Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-08-02
Senator Dial Opposes Joe w.
Tolbert's Confirmation.

patch from Washington in which
Senator Dial gives his reasons for
voting against the confirmation of
Talbert for Marshall Of the Western
district of South Carolina.
"Mr. Tolbert poses as a large
farmer, whereas the record in Green
wood County shows that he does not
pay a cent of taxes, except a dollar
poll tax, and the records in the mu-
nicipal, state and federal courts
both on the civil and criminal side
show that his record is an unenviable
one. | do not near to say that it is
necessary for a mar to own property
to hold office: far be it from me to
take any such position, but Mr.. Toll
bert is sailing under false colors.
"Mr. Tolbert's conduct since he
has been appointed referee" has
shown him to be a spokesman of the
worst class. For instance, under the
practice of this admin: 'tration in Sc
Letting Postmasters, Civil Ser
vice Commission sends The Post
Office Department tn names
making the highes, nd this
department delegates . 4Dert-
the "referee" the right to select
whichever he chooses. These offices
are not political ones, and in u
State the patrons r not one per
cent Of Republicans, and the officers
should be kept out of politics. How
ever under party rules, where they
have a competent person, it is their
privilege to appoint them, and we
have made no objection.
"In these matters Tolbert has
ignored the spirit of the
Civil Service and has refused to
recommend parties making the high
est marks, except in a very few
cases. He has almost universally ig-
nored the claims of ladies and ex-ser-
men. Under the spirit Of the Civ
il Service rules, ex-soldiers should
receive the preference, but this has
had no weight with Tolbert, even
where they made the highest marks.
has endeavored to turn lady Post
masters out where they have been in
the office many years, and where
they have made the highest marks.
Moreover, he has turned out many
faithful officials-some who have
served in tbs Department for practi-
cally forty years, and he named per-
sons VINO were totally without expe-
rience-and not republicans either.
IN other words he has run rough
shod over our people and seems to be
drunk with the power of a little au-.
thority.
aWorst of all, under previous adj
ministrations, I am informed that the
"referee" in our state sold patron
age and that the universal charge
was n half the first years salary,
and it is now claimed and generally
believed, that this practice is in
vogue; the proof presented to me is
unquestionable on the subject and
is convincing beyond the peradven-
ture of a doubt. The practice is to
divide the state into districts and
have someone in such district look
after this part of the nefarious bus
mess. I am told of many instances
where the offices were sold-one
bringing seven hundred and fifty
dollars, another twelve hundred, n
other six hundred, another two
thousand and different sums all a.
round the state where was competi-
ton. A recent case was reported
where twelve hundred dollars was
paid and the party failed to get the
office, and after considerable wrang-
ling, the funds were returned. 1t IS
alleged that appointees to small Of
ces often have to contribute.
"One of Tolbert's referees was
recently rejected by the senate be-
cause he endeavored to get a lady
postmaster to pay him three hundred
dollars to get her confirmed. An at
fadayit of one of his former follow
ers states Tolbert admitted he ex-
pected to realize 100000 from this
source.
81 cannot condone the practice Of
buying an office and if the Compel
itors would cease bidding against
each other this most ~disgraceful
practice would be obliterated. How