Evening star., 1940-04-09
States Must Complete
End Of SpoiIs System,
Hatch Says in Forum
Senutor Tells Of Coins
And Pending Efforts to
Protect Free Elections
Continued From Page B-l1),

bitter I say bitter because for two
full weeks We stood on the floor of
the Senate, day after day and hour
after hour, arguing back and forth
this very simple provision.
The long and bitter opposition to
this measure is most difficult for
me to understand. When I say
that opponents of the measure dis
cussed it vigorously, vehemently and
at times almost viciously, make no
overstatement. When it is remem-
bered that not only did the oppo-
nents seek to prevent the passage
Of the bill we are no.. considering,
but also that they sought by every
possible means to go back and repeal
the substance of section 8 Of the
law passed last year, one must
come to the inevitable conclusion
that these measures seriously inter-
fere with and threaten time-old
political practices. They do and
they are intended to threaten and
interfere with those age-old political
abuses, for such I conceive them to
be. OF some of those practices and
abuses would speak for few mo-
ments.
Spoils System Began Early.
The things at which the law of
last year and the extension we seek
to make this year strike are as old
almost as the country is old. At
tempts to control and dominate
elections by the use of the employees
and officials of Government began
almost with the first administra-
ton of President George Washing
ton. Not that President Washing
ton sought to so use the power of
patronage. for he did not. But even
In his administration there were
those who sought to build and
strengthen their hold on Govern
ment by what later came to be
known as the spoils system. That
evil President Washington stoutly
resisted. His appointments to Of
flee were made pursuant to certain
rules he himself laid down. and
those rules mostly concerned the
fitness, ability and integrity of the
appointee. On one occasion he de-
cIared that he would never appoint
any person to Office of whose in
tegrity he had the slightest doubt.
Without any civil service standards
to guide him, President Washington
sought to make merit and efficiency
the sole test for position in his
administration. The country would
have been saved much if his ideals
had been preserved throughout the
years. Unfortunately they were not.
The question of the right of Fed
eral employees to participate in elec-
tions arose early in our Nations
life. The issue of Federal employees
actively participating in political
campaigns was squarely raised by
President Thomas jefferson. Not
only did he answer the question
squarely, but in fortnight and
courageous manner he condemned
the practice in terms which left no
room for doubt as to where he
stood. In view of the fact that
certain people have talked quite
loudly about democratic processes
and have assailed all the proposed
legislation upon the grounds that it
unduly curtails the civil rights of
the employees who come within its
prohibitions, it may be of some
interest TO know just what the great
guardian and protector of all civil
liberties, Thomas Jefferson, thought.
President Jefferson issued a posi-
tive executive order during his ad-
ministration prohibiting Federal
officials from political activity and
electioneering. In that order,
among other things, President JET
ferson, with reference to Federal
officials, said: Il quote from the
order0
'"' 1t is deemed improper
for officers who depend upon
the Executive of the Union to
attempt or influence the free
exercise of the elective right '"'.
1t is expected that he will not
attempt to influence the votes
OF others nor take any part in
the business of electioneering,
that being deemed inconsistent
with the spirit of the Constitu-
tion and his duties to it.
Expressed Other Condemnations,
The language of President JET
ferson which I have just quoted
seems clear enough, but if his fur
ther views are desired, other similar
expressions may be found. In 1901
President Jefferson pointed directly
to the fundamental evil of permit
ting political activity of Govern
ment employees in the following
words:
Interference with election
whether of the State or general
Government by officers of the
latter, should be deemed cause of
removal, because the constitu-
tional remedy by the elective
principle becomes nothing If it
may be smothered by the enor-
nous patronage of the Federal
Government.
The quotation ends, but cannot
refrain from pausing here to observe
that 139 years ago the father of
democratic government in this
country was alarmed lest the "elec-
tive principle" might become moth
ing" If 1T should be "smothered by
the enormous patronage of the Fed
eral Government" In the days of
Thomas Jefferson, the enormous pa
tronage of the Federal Government
which he feared was a mere handful
of officials and employees. Today
the patronage of the Federal Gov.
ernment extends from Washington
into every State. county, municipal
ity and precinct of this Nation. To-
dow thO11condS of Eodoro1 ovooIouo,