South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-08
PRESIDENT PRAISED
BY REFORM LEAGUE
Administration Has Progress
ed in Elimination of Posts,
Report Asserts.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 7-(By I. y.
S)-Defnite progress was made.
during the first year of the present
administration toward the el.mina-
ton Of diplomatic and consular posts
from that class of federal offices
which in the past have been consid-
cred political pap"
This is the conclusion drawn by
the committee on foreign service Of
the national civil service reform
league, in a report issued today,
from an examination OF the record
OF Prest Hardings appointments 10
Offices in the diplomatic service.
Pres't Harding's record seems to
indicate, according TO the report.
that IAN earnest effort has been
made to retain the services Of men
Of experience and to appoint to dip
lomatic posts persons with Qualih-
cations in diplomacy"
The committee found, for exam
pie, that FIVE out Of nine ambassa-
doris appointed during the present
administration were men of previous
experience in diplomacy. They were:
Henry p. Fletcher, appointed am
bassador TO Belgium, formerly am
bassadOr TO Mexico; William NJ.
Collier, ambassador to Chile, for
merly minister to Spain; Cyrus z
Woods. ambassador TO Spain. for
merly minister TO Portugal; John w
Riddle, ambassador to Argentina,
formerly ambassador to Russia, and
Myron T. Herrick, reappointed am
b2ssador 10 France.
Morgan is Retained.
Edwin V. Morgan, appointed am
bassador 10 Brazil in 1912. was re-
tanned in office by Pres't Harding.
Six OF the thirty ministers now
serving in the diplomatic corps, the
report points out, are men trained
in diplomacy prior to their appoint
ment. Eight were men appointed
under previous administrations and
retained By the present administra.
ton.
In its survey OF appointments in
the consular service, the civil ser
vice leagues committee found that
Pres't Harding has made IAN un-
merit system" There has been mot a
single exception TO the rules requir-
ing appointments through examina-
tons in the consular service" during
thesfrst fifteen months Of the pres
ent administration, the report states.
Four ambassadors, sixteen min
listers, two agents and consuls-gen-
eral and one minister resident and
consul-general given appointment by
Pres't Harding were men without
previous diplomatic training.
while many of the twenty
three appointments made Of persons
without previous diplomatic exper-
fence operated as a recognition or
political obligations the evil Of such
appointments is largely abated by
the present administration and con-
trasts favorably with the records OF
the first year Of other administra-
tons" the report asserts
COmmends Harding.
For this record Pres't Harding
and Secy Hughes are to be com
mended. PRIEST Harding is further
more deserving of commentator IN
that he has selected for secretary OF
state a man Of the highest quailfica-
lions and one devoted to the merit
principle"
Special attention IS called by the
report TO the fact that the present
administration has surrounded the
secretary Of state with men trained
in foreign service Henry P. Fetch
err. who served during the first year
OF the administration as under sec
rotary OF state. entered the diploma
tic service in 1902. William Phil
lips. who succeeded him, came into
the service in 1903.
Fred Morris bearing, who served
as assistant secretary dur.Eg the
first year. entered the diplomatic
service in 1904 He was succeeded
as assistant secretary by Leland
Harrison. who came into the service
IN 1907.
Robert Woods Bliss. the third as
s!stant secretary. entered the fo~-
e.ga service OF the United States in
1903 as consul al Venice