Evening star., 1934-09-19
POLITICAL CANCER
ISSEEN |NCURABLE
Morgenthau Held Latest
Victim to Succumb to
Party's Attack.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

ing out Of how the Secretary OF the
Treasury, Henry Morgenthau, jr-,
latest to fall victim to its ravages,
fought it off as long as he could, but
finally haj to succumb to the attack
of the politicians.
Originally Mr.. Morgenthau issued
an order which was absolutely uaim-
peachable. Nobody in the Treasury in
Washington or in the far-fiung field
force Of collectors of customs and in
ternal revenue could possibly AXE a
part in politics. The rules forbade It,
Came Under Fire.
But it now develops that Mr. Nor
eenthau came under fire. Democrat,
IN Congress who wanted to use the
Federal machinery to get votes, or at
least to set up an organization for
vote getting, found themselves blocked
by the timidity and reluctance of tbs
very men they had helped to place in
Federal jobs and who would normally
be their campaign aides. The Con-
gressmen began to exert pressure. And
it worked Mr. Morgenthau was told
to lease up" And he did.
BY simple amendment which tor-
bids "obtrusive" or offensive" parti-
sanship employees of the Treasury De-
partment are permitted once more to
engage in politics. 1t Is true they
cannot become chairmen Of political
conventions or hold Office in the ma
tionaI or local committees. But they
can be delegates. They can engage in
political work outside of office hours
am they can even express themselves
publi-iy in campaigns, provided ii
isn't offensive"
Wei. since the Democrats them
selves are the Judges of what is OF
is not offensive, the chances are there
will be few, if any, prosecutions.
Likewise, the most important political
activity that a Federal official can
perform on behalf of his friend, the
candidate for Congress, is to line ul
influential citizens. 1t is not possible
for a member of Congress. as rule
to spend much money on an organ
ization. The local postmaster, the local
collector, the appointeeS and employees
of both, provide a fairly good nucleus
for him gratis. But when the man
who holds the power of life or death
over an individuals reputation through
the privilege of approving quickly OF
disapproving on a technicality an in
come tax return, 1t may easily be
imagined what the potentialities OF
Federal office holding may mean now
adays in lining up campaign contribu-
tions.
Matter Of Gossip.
Mr.. Morgenthau's surrender through
the introduction of a simple word OF
two in his regulations that nullify al
that he previously proclaimed is
matter of considerable gossip here
abouts. 1t is assumed that the Secre-
tary would never have yielded except
under the influence Of the White
House.
Undoubtedly Jim Farley, who is both
chairman Of the Democratic National
Committee and Postmaster General
has been receiving the bulk of the
complaints from members of Congress!
that Mr.. Morgenthau was going bi
too far as the political game ha.
usually been played. And when Mr.
Farley puts matters up to the White
House that relate to practical politics
the White House listens and most
often complies.
The Secretary of the Interior, Harold
Ickes. also came to Washington with
newfangled ideas Of virtue in public
Office. But the politicians got him
too. At first these high-minded mer
resist and argue and debate about 1t
But the politicians have ways of start
ing a back-hre. The cabinet officer
suddenly finds all sorts of inside in
trigue and criticism of important pol.
icies, not necessarily involving politics
and in the end he says to himself that
the struggle with the politicians isn't
worth making, that campaigns do not
come but q few months every two
years anyway and that there are other
much more important things to dc
and worry about. Thus he gradually
finds excuses for yielding.
The two men who made a fight
against the inroads of politics-Secre-
taries Morgenthau and IckeS-now art
playing ball whenever possible with
the politicians. This does not mean
they always take political recommen-
dations, but they are far more amen
able to the political influence than
they used to be, and Mr.. Ickes went
so far recently as to issue an order
requiring all applicants for jobs in
one Of his divisions to get clearance
through the local Democratic party
organizations.
Enormous Responsibilities.
The Federal Government has enor-
nous responsibilities these days. The
public is being asked to let the Gov
ernment do many things which. it is
argued private business didn't do eff
GENTLY and fairly.
There are some people who say
frankly that the New Deal, with all
Its political cancers, is to be prefer
red to the old deal with its alleged
favoritism Of the few in business But
what they who are on the outside of
things do not know is that the same
group of people who got special IA
vors under the old system manage to
get them under the new system. too
For politics takes its tribute of money
wherever it can get it, and the peo-
pie who want favors merely switch
their allegianceS from one group of
politicians to the other
The New Deal, with politics as the
ruling force, can never bring a square
deal any more than the old deal did
There's only one answer-the civil
service and merit system in govern
ment-but the Democrats have shown
themselves even more hostile to civil
service than the Republicans. That's
why the believers in the doctrine OF
getting the Governments hand of
businesses, large and small, are bound
to become more and more militant as
they see politics and graft and special
privilege enthroned once more through
the cunning and intrigue of party
politics.
Copyright. 1934)