Evening star., 1933-07-20
The Political Mill
By C. Could lincoln.

By G. Could Lincoln.
~he new deal" in Federal patronage
Is described with extreme frankness by
Postmaster General James A. Farley
in the current issue of the American
Magazine. Mr.. Farley Is chairman Of
the Democratic National Committed,
and as such has been designated by
President Roosevelt to handle the great
detail which must go with the ap-
polntment OF men and women to 150,-
600 Government jobs. The Postmaster
General has laid down a couple of
rules to govern him in making his
recommendations to the President.
THESE rules. to quote Mr.. Farley, are:
I'D Is the applicant qualifled?" and
"(2l is ne loyal to the party and SYM
patnetlc toward the program of Frank
lin D. Roosevelt?" One of the rules
is idealistic: the other entirely prac-
tical politics. Yet, as Mr.. Farley con-
tends. 1t is good politics to be sure
that your appointments to Federal
ONCE are qualified. If they are not,
the party must suffer in the long run.
The Postmaster General calls. atten-
ton to the fact that about $50, 900 Fed
eral jobs outside the civil service regula-
tions are to be filled, or NAV be refiiled
when new administration comes in.
OF course, these jobs were largely filled
by Republicans when the Roosevelt ad-
ministration took over the control of
the Government last March. What
chance has Republican to hold on?
Says Mr.. Farley: Any Republican on
the exempt list-exempt from the civil
service-has chance of reappointment
but he has two strikes on him" That
seems to answer the question quite
fully. II the Republican is a world
beater in his particular Government
job. he may be retained. But If he
isn't and Democrat can be found who
Is Just as well qualified, then out goes
Mr.. Republican. Does any one think
that the Democrats cannot produce
ment Office as can the Republicans?
There are gradations, political grada-
tions, among Democrats, however.
Mr.. Farley reveals, when it comes to
getting Federal jobs. He says that
loyalty to Franklin D. Roosevelt Is the
measure. Among the Democrats who
are qualified, who win get the first
eoAO
He answers the question as follows:
THE F. r. B. c. men. That means
the men who were for Roosevelt before
Chicago. The Democrats who jumped
on the bandwagon later are next in
line. If they are the best qualified
they will get the Jobs"
Probably no dispenser OF Federal
patronage has ever before spoken as
clearly and as publicly regarding pat
ronage as does Mr.. Farley in this
article. It may rile some Of the Demo-
Gratis who did not think so much of
Mr.. Roosevelt before he was nominated
out at the Chicago National Conven-
tion little more than year ago. On
the other hand, Mr.. Farley's plan does
not leave the anti-Roosevelt Democrats
before Chicago-out of the equation
entirely. And certainly his plan Of
Is likely to build up q political organi-
zation that will stick by Mr.. Roosevelt
until the cows come home during his
present term of office and during the
next Democratic, National Convention.
\
Mr.. Farley has, he says. worked out
appointments. One thing he makes
the backing of the Democratic political
leaders in his community, district or
State. However, If the applicant was
a shouting Roosevelt man at Chicago
last year, when the political leaders
were saying that Roosevelt was q nice
man, but had no. backbone, then Mr.
Farley Is likely to give that applicant
consideration over the selection Of those
particular Democratic leaders. There
has been some discussion of the failure
of the Roosevelt administration to give
more good Federal Jobs to the Demo-
Gratis who lined up with AL Smith at
Chicago in 1882, or with one of the
other candidates. Mr.. Farley's explana-
ton is quite CLEAR. The Smith men
are not going to get the plums as long
as there are qualified Roosevelt men for
the job. In States where the Smith
followers controlled the State organiza-
tion and still continue to control it
Farley says that the organization will
get the bulk Of the patronage, but that
he will take Of the original Roosevelt
men, too.
Senator Joseph T. Robinson Of Ar
kansas, the Democratic leader of the
Senate, has placed In the Congressional
Record q full and detailed account of
the work Of the Democratic Congress
during the special session which closed
a few weeks ago. He takes up at the
start the pledges contained in the
Democratic national platform of 1892
and attaches to each one of them the
"fulfllment" made by the Democratic
President and the Democratic Congress.
The Congress. Senator Robinson says, in
its session Of about 80 days, made
record unparalleled for speed and efec-
tive action. He recites the planks in
the platform relating to economy in
Government and drastic reduction of
expenditure, to balancing the Govern
ment budget, to the modification Of the
Volstead act pending repeal Of the
to Federal unemployment relief, to
spread Of employment through decreas-
ing the hours Of labor, to q public works
program calculated to give employment
to millions Of workers, to the conserva-
ton and use Of the Nations water power
in the public interest, to the relief Of
the banks, etc. In each instance Sena-
tor Robinson gives the answer to the
pledge made by the Democrats.
Senator Robinson. who had charge
OF practically all of the important legis-
lation proposed by the Roosevelt ad-
insists that "the Congress
has not been q rubber stamp" The
necessity Of speedy action, he says, was
apparent to the whole country, and the
Congress acted promptly, with due re-
gard to its responsibilities to the coun-
try. When the Congress meets next
January1rf 1t Is not called In special
earlier, Senator Robinson Will
again be the leader of his party in the
Upper House. He>has demonstrated his
ability to get things done in the "great-
est deliberative body" In the world. 4
body which is deliberate as well As de-
4 + 4
Reports have come to WASHINGTON
that there may be contest within the
Democratic party for the senatorial
nomination in Florida next year. Senator
Park Trammen Is up for denomination
and reelection.
Whi1e tho Rarg,h1fronc v,.o,, ~o-.,..a.