Evening star., 1939-01-26

whether M r. ,,,
Hopkins man. 1 .A"'e"'''
agement of relief was political. There
was no problem of personal integrity.
1t is true many of the Democrats
in voting to confirm Mr. Hopkins
did not wish to be recorded as ap-
proving what he did in public office.
From the debate it might be in
ferred, however, that the Republi-
cans and Democrats are against
politics in relief. but there is nothing
to show they object to politics inside
the Federal Government. So in
grained is the political tradition that
it Is doubtful whether a handful
of votes could be obtained today Tor
bill to prohibit any member of
the cabinet from being an officer or
director or manager of political
party or its funds.
Thus James A. Farley has held
the Office Of chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee and
chairman of the New York State
Democratic Committee during the
entire period of nearly six years
that he has been Postmaster General
In the cabinet of the President and
there has been really no substantial
objection from the leaders of either
political party.
Congress Hasn't Objected.
Maybe some one else wouldn't be
permitted to play such triple role
and maybe it's a tribute to the re-
markable personality of jim Farley,
but the fact remains that Congress
that doesn't object to an active
manager of political campaigns in a
Presidents cabinet can hardly OBJ
tect to the retention in public office
= of another man in the Presidents
official family whose contact with
politics was confined to incidental
effort. Maybe if Mr.. Hopkins had
been known as the vice chairman OF
the Democratic National Committee
or had held some conspicuous office
in politics openly he never would
have aroused the ire of the men,
bers of Congress. Perhaps his sin
was in failing to be a part-tlme
political manager like Jim Farley.
But the fight now is over and the
question Is whether Congress is in
earnest or playing a little politics
of it's own in the Hopkins contro-
versy. If Congress were in earnest,
there would be legislation on the way
to the statute books now, not only
prohibiting key executives in the
entire Federal Government from en-
gaging in political campaigns but
forbidding them to have any connec-
ton with the soliciting of delegates
to'any national convention of either
party.
The Republicans may be loath to
sponsor such legislation for they
themselves have been in the habit
of considering certain cabinet posts
as political, and their cabinet Off
GERS have made speeches during
presidential and congressional cam
paigns. The use of a Government
JOB to urge voters to vote certain
way WIS certainly not invented by
the Democrats.
1t is, therefore, important to
record these things lest the impress
over the Hopkins appointment some
how symbolized something more
than the customary holier-than-thou
attitude which every now and then
arises in Congress, when, as a mat
ter of fact, the opportunity to cut
away the abuse and defects in our
system has been plainly apparent for
years.
Political Nature Admitted.
One of the curious things that
showed itself in the debate was the
willingness of Congress to concede
that cabinet portfolios are personal
appointments and that qualifications
for management of a big Govern
ment department are not to be
passed upon by the Senate when
asked to confirm nomination. This
IS, to be sure, the traditional view
and on its face there is no reason
why Congress should refuse to con-
firm anybody the President wants to
put in his cabinet-that is, if one
accepts the view that cabinet o.icers
= are political appointments. A ma
Jorlty OF the Senate feelS that this
Is so. Whatever, therefore, the in
olvldual members of the Senate NAV
have felt about politics in relief.
they really supported the idea of
politics in Government when thev
accepted the customary contention
that a cabinet officer is a part of the
Presidents political encourage. And
that's why there has not been anv
real objection in Congfess to the
presence of Postmaster General
who also is chairman of national
political party committee, in the
Presidents cabinet. Politics is still
the controlling influence in Govern
ment, Notwithstanding all the cru
sades of SO years or more for a
permanent civil service and a better
administrative service. In Great