The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-09
By THOMAS l.. STOKES
lines Special Writer


Tines Special Writer
WASHINGTON. March 9.-Pres-
ident RooseveIt's avowed intention
10 curb the spOils system and put
more emphasis on merit in filling
government Jobs has been thvarted
constantly by POstmaster-General
James A. Farley.
Since Mr.. Farley takes his orders
from the President. the Chief Exec
utive can not be held blameless in
everything that has happened, but
the POstmaster-G Generals every act
naturally a not subject 70 White
House scrutiny.
Mr.. Farley IS a politician. He
makes no bones about It. His object
has been 10 reward those who
helped elect Mr.. Roosevelt, and to
spread such favOrs as he has
where they will count most IN 1896.
Too Much for One Man
The one thing that has caused
more criticism from friends OF the
Administration than anything else
anu WHICH, MI AN00NNHNAa NRAA1
nave CoTTected-is the embodiment
in one person. Mr.. Farley. Of cab
met officer. a Democratic National
chairman and a New York State
Democratic chairman.
This combination Of government
and political business has made Mr..
Farley very vulnerable. It became
most embarrassing at one time. end
eventually dampened efforts at re-
form.
This was when three or four ma
tiOnal committeeman turned up IN
the Capital and, trading on their
friendship with officials and on
their claims Of White House in
fuence. set themselves up in nicely
appointed Offices as lobbyists TO
prey upon the frightened business
men who swarmed into Washington
worried about codes and other mat
tiers. Il got TO be a noisOme racket,
so much so that the President sent
out word that these gentlemen must
resign their political posts.
How About FarIey?"
Mr.. Farley finally got them out.
Once started. the campaign gained
momentum and caught in its sweep
government officials who had pOliti-
cal posts. Henry MOrgenthau Jr.,
Secretary Of the Treasury, took the
purifying process seriously ana
cleaned up his department.
How about Farley?" rose the cry.
The Postmaster General indicated
he would give up hIs political jobs.
That was months ago. but today he
is still a dual personality. And bill
to force government officials 70 give
I'D political jobs is gathering dust
in some forgotten pigeOnhole.
Uses His Machine Well
During tie last campaign Mr..
Farley USED RS combination govern
ment-pOliticaI JOB effectively. Re
publicans charged that workers in
various Federal agencies, including
the relief organization. were using
the benefits to which they had &C
cess for political effect If this was
true. il was no more than Repub-
licans have done in the past, though
this OF course has no bearing on
the morals Of perpetuating such a
system.
Beyond this. the chairman en-
plOyed with good effect the machine
which he had built.
Strictly anti-New Deal were his
activities on some fronts. Despite
support for New Deal detectives by
Senators Robert NJ. La Toilette
Prog. WIS.,. and Bronson Cut
ting CR., N. NJ. both Of whom
bolted to Mr.. Roosevelt in 1892. the
national chairman sought TO defeat
them in "a. He failed. Just as he
did when he tried TO defeat F:Orello
H. La GuardiaFfOr n yOr of New
York.
Roosevelt, Too, Is Target
This aroused increased resent
ment against Mr.. Farley among the
independent and progressive ele-
ment which had helped to elect
President ROOsevelt-and is begin
ming 10 show in the Senate's rest
leSSneSS. President Roosevelt has
shared some Of this i'll feeling.
Early in the Administration Mr..
Farley played the patronage game
SkiIlfully. He held up the diSpens-
ing Of Jobs until the major part of
the Presidents program was enacted.
holding this whip over Congress
This provoked dissatisfaction but
IL worked.
Most Of the Jobs have been doled
out now. and that is one reason
, why Democrats slip the traces more
readily. Another reason is the as
founding increase in jobs not avail
able 10 Democratic members Of
Congress.
Independence in the Cabinet
For Mr.. Farley could not get his
fingers on many Of these jobs. Sec
retaries IckeS. Perkins and Wallace
and Relief Administrator Hopkins
Insisted on choosing their own as
siStantS. and the President sided
With them.
Mr.. IickeS finally ousted from his