Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-26
HOOVER WILL HALT
PATRONAGE ABUSES
BY C. 0. P. IN SOUTH
Conditions in Georgia, Mis-
sissippi and South Carolina
Are Called IntoIerabIe.
PRESIDENT CANDIDLY
EXPRESSES OPINIONS
Recommendations to Be Made in
Southern States Hereafter by
Joint Committees.

Declaring the abuses of party leaders
in Georgia, South Carolina and Missis-
sippi, in obtaining Government patron
age, to be intolerable to public service,
repugnant to the principles of Republic
canism and unjust to the people Of
those States, President Hoover is deter
mined to bring about an improvement
in party politics in those sections.
1t is his contention that the duty OF
correcting the evils that are known to
Exist. rests with the people themselves,
but if the latter do not bring forth the
proper persons with whom the admins
tration can ask advice in the matter OF
making local Federal appointments, the
administration will endeavor to seek
this advice from others.
At the same time, the President dis
closed that patronage recommendations
from other States of the solid South"
would be made by special committees
which will cooperate with the Demo-
Gratis who supported the Republican
ticket in the last presidential campaign
Hoover Gives Views.
In this candid expression Of his feel
ing regarding patronage IN the Soutn
and his apparent wish to better the
partv politics in that section, President
Hoover spoke to newspaper correspond
ents at the White House today, In reply
to queries regarding the subject as
follows:
'It has been the aspiration of Repub-
g.
build I'D sound Republican organization
in the Southern States of such charac-
ter as would commend itself to the
citizens of those States.
This aspiration has arisen out OF no
narrow sense of partisanship, but from
the conviction shared in equally by the
leaders of all parties that the basis OF
sound government must rest upon strong
two-uarty representation and organiza-
ton: that the voice Of all States IN
the councils of the government can pe
assured by no other means; tnat tne
welfare of the Nation at large requires
the breaking down OF sectionaiism IN
politics: that the public service can pc
assured only by responsible organlza-
tion. =, -.
Furthermore, 1t has been the belief
cf these leaders, whose views ! snare,
that the building up of such organiza-
ton must in every conception OF our
foundations of local self-government
evolve from those States themselves.
Border Strength Cited.
Republican leadership in the bor-
der States and In Virginia and North
Carolina long since has built up vigor-
Gus party organization, which assures
Republican representation in the Con-
gress from those States.
I'm other States, including Alabama.
Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Florl-
da, the Republican leadership has In
recent times shown increasing strength,
and now is rendering able and con-
scientious service in maintaining whole
some organization under whose advice
the appointments to public office have
improved steadily and commended
States with increased confidence in the
party. I highly approve and well
come the movement of the leaders OF
Texas, Alabama, Florida and other
States to broaden the basis Of party
organization by the establishment OF
advisory committees of the highest
type of citizenship to deal with admins
trative questions and who also will CO.
operate with independent Democrats
This movement, springing as 1t does
from within the States themselves, IN
sures its strength, permanence and con-
slant improvement in public service.
Recent exposure of abuse in recon-
mendations for Federal offices, particu-
larly in some parts of the States of
South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi,
under which some of the Federal de-
partments, mainly the Post Office, were
misled in appointments obviously rem
der it impossible for the old organiZa-
ton In these States to command the
confidence Of the administration, al
though many members of these organ
izations are not subject to criticism.
Such Conditions Intolerable.
"Such conditions are intolerable to
public service, are repugnant to the
ideals and purposes of the Republican
party, are unjust to the people of the
South and must be ended. The duty of
reorganization so as to correct these
conditions rests with the people of those
States and all effort to that end will re-
ceive the hearty cooperation of the
administration. If these three States
are unable to initiate such organization
through the leadership of men who will
command confidence and protect the
public service, the different Federal de-
partments will be compelled to adopt
other methods to obtain advice as to the
selection of Federal employees"
The Presidents statement was re-
garded as ending the regime of Perry
Howard, Negro national committeeman
for Mississippi, who is to stand trial
next week on charges growing out OF
the handling of Federal patronage In
his State.
Some Republican leaders also pre-
dicted that Joseph Tolbert, national
committeeman for South Carolina, aRo
might be asked to retire, but there was
no official information on the subject.
Davis Question Passed.
There has been no national commit
teeman for Georgia since the contest
raised at the Kansas City convention
last June over the seating of Ben Davis
colored. The executive committee of
the Republican national committee re-
Gently passed over this matter pending
determination by the President as to
what steps were to be taken in the
handling of patronage for the entire
South.