearing ratio to democratic employees of to !? Does he not think his friends as honest and as competent as the friends of his repub- lican cpponents?'
 CONSIDERABLE COMPLAINT
 Of course, the Wilson theory would not be subjected to bitter criticism were all succeeding Presidents rigidly to ad- here to that theory. But will they? A democratic senator said today:
 ''I have just secured the appointment of a democrat in my home town to be post master. His republican predecessor yielded the office after having served out his term, which extended throughout three years of Wilson's administration. 1 doubt very seriously that my democratic friend will be permitted to serve out his term if republican is elected President this fall It would surprise me not at all were he through some expediency led to the block next January. For the re- pubhcans do not pretend to be ethical in matters OI pOlltiSo. iiCy dl S PIdCllCdis however in the building up of machines" E NEEDS EFFICIENCY. ONLY President Wilson, apparently. has not desired any other qualification to be pos sessed by his appointees than efficiency It is evident that he does not demand of an applicant that he be true and tried'' democrat For instance, the Senate, at present is holding up the appointment of NJ. O. Chance to be postmaster at Wash ington, the appointment of MT. Fletcher 10 be ambassador to Mexico and the ap- pointment of Louis D. Brandies to be supreme court justice, because, among other reasons. they are regarded as milk and water demoerats-if democrats at all.
 However the time approaches when the people will be called upon to render an unsealed verdict in the case of the Pres ident and the Presidents friends are sat isfed that that verdict will express un- qualified approval of his course as an
 ethical and scholarly chief executive" as against an ethical and practical chief ex- ecutive.
 And in the meantime the republican DOS sessors of fat jobs under democra tic administration smile as the ''nubbings' are tossed to those who aided in making Wilson President