South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-19
Ohio DEMOCRATS
WILL FIGHT new
POSTOFFICE LAW
Will Make Effort to Fill Posi-
tons With Members of
Own Party.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

service examinations for reappoint-
nnent Is going out from the office OF
Sen. Alice Pomerene az Washington.
This suggestion IS the rallying cry
for a fight 20 the dnish 10 test the
civil service order issued some time
ago by PIes't Harding.
Ohio presidential postmasters are
responding 90 the suggestion favor
ably. Several already have indicated
that they viii 90 20 the mat with all
republican corners in the coming
civil service examinations.
Among the prominent democrats
VINO viii take the examination Is
Forrest L. May. who was recently
endorsed after many years OF serv-
ice when DR.. Weimer. prominent
dentist OF Dayton, was named as act
Ing postmaster pending the holding
OF the civil service examination.
There Is political strategy OF the
first Importance back OF the move
raent to induce Ohio presidential
postmasters TO enter the lists as
competitors for the offices. Al
though no explanation OF the pur-
pose OF the movement IS forthcom-
known that n the democratic in
cumbents make satisfactory exam
nations, as Is expected. and are
turned down, the rejection Of their
claims for appointment will be
made a large feature OF the Ohio
state campaign next year. 1t viii
then be alleged that the national ad-
ministration had made a mOckery Of
civil service and had flouted in the
face the very large element OF the
people who believe IN preserving the
integrity OF the merit system.
Arthur p. Black, secretary OF Sen.
Pomerene. today confirmed the re-
port that the senator's office is ad-
vising all Ohio democratic presi-
Dental rpostmasters 10 enter the civil
service contests without fail
The idea" said Mr.. Black. is to
put the civil service pretensions Of
the majority party to the acid test. II
stands TO reason that IL the appoint
ments are made on the square the
present ineumbents. who comprise as
fine and efficient a body OF post
masters as the state ever has had.
will very generally be -eappointed
because they naturally are better
qualified than persons who know
nothing whatever about the postal
service. 1t is announced that the
item Of experience will count for so
per cent in grading applicants and
pOstmasters who know all about the
business to be handled ought TO get
a high rating for experience. At any
rate. with the incumbent pOstmas-
ters very generally taking the ex-
aminations and landing at the top
OF the eligible column il will be up
20 the administration either to ap-
point them or turn them down. II
they are turned down you may be
sure that the people Of Ohio will
know all Of the facts. The crimes
committed in the name OF civil serv-
ice will then be shown up from one
end OF tie state TO the other and the
public will be able 10 judge for it
self whether or not a national ad-
ministration that would do such
things is entitled 10 its confidence.
"All OF the Ohio democratic post
masters" continued Mr.. Black, "are
being urged TO take the civil service
examinations on the assumption that
appointments are going 10 be made
on the square through the civil serv-
ice. or course If the administra-
ton Is only hiding behind the cloak
OF civil service and using it 20 give
respectability 10 a satUrnalia of
spoils grabbing, that fact will come
out in bold relief IN due time. when
- ~
turned down. You may say authori-
tatively that Il has been decided to
put the administrations civil serv-
Ice promises and pretensions 20 the
acid test. like that word acid for
10 exactly fits the case"
Sen. PomeTene may suggest a
referendum to the people OF Dayton
in regard to the appointment OF a
postmaster of that city.
IF there should be a referendum
az Dayton" declared Mr.. Black.
that would be open 10 all voters. re-
Gardless of politics. Postmaster May
would defeat the dentist who has
been put in his place as acting post
master by a majority OF FIVE 10 one.
IF ever a rotten deal was handed
10 a man." ne continued. zone was
handed TO Postmaster May. There
is only one word that characterizes
10 properly and II Is rot IL the ad-
ministration thinks Il can get any
where by such dirty tactics as have
been resorted to against a man OF
the character and ability Of Forrest
May il is due for a rude awaken
ing"
Sen. Pomerene himself Is very much
aroused by what ne regards as the
great 'em rough" tactics used in
oUsting his appointee. Postmaster
May. and in a statement today he
made ii plain that he will not stand
for such matchmaking OF his
friends II he can help it. He said:
Nj May has been in the postof-
fee at Dayton for % years, or long
er. He advanced through sheer
merit from grade 10 grade and eight
years ago. on account OF meritorious
service he was chosen from the
ranks 10 be postmaster Of Dayton.
Very recently the president changed
the civil service order OF Pres't Will
son as applied TO postmasters and
provided that those officials should
be selected from the three having
the highest grade n an examination
especially held for that purpose.
They haven't even held a post
office examination at Dayton. They
removed Hay before an examination
was held because his term had ex-
pired and put IN a new man who had
no knowledge OF the postal service.
This demonstrates conclusively the
little faith the postoffice department