Evening star., 1939-08-06

author, Senator Carl "A. f1dJCIl Ol NeW
Mexico Mild-mannereG, rated one of
the most fair minded men in the Sem
ate. Mr.. Hatch has fought for two years
with stubborn determination to put over
the far-reaching reform that is now a
law.
Up until the moment that the Presi-
dents message reached the Senate he
was not sure that his long-cherished bill
would become law. Just to be on the
safe side he had gathered together
big MANILA envelope full of material for
use in speech replying to veto
message.
He's glad he didn't have to deliver
that speech. But he was prepared to
make it and he was ready to ask the
Senate to override the Presidents veto.
Somewhere in the makeup of this mild
seeming man is streak of stubbornness
that must be mile wide.
For many years there have been efforts
to bar all Federal employees from par
ticipation in politics. Both Democrats
and Republicans were in favor of ex-
tending civil service restrictions to Fed
eral jobholders, but always when they
were not in power. 1t was a grand ges-
ture for the "outs" to demand that the
"ins' vote to keep jobholders out of the
political mill. But once they were in
the majority it was a different matter
Now, as member of the majority party,
Mr.. Hatch has the credit for a sweeping
reform that was adopted by votes of
both parties the solid Republican bloc
In the House being supplemented by
number of Democrats. Many observers
would give Vice President Garner credit
for lining up the vote behind the Hatch
bill Violating his custom, the Vice
President allowed reporters to quote the
prediction he made from the White
House steps some weeks ago to the eff
feet that the Hatch bill would pass at
this session.
Won't Argue Over Credit.
Senator Hatch is not inclined to argue
over credit for the passage of his bill
He says that Mr.. Garner was extremely
active for it. But he adds that in his
opinion it is unfair to ascribe this to
Mr.. Gamers own desire for the NOM
ination in 1910. Mr.. Gamers interest
In keeping Federal jobholders out of
politics arose, according to Hatch, long
before there was any suggestion that
the Vice President had higher ambi-
tions. When he first introduced bill
to bar Federal jobholders from serving
as delegates to national conventions in
January Of 1887, Mr. Hatch says, Mr..
Garner commended the objective.
The author of the Hatch bill does not
conceal his elation at its passage. He
does not believe that it will alter funda-
mentally the two-party system of Amer
lean politics. And he agrees with Presi-
dent Roosevelt that it is first step"
The long-range objective that I haye
always had in mind" the New Mexico
Senator says. 'is to get virtually all Fed
eral employees under civil service. 1 have
felt all along that If we could remove
district attorneys, marshals, collectors of
internal revenue from politics, then it
would be comparatively easy to bring
them under the civil service. But first it
was necessary to remove this chief OBJ
stacle.
Then next I want to see the civil
service Strengthened out and made to
work more efficiently. There are great
many things wrong with our present
civil service law and the Civil Service
Commission. There's no use pretending
its perfect"
Familiar With Theory and Practice.
Mr.. Hatch is thoroughly familiar with
the background of civil service. He
points to the early efforts to introduce
this reform in England, going back to
1854. 1t was not, however, until Glad
stone strengthened the law in 1870 that
1t became really effective. Mr.. Hatch
is familiar with the extensive literature
In the field and quotes from such au-
thorities as Harold Laski, British polit-
ical economist
Coming up the political ladder by slow
stages, Mr.. Hatch is quite accustomed,
too to the political process at first hand
He has been county chairman, State
chairman delegate to national con-
ventions. In 1882 he was a presidential
elector, casting direct ballot in the
electoral college for Mr.. Roosevelt. His
service to his State goes back to 1917,
when he served for two years as assistant
attorney general. In 1919 he was COL
lector of internal revenue for the district
of New Mexico. From 1923 to 1929 he
was district judge in his home district
Of Clovis.
Speaking as practical politician, Mr..
Hatch says he thinks the Hatch bill will
in no way handicap the Democratic
party. Certain Democrats have sug-
gested that since all the fat cats" are
In the Republican party and most of the
big contributions therefore go to that
party, the Democratic National Commit
tee will find 1t difficult to meet campaign
expenses.
Money never wins elections" Mr..
Hatch says. THAT is an illusion of the
politicians who like to spend money. In
my opinion, the greater part OF CAM
paign funds are wasted. OF course, 1t is
necessary to have access to the voters.
Money must be spent, for example, in
purchasing radio time. Money spent in
that way is not wasted.
But I believe in any event that there
will be some drastic changes in our ap-
proach to politics. 1t seems to me that
in the future neither the Republicans
as party nor the Democrats as party
will elect candidates. The independent
voters are going to decide elections,
100000 or more who carry neither the