Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-03
BURLESOV DENIES
he D|SREGARDED
CIVIL SERVICE RULE
(Tne Atlanta Journal News Bureau
623 Riggs Building.
BY THEODORE TILLER

WASHINGTON, March LIN a
final answer to his critics, Albert S..
Burleson, the retiring postmaster
general, issued an extended state
ment today denying that politics has
played any part in the appointment
of postmasters under civir service
examinations and the executive order
of the president of March 81, 1917.
Even in the almost solidly Demo-
cratic south, Mr.. Burleson says, the
postoffice department has appointed
Republicans when they were rated
highest after examination, and a
mans politics has not been consid-
cred nor made a matter of record
at the department. Mr.. Burleson
cites the appointment of nine Re-
publicans in North Caroline, eleven
in Texas, six in Georgia and so on,
refusing charges of particanship.
Three false charges have been
brought against the postoffice de-
partment, Mr.. Burleson adds, in at
lacking the sincerity of the presl-
dents executive order applying the
civil service principal to postmaster
appointments. The first, he contin-
ues, was that the highest elegibles
were sometimes set aside and a man
ty politics could be served. He cites
that out of 1850 appointments made
1,454 went to the highest eligible
and where such was not appointed
it was because of death, deClination
or disability.
Equally false, Mr.. Burleson says,
was the charge that eX-serVice men
had not been given preference. He
cities recent figures submitted to the
senate showing that service men
cases where there was compelling or
legal reason why they could not be
named.
AS to the charge that the civil
service order has not been conscien-
tiously followed, Mr.. Burleson ap-
ponds letters from various Republi-
can postmasters who tell of their ap-
pointment over Democrats and let
ters. from Democrats in Democratic
communities who tell of losing out
to Republicans. Referring to letters
sent out this month to several thou
sand poStmaSterS, Mr. BurleSon says
he polled postmasters as to their
political affiliations, this being the
first time the department has sought
such information. The replies re-
flute the charges made against the
postoffice department, the postmas-
ter general says and adds:
Replies have been received from
2,1O3 postmasters to the letter above
mentioned, and this removed beyond
cavil the question of their party af-
filiation. These replies cover every
state and show that, including all
sections, 1,012 appointed were Dem
ocrats, 907 were Republicans, 80
tionists, were Socialists, 1923 had
no party utilization and 10 failed to
state their utilization.
"Omitting the eleven southern
states, the equation stands, 598 Dem
ocrats, 8446 Republicans, &c indie
pendents, 9 Prohibitionists, s Social
lists, 50 without affiliations, 9 blank
and dead.
Gwen in the eleven almost solidly
Democratic states, considerable
number of Republicans received ap-
pOintment as pOstmasters under APP
plication of the civil service order.
'In Alabama, six Republicans
kansas five. Florida seven, in Geor-
gia six. Kentucky five, Louisiana
four, Mississippi one, North Carolina
nine, South Carolina two and Vir-
ginia five.
I'm states where the population
is more evenly divided between the
two great political parties, the ap-
pointment of Republicans frequently
preponderated."
Mr.. Burleson then cities numerous
instances, such as thirty-four Re-
publicans and twenty-nine Democrats
in Ohio; thirty-three Republicans and
fourteen Democrats in California;
sixty-two Republicans and thirty
three Democrats in Illinois; forty
six Republicans and sixteen Demo-
Gratis in Michigan, and so on.
Quoting from numerous letters re-
ceived but Withholding the sigma
lures, Mr.. Burleson says that one
Republican postmaster writes that
cit is my frank belief the department.
has been impartial in every respect"
and another writes that he was sur
prised" when he received an appoint
ment, although a Republican. Other
letters of similar tenor are quoted.
Mr.. Burleson's defense at this time
is doubly interesting. Apparently
reliable reports are heard that Pres
ident Harding will rescind the Will
son executive order and not apply
the civil service in making appoint
ments under the new regime. This
will create a patronage hullabaloo
in every state and throw thousands
Of postoffice jobs open to the poll
ticians. Mr.. Harding is quoted as
believing in a merit" system of ap-
pointing postmasters, but not ap-
pointments made on paper exam1na-
lions made by the civil service com
mission where percentage fractions
regulate