The New York herald., 1921-03-07
HAYS TO REVIVE
POSTAL SERVICE
ON HUMAN LINES
New Postmaster General
Plans Changes to Make De-
partment More Efficient.
HELP FOR EMPLOYEES
Intends to Make the 100000
Mail Workers Feel Like
Partners.
UP TO DATE METHODS
Will Confer With Business
Men on Special Needs in
Great Centres.
spec,ai Despatch to THE NEW Yosx HEsALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. C.. March a. (

speCsdf DeSp0fCH 10 lHH NEW lOkH ftEhALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c.. March 9.
''The Post Office Department" said
its new chief, Will H. Hays. to-day.
has been run for years. so far as the
human element is concerned, on prin-
ciples that went out OF style just 1921
years ago next Easter"
Which was Mr.. Hays's way Of say
ing the main trouble with the whole
postal service in the last eight years
at least has been that the men and
women employed in the service have
been treated not like human beings
but like cogs in remorseless ma
chine, like bricks In wall.
Sitting in his apartment In the
Shoreham Hotel and protected for a
few hours from the violent pursuit OF
rapacious Office seekers (they go to
Hays for everything, for jobs in all
the departments). he sketched in
quick, brisk fashion the outline of his
plans to restore the shattered morale
Of the service which means so in
finitely much to the happiness and
comfort and prosperity of all the peo-
pie and to rebuild the efficiency that
| once characterized the great postal
service of the United States.
Good News for 100000 workers.
If Postmaster-Gene Hays's idea
possibly could be expressed in one
u ha ah,,v,, txtr
1t is the spirit OF the ideas he has
formed and intends to put into operation
at once. He has tackled the formidable
problem of postal restoration with the
| same enthusiasm and practically that
he applied to the state Of the Repub-
lican party when he took hold lie is
all worked up about his Job, as col
loquial speech has II. He has taken off
his coat and rolled up his sleeves, and
from now on until the job is polished
off. he says, re will think about nothing
| else.
II took the oath of Office as Post
| master-General at o'clock last Sa.ur-
| day afternoon" he said. THAT ended
all relaxation or social life for me. No
moro dinners, no more public speaking.
no more social affairs at all. I've got
work to do
| As he outlined the fundamentals Of
his plan he emphasized again and again
that the main thing is to spread through
out the department, throughout the
whole great army OF workers. the i1ea
| that the Government does not look on
them as automatons. ana does not re-
gard their services as something to be
paid for and forgotten, as bushels OF
wheat are bought but that the Govern
ment admires them for honest and loyal
service under all sorts OF difficulties,
takes pride in their fidelity and their
| personnel. stands back OF then at all
times and viii find ways TO ease and
simplify their burdens and their tasks
The Post ONCE Department. with It's
| 900. 600 workers, Is the biggest business
| Uncle Sam conducts. Mr.. Hays went on
| to say. He believes way will be found
to make every one OF the 100000 COM
\ prehend that he Is not merely a paid
/ employee Of the Government, but ac-
| tually is a partner in a great enter
prise. He thinks. too. he can find ways
and means OF reviving the spirit Of SER
1 vice of this vast army Of workers so
/ that the morale which was crushed un-
| der the cold and autocratic direction of
years. viii rise again and express itself
| and make the receiving and distribut-
| ing of mail more perfect than ever be-
| fore.
No Autocratic Methods.
The Postmaster General win seek flrst
| OF all to win the complete confidence
and understanding Of the leaders OF the
i 49, l. 1wRtA e. tns hE-
fore these men his ideas for making the
Post once Department function once
more. He hopes 20 convert every one
| into an enthusiastic aid.
he intends 10 study whatever local
situations OF complaint or grievance that
| postal workers may have--in New York.
| Chicago. any OF the big cities, any OF
the comrnunities--and 4 IL his intention
| to go to the root OF any complaint and
| grievance that may be presented. He is
| determined to make every postal en-
ployee In the United States see imme-
diateiy that the Postmaster-General is
a friend as well as an official boss and
that all can come 10 him with their
! troubles
II Is his purpose as well, to have
conferences with business men and with
groups OF business men for the purpose
OF laying before them certain efficiency
ideas he already has formed ana TOT the
purpose. too, OF asking their cooperation
for the public good.
The parallel between the state OF the
Republican party and the state of the
Post ONCE Department Is by no means
far fetched. The one suffered from
shattered morale and very poor organi-
zation four years ago. Hays took hold,
infused the party with his own do or die
spirit. got everybody enthusiastic from
top to bottom. moderniSed the party and
went over the top for two big victories.
Il am going TO try TO do for the Post
once what my friends are kind enough
to say I did for the party" the Post
master-General said. Get everybody
Interested. Get everybody enthusiastic.
Wake UP the service. Make friends all
around. Get big service partnership
going Then what will happen? The
mail man. instead of chucking a letter
on your doorstep. will naturally and
willingly and carefully put 1t In your
letter box. I'm going to work"