Evening star., 1932-05-24
RACE IN ARLINGTON
DRAWS U. S. FIRE;
"POLITICS" ASSAILED
CONTINUED From First Page)

(COntnueQ from F1rSC Hage.)
in Arlington County Va, may become
candidates for and hold local Office in
such county and may participate in
campaigns for election to such offices.
In the exercise Of the privilege
granted by this order. officers and en-
ployeS must not neglect their ofncial
duties and must not engage in national
or State politics in violation of the
civil service rules. If there is such
violation, the head of the department
or independent ONCE in which the per-
son is employed shall inflict such pun
ishment as the Civil Service Commits
sion shall recommend.
"Ofdcers and employees elected or ap-
pointed to Offices requiring full-time
service shall resign their positions with
the Federal Government. If elected or
appointed to Offices requiring only part
time service, they may accept and hold
same without relinquishing their Fed
eral employment provided the holding
of such part-time office does not con-
fiict or interfere with their of11cial
duties as officers or employees Of the
Federal Government.
Principle Of Home Rule.
This order is based upon the facts
that Arlington County Is substantially
a municipality; that a considerable
number Of the residents and taxpayers
are employed in the Government service
that service as local officers in such
county should in no way involve gen.
eral partisan political activity, and that
the principal of home rule and local
self-government justifies such partici-
patton.
The permission granted by this
order may be suspended or withdrawn
by the Civil Service Commission when,
in its opinion, the activities resulting
therefrom are, or may become, detri-
mental to the public interest or inimical
to the proper enforcement of the civil
service rules
The commissions recommendation
for the issuance Of this order was based
very largely upon assurances CT Airing
ton County residents who appeared be-
fore the commission, to the effect that
partisan politics would not enter into
campaigns for election to county offices
and that the holding of such Offices
would in no way involve partisan politi-
cal activity. This Is specifically set
forth in. paragraph 4 Of the order.
Notwithstanding these assurances
and the provisions Of the order YOU be-
came the candidate Of political party
for election to the county board and
let 1t be known that you were running
on party ticket and on a party plat
form. This course of action constituted
partisan political activity contrary to
the understanding and expressed Ian
guage Of the executive order of May 20,
1881.
1.-THE commission deems 1t advisable
to inform you and the proper authori-
ties of Arlington County that, if, in the
future, any classified. employe OF the
Federal Goernment accepts party nomi-
nation or engages otherwise In partisan
political activity In connection with
campaigns for election to county offices
the commission will be constrained to
suspend and perhaps withdraw the
privilege granted by the executive order
Of May 20, 1881"
It was emphasized at the commission
that where Government workers take
advantage OF this right to join in coun-
ty governmental activities 1t must be as
Independents.