Evening star., 1921-03-15
Editorial Digest
Post Offices and SpoiIs.

1t is reported that n canvass will be
| timent among republican members to-
ward "a return to the old spoils system
OF handing out post office jobs" How
ever. if this canvass develops no stronger
support for the proposed change than is
! found in the editorial columns Of the coun-
try's newspapers. the incumbents can feel
fairly free from worry. While it is true
that most of the papers commenting on
the matter are democratic. still few re-
of overturning the merit system. Post
master General Burlrson's statement of
the political affiliations OF postmasters
who were covered into the civil serv-
ice by executive order is generally ac-
cepted as evidence Of the fairness of the
applicatio OF that order And the old
shibboleth. for the good OF the serv
| ice is evoked in opposition to change.
Nevertheless some papers fear that
the change will come. The Pittsburgh
Sun democratic) predicts that ''inas-
| much AZ MIR Harding frankly states that
his is to be u strictly partisan admins
! tration. il is not improbable that this
"reac'ionary course will be pursued.
does not want to believe that Warren
G. Harding Is n provincial politician. "A
good fellow who would rather please
few friends than to safeguard and per-
feet the postal machinery. but the
Brooklyn Eagle independent demo-
cratic) does not hesitate to say that
never has the so-called merit system
been in so grave peril as al the present
time"
The Springfield Republican Gnde-
pendent) ''deplores'' Senator Lodges
denunciation of the executive order as a
"humbug,' since "the senior Massa- =
chusetts senator is bound to exercise
much influence with the new President
in shaping his civil service policy" In
reply to the accusation that the offices
had been filed with democrats before
the blanket order was issued former
Postmas ster General BurleSon gives sta
tstics of the political affiliations Of tn"
anpointees affected which the New York
World (democratic) finds 'reassuring'
and which, in the opinion of that paper
will go far toward arousing proper
sentiment against any proposal to re-
establish the old spoils system Judg-
ing by this report. it is clear to the
New York Times independent demo-
cratic) that president Wilson's execu-
tive order has been followed in the let
ter and the spirit and that the highest
qualified names on the eligible list have
been submitted. In short. the merit sys-
tenn has been enforced fairly"
The Burleson report is not so con-
vincng to the Pittsburgh Dispatch Gin
dcpendenD. however Naturally" it
thinks, the testimonials made public
say just what the department wanted" !"
and the purpose was merely an attempt
to forestall any reversal of the execu-
tive order by President Harding" The
Baltimore American (republican) feels
that the civil service system" as prac-
ticed in the last administration. which
"Mr. Harding is reported on the eve of
attacking is one that has been made
ito serve merely as shield for the
protection Of current political ap-
pointees."
But while there is wide room for inn
provement in the service" the Chambers
burg Pa.) Public Opinion independent
republican, holds that "it will not be good
business if the postal service is regarded
as a political plum tree" The Canton
(Ohio) News (democratic) agrees that
1.-The sooner the business Of the govern
ment ceases to be source of reward
for politicians and their friends the bet
ter" Post office patrons" the Harris
burg Patriot independent democratic)
thinks. will wonder why politics should
have anything to do with the selection
of man to handle such non-partisan
business as the collection and delivery
of the mall The whole country ''ought
to protest against a proposal which. in
the opinion of the Indianapolis News
independently. ''is proposal to abolish
efficiency and make political pull the
basis for appointments"
Replying directly to the News. the
Fort Wayne News and Sentinel (repub-
lican) exclaims: Efficiency Good
heavens. Is the sort Of postal service
this country has been suffering under
for the past eight years now to be
labeled efficient? II it is, then for
goodness sake let US have inefficiency.
and have it in large doses"
While the Providence Tribune Gnde-
pendent republican, thinks the discus
sion is merely 1.-The wish fathering the
thought" and expresses no fear that the
suggested change will be made. the
Boston Post independent democratic)
feels that there is evidently mo hope as
yet for any lasting method of keeping
party struggles out of the post Offices.
Some Congress will do the job thor
oughly some day, but very manifestly
not the incoming one."