Evening star., 1921-02-03
Editorial Digest
Senate and Appointments.

Tho decision of tho republican ma
Jor1ty IN the Senate against the con-
nrmation Of President Wilson'S numer-
GUS appointments brings out sharp dis
cratic press views such action as up-
'noldins too haerantly the doctrine that
70 the victor belong the spoils," while
repuoncan papers defend that doctrine
ana attack the effort to saddle the new
administration with 'left over'' officials
of a different political faith. Others not
SO partisan, however, regret the Incl
dent as demonstrating the fact, as the
Pniiadelphia Bulletin independent re-
puuhcanl expresses 1t. that we have not
yet reached "a full appreciation and
anpncation Of the truth that it is pos
s,Dle to change the President and the
congress and the general policies of the
government without shifting and chang
ing All the subordinate gears and wheels
Wnlcn make up the machinery of the
administration
This Arrogant" action by the
Senate makes it quite evident" to
the Louisville Post dndependent)
mat 1t believes that 1t has the coun-
Try, II not the world, in a sling"
me Hartford Times (democratic)
cai,s,. caiis the policy "reprehensible and
childish" en-. even though it admits that
the republicans. who, are about to
come into power. are no more at
1ault than their democratic brethren
would be IL conditions we're re-
versed" But the Times points out
dnrtner that in connection with the
confirmation of Army promotions the
action of Senator Underwood in
breaking the deadlock, "in order that
some $500 Army officers might be
put in the way of securing rank
winch they won on the field of bat
policy of ingratitude." Many Of
these officers. the Memphis CONNER
clal Appeal (democratic) states.
nave been sent to foreign posts and
have taken their families with them.
If they arc not confirmed by March,
they will lose their Army standing.
their pay will stop. they will not be
entitled to live in government quar-
ters and they cannot apply to the
War Department for money to defray
their expenses back home.'
This policy of protecting the pie.
News and Observer tdemocratic) as
prophetic of "the mailed fist" in the
Senate for the next four years. Tha-
Brooklyn Eagle independent demo-
cratic) finds no defense for the SEN
ate's thus evading ''its constitutional
ohligation to act on nominations"
with the apparent purpose Of saving
all available patronage for. the in
coming President to dispose Of" I'm
fortunately. in the opinion of the
Eagle:
ut is probably true that if this
course is taken there will be no con-
stitutiona1 way of furnishing the SEN
ators for the evasion. But the moral
effect of the decision arrived at is
a grave blow to the traditions Of
our form OF government. a grave
extension of unhlushing PARTISAN
ship to a field not contemplated. by
the trainers of our organic law, and
in way that is most pernicious as
precedent
Taking a similar position with re-
gard to Army appointments. the
Mitchell Is. d. Gazette (republican)
sees not only poor political policy"
but a handicap-to "President Harding
and the incoming administration" in
confirming appointments which have
been made by the out going admins
tration ''to pay off old political debts
and strengthen chances of a return
to power" In the opinion OF the Ca
zette the republican majority is fully
justified "in the steps which they are
ak ing to strengthen the hands Of the
incoming Harding administration
The Boston Herald independent re-
publican) says:
eft would be contrary to all usage
and to all rules of official propriety
II retiring administration were al
lowed to dump upon an incoming ad-
of different political
faith and ideals a horde of its follow
ers. in positions where they would be
able to block improvement and re-
trenchments and reforms. Certainly
an administration which goes into
Office with such an overwhelming ma
jority behind 1t as that which was
given to Mr.. Harding has right to
work out it's policies unhampered by
thousands of left-overs In important
official positions"