Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-24
HARDING HOLDS UP
XMAS GIFT PLUMS
Applicants Who Hoped for
Jobs as YuIetide Remem-
brance Disappointed.
BY Ripley.
BY ROBERT II. SMALL.

MARION. Ohio. December 24.-Presi-
Christmas cheer for the Office seekers.
Some several thousand worthy souls
DESTROYS of sacrificing themselves for
the good Of the country, who expect
ed to find large rosy plums in their
stockings Christmas morning. by way
of notification that on and after March
next the nation could not do with
out them, are doomed to disappoint-
ment.
Senator Harding has refused abso-
lutely to consider up to this time any
of the complex problems of patronage.
He has not even considered the higher
diplomatic appointments, and says
naturally he will not begin that con-
side ra ton until after he has selected
a man to head the Department of
State, In II large sense the ambas-
sadors and ministers are part and
parcel of the State Department, de-
spite that ambassadorial rank carries
with it the right and privilege of
dealing with the President direct and
speaking for him abroad. So Mr..
Harding will consult freely with his
Secretary of State when he names one
as to the makeup and complexion of
the American diplomatic corps.
May He Relieved Of Task.
AS to the general line of appoint
ments, involving party patronage and
affecting thousands of offices of vary
ing degree in the government, there
is every reason to believe Mr. Hard
ing is going to adopt a method which
will relieve him in large measure of
the irksome task of dealing direct
with the army of would-be govern
ment workers. There are many
places, of course, for which Mr.. Hard
ing as President will have to take
personal responsibility, but when it
comes to what might be called run
Of the mine" appointments. such as
marshals. and postmasters, and such
like, the new President, while stand
ing as official sponsor. plans to place
responsibility for the good conduct
and good service of these appointees,
directly upon the shoulders of the
republican party organization.
For example, if marshal is to be
appointed in Kentucky. the leaders of
the republican organization in that
state will be called upon to canvass
the situation and select the proper
man for the place. And so it will
go all through the ramiflcations of
ment. state. city and county. Mr.
Harding believes that the placing of
responsibility lat home' will make for
better class Of government servants
than could be obtained in any other
way. The new President ALWAYS will
retain the right to veto a recon-
mendation which he deems undesir
able, but he anticipates few incidents
of that sort. In any event he will not
fly in the face of his party organiza-
ton.
Three Classes of Obligations.
A new President always faces three
classes of obligations when it comes TO
appointing persons to office The first
of these obligations is, of course, per-
sonaL The next applies to those who
have rendered signal service to the
party, and the third obligation applies
to those who have helped politically
in building up the fortunes of the man
who at last attains the height of his
ambitions
Mr.. Harding is conscious of all these
obligations. and is conscious also of the
fact that the public service at this time
demands men of higher merit than
ever have served the nation. He be-
lieves that the method of placing re-
sponsibility at home" is the best way
to obtain this merit. Under this sys-
tenn the party leaders of a state will be
responsible to their own people for the
service Of the federal employees in that
state. They will not be able to say
the fault lies at Washington, and their
continuance in party favor will be de-
pendent upon the good service rendered
by their selections. as approved by the
freSlQent.
Dausherty May Get Task.
1t can be stated with the greatest
emphasis of positiveness that MT
Harding Is not going to permit the
enchantment Of his Florida vacation
to be spoiled or intruded. upon bv |
seekers after Office. The surest wav
Tor person not to get a federal
office would be to worry the Presi-
dent-elect during the next two !
months. The approach will have to
be made through other channels.
From present indications it Would |
seem that Senator Harding is going
to call upon his unfailing friend and
supporter. Harry III. Daugherty of Co
lumbus to take up the perils of the
patronage. Daugherty knows politics
from alpha to omega. He knows the
friends OF Senator Harding. He knows
all that was done in the campaign
for the nomination and in the cam
paign for the presidency Senator
Harding has complete confidence in
his political Judgment, and it looks
very much az if he were going to
adopt the motto Of Let Harry do it,
Daugherty is in Marion over the
week, end. IT strive hard to please"
he remarked a day or two ago.
DOWNRIGHT 1920