The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-14
By Wallace Bassford.


Sutherland of Utah was consider
ately relieving the president OF the
somewhat onerous task Of writing
his speeches. Color has been lent
to the story by the long sojourn OF
the former senator at Marion while
the campaign was on, together with
his trips with the nominee. Now
the senator is spending practically
all his time in Washington, where
nice pieces Of patronage find their
way into his hands. For instance,
he receives $4,000 per year from the
Shipping Board to furnish opin-
ions when desired" He was. also
placed on the board to receive the
various properties Of the packers
recently dismembered by law. The
senator is. noted for the grace with
which he wieldS the typewriter.
The Democrats thougat they had
it firmly embedded in the law that
preference;in appointments in the
governmental service should be Civ
en- to men who served in the world
war, not merely as an appreciation
of their patriotic service but to aid
in compensating for business dis
advantages suffered through their
absence from their accustomed
walk Of life. President Wilson ap-
proved the law with his signature
and upheld it in practice, as well
as the civil service law providing
for the selection Of the person maxi
ing the highest rating in the exam,
ination. Almost as soon as Mr..
Harding became president he issued
an order rendering it unnecessary
to name the person making the
highest rating, and then proceed
ed, through his subordinatcs, to
put the law as to former service
men in the discard. Numerous
cases nave occurred where the
former service man was refused
the appointment though he hao
shown a higher rating in the eX-
animation than the one receiving
the appointment. One of these
cases occurred in the congressional
bailiwick of Mr. Flood Of Virginia.
At the town of Bremo Bluff va
cancy was to be filled in the rural
carrier service and an examination
was heidi under the Civil Service
law, in which a man named Glass,
a Republican who had devoted his
time to politics while Seay was IN
France, making grade of 1880.
got the job. Mr.. Flood took up
the cudSels for the ex-soldier, but
the Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Informed him that he had
information tending to show that
Glass was the better fitted for the
work. OF course this merely meant
that the Republican boss or refer
ee" had named Glass. Mr.. Flood.
thinking that a man who could
round up German soldiers in the
Argonne could handle the rural
route job, wrote to the Fourth AS
sistant, concluding with this para
graph:
Il want to say to you frankly
that the only conclusion can reach
is that Glass was appointed be-
cause he was Republican and Seay
a Democrat. Under this Republican
administrator we may have to sub
nit to the disregard Of their rights.
but we do not intend to submit
quietly
Only a year or so ago the Repub-
licans wee talking Of impeacn;ns
President Wilson for refusing to alb
rogate thirty-odd commercial trea-
ties at the command Of the Rcpub-
ican congress in the Jones bill.
President Harding said in his mes
sage that it would cause highly
chaotic condition to abrogate them.
Another vindication Of the Demo-
cratic president.
Congressman Wood of Indiana is
tall. spare, clean-Shaven man or
good ability-one Of the Republlcan
leaders in the house. Ii he lsn
an elder in the church, he at least
looks like one. but he used very
emphatic word in the house the
other day. and when his remarks
were handed him for revision he
didn't change a letter in them. Here
it is: Il am only speaking the
truth when l say that the people
of this country employed in every
vocation and ir every character OF
business are giving this congress
hell. They are doing it because we
have done nothing to stimulate
business They are doing il be-
cause we have done nothing to give
employment to the unemployed.
They are doing it because we have
done nothing TO benefit the farm
or and stimulate the price OF the
farmers products
Time surely brings its changes;
in 1919 the workmen cried defiant
ly, NO beer. no work. Only two
years, and now they have neither.
Mexico City. Dec 12.-Popoca-