Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-10
Caught ON His Base

wv HEN Mr.. Hughes makes his occasional
w deSccnts from the general to the par
ticular he always puts his foot in il. He
started on, by abusing President Wilson for
appointing successor to Ambassador Her
rick, ut Paris, while the European war was
IN progress only to learn the nomination OF
the present ambassador Mr.. Sharp. had been
sent To the Senate five six weeks before
war was declared. He learned also that
Henry White, one Of the ablest and most ex-
perieuced men in the diplomatic service. had
been displaced by President Taft To make
room for Mr.. Icrrick. who had had no dipo-
matte experience whatever.
The candidates later ventures on similar
lines have been equally unsuccessful. In his
Detroit speech he charged the administration
had deposcd he heads OF the Census Bureau
and OF the Coast and Geoaetlc Survey to make
room for favored incompeients. Tie is now
informed, on authority, that both Mr. Durand
and DIR. 'Tttman resigned of their own Volt
ton, without suggestion from any Of their
superior officers in the Department OF Com
merce. and that their successors who were
promoted for merit, have proved their fitness
by the enlarged efficiency OF The bureaus they
direct. Mr. Durand supports what MIR
Hughes says, thus, as to this particular case,
creating an issue OF yeracity between the
former chief of the Census Bureau and his
former superiors.
MIR. Hughes went further with his baseess
accusations against TIE Coast and Goodetic
Survey. He charged that IN the year ending
with April. 1916, there were lO4 appoint
ments. OF which 'siXty-two were made in
opposition to the advice 81 the Civil Service
Commission The facts are. as stated by
Assistant Secretary Sweet of the Department.
OF Commerce and Labor. from the Official
records that in the year referred to there
were only nifty appointments To the survey
OF which thirty-cight were made with the
approval OF the Civil Service Commission
The remaining twelve were for temporary
positions. chiefly OF lahorers. AT salaries OF
less than So day These latter positions.
Mr.. Sweet says, are not under the civil service
law, a. II stands now ana as ii stood for
years. As TO the charge that sixty-lwo ap-
poiutmentS We're made i'm opposition to the
advice OF tho Civil Service Commissions MIR
sweet declares not single appointment was
made.
The facts in all these cases are OF record.
Until he LETT the Supreme Bench to take IN
politics. Mr.. hughes was a resident Of Wash
ihSion ana must maintain connections there
mat enable MIN TO get at tho truth. There is
no excuse Tor Linn. Ii Colonel Roosevelt
were Mr. iiUahes's opponent lie would find
himself added to the goody company OF the
Ananias Club--with more nile to that dis
incuon Than many members enjoy Prcsi-
dent Wilson probably. viii be content To
leave tho issue TO tine American people. on
whose erednlily III" Republican candidate has
undertaken TO play.
MIR. Hughes does better when he scars, for
in The empyrean there is nicnty OF room for
fancy Flying on the ground is notably diff
hcu!t, Tor the flyer is likely to run counter
OF facts-and facts are stubborn things.
Public Interest IN strikes is revealed by The