The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-16
LAWRENCE
FINDS ODD
G. 0. P. PLOT
Try to Gust Repubs in Of.
fee by Calling Them
Democrats.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright, 1922, by The Argus.)
Washington, d. c., June 10
Mark Hanna and Boies Penrose
would turn over in their graves if
they knew what was happening in
Washington today. Loyal Repub-
licans, faithful in the party serv-
ice, are being described as Demo
Gratis" in a circular and petition
signed by scores of Republican
members of congress who want
President Harding to uphold AS
sistant Secretary Elmer Dover of
the treasury department in his ef
forts to make places for political
followers who have gone unre-
warded.
The document, which has been
sent to every Republican member
of congress by the group which is
interested in forcing an upheaval
in the government departments,
contains so many inaccuracies that
it will probably prove boomerang
10 its sponsors. There always has
been a large number of govern
ment employees without political af-
fliation who won their positions
on merit either under past Repub-
lican and Democratic administra-
tons and who have always been
looked upon as a non-partisan body
of employees rendering faithful
service to whatever party is in
power.
How They Do 1t.
But the published list is not
merely confined to these. 1t lists
as Democrats men who have re-
Gently been put in Office as Repub-
licans and it also embraces men
who are no longer in the govern
ment service. Here are few typi-
cal examples tkas1as Reaein the doep
ument and the facts about each.
The documents say:
Paul Gilbert, active Democratic
politician, taking the stump for
Governor Cox in the campaign of
1920. At present holding the posi-
ton as under secretary of the treas
ury."
The facts about Mr.. Gilbert are
these: He is Republican brought
here during the war by Mr.. Letting
we'll, another Republican. Mr.. Gill
bert is a son of the late Seymour
Gilbert, one of the most prominent
leaders of congress.
The document says further:
John KiIey, private secretary to
Secretary Mellon, active Democrat
ie politician and close personal
friend of Joseph Tumulty."
The facts about Mr.. Kiley are
these:
Mr.. Kiley was one of the secre-
tarial staff of the late Mark Hanna.
He came into the treasury depart
ment under Secretary George b.
Cortelyou, Republican, and served
Republican secretaries as well as
Democratic ever since and is no
more a Democratic politician than
President Harding.
Fiction and Facts.
The document says:
Carl A Mapes, solicitor of in
ternal revenue Democrat son-in-
law of Wayne Johnson, from whom
he inherited the position of solici-
tor"
The facts about Mr.. Mapes are
these:
Mr.. Mapes is about the same age
as Wayne Johnson. in fact he is
brother-in-law of Mr.. Johnson,
VINO. II is true, WAS a Democrat.
But Mr. Mapes was appointed as a
republican and Senator Penrose OF
pennsylvania, was influential in
getting him appointed. Mr.. Mapes
Is Republican, having been sec
[etary to Senator Townsend OF
Michigan, Republican, who en-
eorsed him for the place. Mr..
Mapes was before that secretary
70 Representative Gardner of Mich
lgan, Republican, and before that
was in the office of Representative
wilson of Illinois, another Repub-
lican.
The document lists Chester A.
bennett and Charles A. Bernard as
democrats. The former is a son
OF former Representative Bennett,
Republican, and the latter is the