Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-26
TWO LETTERS
From.thc New York Times.

Mr.. Harding's unconquerable amia-
bility and suave epistolary style were
employed TO no purpose in his letter.
written at the, request OF unnamed
politicians. asking the resignation Of
MIR. Thoresen. Surveyor General of
the Land Office, competent official
against whom no charges were or
could be made. before the end Of I.'s
term. Mr.. Harding writes "of the
current demand for the recognition
of aspirants within our party for con-
sideration i'm the matter Of patron
age" He takes Mr.. Thoresen ito be
practical man who knows OF these
developments with a sweeping change
IN national administration" He
would very much like" that is GER
tain spOils-hunters would very much
Ike, TO have a new man in Mr..
Thoresen's post.
I'm all courtesy" writes one Of the
most courteous of Presidents and
men, Il would infinitely prefer to
have you recognize the situation and
make your resignation available 80
vain sugar after vinegar. In Aug
ust the Acting Secretary of the In
terror had demanded the resignation
point-blank. In his reply to the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Thoresen adds at least a
quantum sufficit of fact and irony
to courtesy worthy Of his correspon-
dent. He can't understand, he says
delightfully."-. how the plans and poll
cies of the Administration can in any
way change or modify the formal
duties of a Surveyor General" Sur
veys of the pus@.c lands are made
under specific directions and ap-
preparations by Congress" All tn,
employees are in the classified civil
service. No Administration has mad,
or will make material changes. "Wer,
this service affected by foreign poll
cies.' writes the admirable Utah
ironist, ''or even domestic conditions.
he would resign, but in face of tn,
facts l cannot do so.''
He viii welcome any suggestions o
improvement in the administration o
his office. lie stands on his record
Moreover, even the Republican tradi
ton should protect him. His prede
cessors were allowed TO serve the ful
term and most of them more; tn
last served thirteen months afte
President Wilson's Inauguration. S
Mr.. Thoresen is convinced that he
"the first and only person in IN
public service under an appointment
for a specific term who has been re
quested to resign without being ac
; cused of any definite failure or ne
glect of duty" The effort 10 crow
him 'opt looks like personal spite 0
extreme radical or political prelude
or greed and he would be very sor
, ry indeed should Mr.. Harding len
the power of his great office, 9TH
greatest in all the world for the sue
cess of such motives"
1t is mighty small business for tn
greatest Office In the world and on
regrets that Mr.. Hardings kindnes
of heart has been played upon by som
particularly hungry and thirsty
office broker. Still, the incident ha
its uses. 1t shows the impoliey an
: ahsnrdity OF injecting partisan polite
2 into the administration of a nor
! political office. Mr.. Hardings goo
L nature has been sorely abused in tn
g case Some politician or politician
: have. lured him into blind allie
n And the President not only remoV,
e this fit official but charges this ves
d pink of poiiteness with being 'ins'
lent!"