Evening star., 1939-07-30

this section shall be Immediately re-
moved from the position or Office held
by him, and thereafter no part of the
funds apr opriated by any act of Con-
gress for such position or Office shall be
used to pay the compensation of such
person.
There is a possibility that the Hatch
bill, if it becomes a law, would face
court test at the first opportunity. Such
test probably would be based on the
action of the House in making certain
of its provisions apply to n?minating
primaries as well as elections.
Senator Hatch is confident, however,
that the bill is constitutional. He
points out that it is not intended to
regulate primaries as such, but to define
the part Government employees may take
in political campaigns, and he believes
past decisions of the courts will sustain
the Governments right to place limita-
tions on the political activities of its
own employees.
The late Senator Steiwer, keynote
speaker of the 1896 Republican Conven-
ton, who died early this year, made every
effort in 1885 to put through a bill bar
ring Office holders from convention, but
without success. Addressing the Senate
on the subject four years ago, he said:
National conventions are held in plain
view of the public. Speeches are trans
mtted by radio to the far corners of the
Nation. Platforms are written into per-
manent records There is little chance
in such a convention to pervert the
peoples will save by the one recognized
abuse which would be ended by the bill
which now discuss"
"Appointing Power Controls"
Again referring to the presence OF
Government Office holders as delegates,
the former Oregon Senator declared:
Neither high purpose on the part of
the people, nor publicity of the proceed
ings of the convention can make free
man out of a subservient political ap-
pointee."
In his fight for the legislation at that
time Senator Steiwer did not bear lightly
on the part Office holding delegates have
| played in Republican conventions. In
fact, he pointed out that when the Re-
publicans were in power. G. O. P. dele
cations from the South have figured
prominently in nominating the party
ticket, even though the Southern States
subsequently would not cast any electoral
votes for the Republican ticket, except
in 1928. when the solid Democratic South
was broken
Former Senator Steiwer summed up
his contention thus:
Where the majority of the delegates
are Federal appointees, and the unit rule
is resorted to, there is only one result, and
! that is that the political influence which
| made the appointments controls the
| delegations. In the Republican conven-
| tions the delegations from the solid
| South more often than not are ap-
pointees of the Federal Government.
! They are the henchmen of the faction in
| power. In the Democratic conventions
Democratic postmasters, marshals and
United States attorneys may be found
| from States which rarely ever support
| the Democratic nominee in the fall elec-
| tons
After the 1886 conventions, when Sen
ator Hatch began to study the subject,
he found the Steiwer bill already in ex-
istence and he consulted with the Oregon
Senator in reviving the question.
Before Democratic Split.
1t is significant to note also that this
was before any sharp cleavage began to
develop in Democratic senatorial ranks.
as between New Dealers and conserya-
tives, which did not begin to take form
until the fight over the Presidents Su-
preme Court plan.
Since the House and Senate gave the
Hatch bill final approval, discussion of
the ban on office-holding delegates has
overshadowed the other equally strong
provisions of the bill. Briefly, these
other features are:
Section l makes it unlawful for any
one to lntimidate, threaten or coerce. or
to make such an attempt, for the pur-
pose OF interfering with the right of such
person to vote as he chooses, or of caus-
ing such other person to vote for, or not
TO vote for, any candidate for President.
Vice President, Senator or Represent
ative.
Sectlon makes it unlawful for anv
person employed in any administrative
position by the United States. or bv anv
department. independent agency dnclud-
ing corporations controlled by the United
States or any agency thereof, and anv
corporation all of the capital stock of
which is owned by the United States) to
use his official authority for the purpose
OF interfering with, or affecting the elec-
ton or the nomination of any candidate
for President, Vice President, Senator or
Representative.
Section makes it unlawful, directly
or indirectly, to promise any one employ-
ment or other benefit made possible in
whole or in part by any act of Congress
TO any person as consideration or re-
ward for political activity, or for the SUD-
port of or opposition to any candidate
or any political party in any election.
Section makes it unlawful to deprive
any one of employment or other benefit
mace possible by an act of Congress on
account of race, creed, color or any
pohtical activity, support of or opposition
10 any candidate.
Relief Workers Protected.