Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-16
EFFICIENCY AND POLITICS.

EFFICIENCY AND POIlTlCS.
woodrow wilson signed the cxecu-
tive order which placed first-class post
masterships under Civil Service rul-
ings. According To that order. the man
who received the highest marks on his
examination was nominated for the post.
After that became the law. more Re
publicans were given postmasterships
than Democrats, because II happened
that the men in question stood better
examinations.
Now Mr.. Harding changes all of that.
Despite the announcement of the unc-
tious WIN II. Hays that merit would
rule in the postofIice department.. new
ruling has been made that henceforth
the names Of the three high candidates
for each examination win be placed
before the President, This literally
throws the postmasterships back into
ttt swift Va hRtAsiNS aFhia-
Under this last ruling. IL thrce men try
for an appointment, and the first, a
Democrat, makea grade Of 90 per cent.
the second, Democrat. grade Of IS
per cent, and the third. Republican,
grade Of only IS per cent. the. Repub-
lican gets the place. no matter how
Inefficient he may be. One could hardly
expect Mr.. Harding TO nominate one
OF the Democrats when a Republican,
by the skin of his wisdom teeth, made
a passing grade. On the surface the
first-class postmasterships remain under
civil service rulings. But upon investi-
CATION it is seen that they are again
tossed into the political ring. to go to the
man who did the most work for his
party.
There is no means Of telling what
mischief this order is going to create.
Under the Wilson regime. Democrats
and Republicans alike were appointed
men who entered into the spirit of their
job with desire to serve the public 10
the best OF their ability. These men
have spent years in building up efficient
organizations for mali handling. Now
the Democrats are to be removed-not
for inefficiency but merely because they
vote with the opposition party. Yet
woodrow Wilson appointed Republi-
cans to such Offices because they Were
efficient.
! It is becoming apparent that Mr..
| Harding who is shrewd in the ways
of poIitics--has pilyed q neat game. In
making UP his cabinet he chose several
men of high integrity and great ability,
| and this caused a feeling Of confidence
to sweep over the country. It was felt
| that he was trying not to establish a
/ political machine. but to organize an
/ administration that would render the
most efficient service to the nation.
/ But while few major appointments
we're Of such nigh quality that no one
I could object, the minor appointments
/ are beginning TO reek of the cheapest
| Of cheap politics. Men now are being
given responsible positions, not because
they are fitted for their work. but be-
cause they rounded UP the voters. Read
this dispatch from Washington:
]. e. Dyche Of Oklahoma City viii
be appointed warden of the Federal
prison at Atlanta. Ga, effective
! June 30 Mr.. Dyche was campaign
manager for the late Jake Hamon
/ Of Oklahonla. Attorney-General
Daugherty said the appointment
would smooth out a serious faction
| al fight among Oklahoma Republi
| cans.
| The Springfield Republican, paper
which is no respecter Of persons, per-
tinentIy asks regarding this appoint
ment. what does Mr.. Dyche know
about prisons and prisoners?p The an
swer is, little if anything. He is friend
| and confidant of the late and notorious
Jake Hamon. and no doubt learned from
| him how to oil a political machine.
Yet the lives of hundreds Of men are
to be entrusted to his care, merely TO
smooth out serious factional fight
Postnaasterghlns~ sf com&A. sGl be