Evening star., 1936-05-31
FEDERAL WORKERS
SPLIT ON BABCOCK
A. F. G. E. Presidents Job
Threatened Because of
G. O. P. Pamphlet.

A definite move is afoot in a fac
tspn of the American Federation OF
Government Employees to remove E.
Claude Babcock. national president,
because Of his attack on the "spoils
system" OF the Roosevelt administra-
ton circulated by the Republican Ma
tional Committee.
This was disclosed yesterday when
1t became known that the Executive
Council of the federation is due to
meet here next month to decide q
course on the issue which has en-
broiled Babcock with sizeable
group. This group charges that the
political" tinge given the fedora
tion by the Babcock blast has inter-
fered with the legislative activities
of the organization, and has hurt
membership recruiting.
Babcock could not be reached for
comment on this latest development
When local officers first repudiated
his criticism of the administration
several days ago, he said he had ex-
pected that explaining that it had
been made not in his capacity as
head of the federation but as for
mer secretary of the Civil Service
Commission, and added that his in
terest in the merit system was suf-
ficient to make him willing to shoul-
der whatever blame attached to his
action
Vice Presidents Involved.
The extraordinary session of the
council was initiated by three local
vice Observation-Disclosures D. Schaefer,
G. Carroll Dimond and Ira Y. Balm
and the national treasurer, Cecil
E. Custer, who joined in the dis
avowal of the Babcock "spoils' state
ment, called it to the attention of
the ten members of the council in
the field, and proposed that the lead
ers meet here to map further steps.
The response from the field was said
to favor the meeting, which, under
the constitution. should be called by
Babcock. If he does not act, how
ever, it was said, the council men,
bers are expected to convene of their
own accord.
Such a meeting, the sponsors con-
tend, could depose Babcock, although
he was elected last September for a
two-year term.
1t is the argument Of these that
Babcock has violated the federation
constitution, which bars the injection
of political, religious or racial issues
into its deliberations.
In addition to drawing the fire of
the officers, Babcock also has been
criticized by several local lodges, al
though the District department as a
whole has not joined in the fight.
The present trouble adds another
chapter to the hectic history of the
federation, which was organized under
the sponsorship of the American Fede-
ration Of Labor after the National
Federation of Federal Employees,
headed by Luther C. Steward, with
drew from the A. F. of L. more than
four years ago in a dispute over CLASH
fcation legislation. Ironically, it finds
officers who in the past have sup
ported Babcock in factional fights
now uIleo up against nlln-
Action by Green Suggested.
In some quarters 1t has been sug-
gested that the matter should be
handled directly by William Green,
of Labor. Just a few days before
Babcock's attack got into circulation
Green came out for the reelection of
President Roosevelt.
Babcock, a former president of the
Disabled American Veterans, was pro-
NOTED from assistant secretary to be
secretary of the Civil Service Com
mission on the retirement of John T.
Doyle in July, 1882. A year later,
after the Roosevelt administration
came into power, the secretaryship
was abolished in reorganization
move, and Babcock was named dis
trict manager for the commission in
San Francisco. The commission de-
MED the step was political.
Early in 1884. he was drafted for
the A. F. G. E. presidency.
Last year the federation president
got wide publicity when he charged
at House hearing on the bill to re-
peal the marital status law that young
couples were living together here
without benefit of marriage VOWS, to
maintain their single" status and
hold their jobs in the Federal service
The l4-page pamphlet that has
stirred up the present warfare carries
the foreword that it was written ex-
pressly for the Republican National