Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-13
Tribute to a Faithful
FriendofFederalW Orkers

To the Editor Of The Star:
crave some Of your space TO say o
few words about q man who passed
away last week and whose life presented
some unusual features. His career al
fords both en- inspiration and a warn
ing: inspiration as to what chance the
right sort of an employe has 10 rise
from the humbleSt beginning TO one OF
the most exalted positions in the civil
service. and a warning of the necessity
of taking advantage OF all the leisure
allowed to workers by a wise and benefi-
cent Government in the way of leave OF
absence and holidays in order to obtain
the necessary relaxation from official
work
Ezekiel J. Ayers, late chief clerk and
| administrative assistant in the Depart
ment of State, entered the civil service
in 1896 as a messenger In the Depart
ment Of the Interior at $40 month.
Within less than 20 years he had risen
to the position of chief clerk Of the de-
partment; to be the right hand OF
Franklin K. Lane, that big-souled and
brainy man who, in addition to his
manifold official cares, undertook the
most ambitious enterprise ever launched
in this city to enable Government en-
| ployes, through cooperative buying, to
| lower the cost of living. through his
organization OF the Home Club Mr..
| Ayers was one of the chief officers of
| this club, which also took care of the
social and educational interests of the
members. This dual activity Of Mr..
Ayers gave him chance to crafty two
Of the ruling passions Of his life-co-
operative action for the benefit Of the
many. and an opportunity for special
| help to the more poorly paid Govern
ment workers AS chief clerk he told
me that he was more interested in get
| ting promotions for the little fellows, y
| the charwomen, laborerS and meSSen-
gers. than in boosting those drawing
| better salaries. There are those who
still remember how Mr.. Ayers carried a
| fight to the floor Of the Senate In behalf
Of better pay for poor laborer in his
department He afterward became ad-
ministrative assistant to Secretary Hoo
yer in the Department OF Commerce,
and for the past several years held the
| same position in the Department OF
State. So that this former messenger,
starting from the very foot of the ranks,
| became the right-hand man Of three
members of the cabinet
1t was the same thing wherever he
| went. The "mudsillS," the humber
workers, whom he evidently regarded as
part of the foundation of the service,
we're his chief care. He was q friend
Of the friendless, their influence and
their hope Of promotion. Along with
kindness of heart there was keen pene-
tration of mind-an uncommon combi-
nation. Everything was calculated to
| benefit the service as well as the indi-
vidual. One of his last acts was to
appear before the Personnel Classifica-
ton Board in behalf of the reclassif1ca-
ton of Federal translators into the pro-
fessional and scientific class In recogni-
ton of the Governments duty toward
an important and hitherto neglected
branch of the service
The main fault Of this good man was
that he did not rest enough. On last
Thanksgiving, when on the afternoon
before everybody was rushing away on
pleasure bent, the writer asked Mr..
Ayers where he was going. ITO work, -
was his laconic answer, and will work
all day tomorrow" Many nights were
| also spent at his arduous desk. AL
this. of course, was voluntary. Few can
realize the complex and exacting nature
of such q position In a department like
that of the State. A thousand prob
lens Of difficult, delicate and urgent
nature arise, to be dealt with quietly
and well. Mr.. Ayers did this for seven
years, but always meeting his many
friends with a CHEEKY Hello, there"
and never seeming to be rushed. Just
ly did the Secretary of State refer to
the loyalty and efficiency" of this
man. If he had only taken a little
more restl
The crushing roller of time takes It's
heavy toll every day; to mention all the
victims is impossible. But here is one
life history that deserves to be known
long after the grave closes over the
mortal form. Sweet is the memory of
him whose life was so devoted to the
welfare of others and in devotion to the
higher service of his country
LINDSAY S. PERKINS.