The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-09
NATION DOES NOT PROTEST FIRING OF
 US. EMPLOYES
Country Does Not Regard Civil Service Very Highly. Others Are Slated
 For AK
By HUGH ". ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age-HeRald,
 ROO Dayidsou BuiIdini

5OO Davidson buudlnE.
 Washington, April s.-(special0- Contrary to the expectations of cer- tain democratic political leaders in Washington, there is no evidence leading to the belief that the country has risen in wrath against the Presi- dent in dismissing certain heads of departments in the bureau of printing and engraving.
 While the President did violate what is regarded as the letter of civil service laws and regulations, there has been no nationwide complaint, and 1t is regarded as questionable whether that controversy. made an is sue in the campaign. would rebound to democratic advantage. On the con- trary, it is declared by some excel lently posted men in Washington that the country does not regard civil serv- ice regulations very highly, and pre- fers to see the spells of office pro- rated among the faithful"
 The idea of fair play. it is said, is entirely tolerant of that President who insists that he be surrounded by his political friends.
 DeniaI of Politics
 The denial on the part of repub- licans that the President was ani- mated by politics in dismissing James L. Wilmeth and associates, despite the fact that one of them, Senator Har- reid of Oklahoma. alleged that Will meth reported to Joseph P. Humility, political aid of ". C. McAdoo, more frequently than to the Secretary of the Treasury, Andrew W. Mellon. has given democrats an excuse to make the controversy something more than mere tempest in a teapot. It has also given certain sensational newspapers an opportunity to insin- uate that the dismissed employees had been guilty of high offenses against the government. AS result, the Presi- dent has been embarrassed For he has been compelled to explain, directly and through Secretary Mellon, that no charges of embezzlement or malfeas- arce have ever been entertained by the executive.
 The union of federal employees, however. has not regarded the matter a dS pOiILiCdi. 1nSy see III IL danger to civil service regulations, and a return to the old spells system openly advocated by Andrew Jackson when he turned the rascals out"
 2,O0O Others To Go
 Despite the embarra ssment attend ing the situation, the President it is said is determined to proceed in his program of "Hardingizing" the de- partments. It is said that as many as ? ,00o men, most of them demo- crats, and some in key" positions are slated for the ax.
 There are naturally a considerable number of hold over" democrats Tn positions sufficiently remunerative to arouse the envy of deserving repub- licans.p The President will secure these places for republicans. 1t is in s dicated, and as pointed out above, there is no intimation that a nation wide protest will be forthcoming.
 Some democrats today declare that former President Wilson was entirely too lenient with republican office holders, and that he permitted them to conspire. in political way against his administration, practically unchecked.
 While these men will say nothing publicly. they can find little fault with the Harding program.