East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-02-17
BACK TO THE sPoILs SYSTEM

eo 49, WMP"o ~ =" ~
of Pendleton. The appointment is a political one and Mr..
Thompson is not to be blamed. He did not make the APP
p0ntment and if political services are to be rewarded he is
doubtless entitled to the honor.
But there is considerable that may be said about the policy
of the national administration in thus turning back the clock on
the merit system. For many years the nation has struggled to
getaway from the spols idea in connection with appointments.
Roosevelt was a conspicuous leader in civil service advancement.
President Taft helped the cause along and President Wilson fin
ished the job by placing all postal appointments under the civil
service. Under the operations of that rule the vacancy caused
here by the death of I. j. Tweedy was filled after a bona fide
civil service examination in which L. B. Cronin, then assistant
and now postmaster, won the highest rating. Mr.. Cronin is a
republican but he was appointed to office by a democratic pres
ident because he had earned the job. The same thing was done
in Portland when Mr.. Jones was, appointed. Apparently the
same policy was applied all over the country, politics having no
part in the game at all.
But the Harding administration has turned its back on the
merit system. In the local examination the real civil service
tests were not applied, if this paper understands the matter
properly. The candidates were rated on a different basis. Even
at that neither of the two high men secured the office. Perry
ldleman was given the highest score, because of five points be-
i~ngcredted him for his world war service. Mr.. Cronin was next
in rank and his experience and ability are well known. But
neither man won out and apparent" the whole matter was left
in the hands of Congressman Sinnott who decided it on a polit-
cal basis.
If il is the policy Of this administration to do things in this
manner, and reports show similar work is being done all over
the country, then the Harding regime will deserve to go down in
history as a regime under which the spols system was exalted
over the merit plan.
But what adds insult to injury, as far as men in the service
are concerned, is that VIII Hays as postmaster general, INDUCED
in a great amount of talk about the wonderful value of the merit
system and how it y would be applied in the postal department.
In an article in the American Review of Reviews for December,
lSAl, Mr. rays discussed the p0Stal service ana tne following Is
an extract from the story published under his own signature:
Firm in the conviction Of proved demonstration that nothing will contrib
ues 30 much to the betterment of the service as the, improvement of the morale
andthe cooperation of the men and women doing the service am just al firm
" CONVINCED that the ne duty above all others which we the employees Is
honestly to apply the merit system. You cannot expect lei and women to
give service II they re o be shutlecoCks of politics. i have said, and re-
ierate, that the postal establishment most certainly is not an institution for
politics MOI for profit, but an institution for service.
1t would be my very greatest satisfaction il in this period of activity
might contribute u little to the end that the postal service. a indeed the entire
civil service, might be made more and nor a desirable careeri int which the
young can enter with a certainty that their services will be performed under
reasonable conditions for q reasonable wage and for n n apprecatRe people
The mn and women who constitute the great army of postal co-workers are
doing a distinct government and public service, and they are entitled to an
appreciation commensurate with the efficacy and importance of that service
The very first element of a proper appreciation is to make certain that honest
and efficient service shall be honestly recognized, and that the merit system
shan control without any subterfuge.
What hypocrisy for Mr.. Hays to say such things? Why tall
about morale and appreciation the INERT system anc
about not making postal positions the 'shuttlecock of politics
at the very time when the stage was set for restoration of tn,
spoiis system.
The situation is one to make people blush with shame, n
matter what their politics may be. 1t means that men who hav
striven faithfully to render service and to qualify for efficien
work and often have devoted the best years of their lives to tn
service have been deceived and betrayed. The national admin
istration has broken faith with its civil service employees.