Evening star., 1942-09-04
Loyalty Of u. 5.
Workerslauded
By President
ConerotuIotes NFfE
On Reaching Its
18th Anniversary

President Roosevelt expressed
confidence today that Federal en-
ployes will make the most of the OPP
portunity for distinguished patrt-
otic service during the present
emergency.
He made the statement in a letter
to Luther C. Steward, president, and
Miss Gertrude NJ. McNally, secre-
tary- treasurer of the National Fed
Grafton of Federal Employees, con-
graduating the organization on the
approaching 25th anniversary of its
formation. The federation was Or
ganized September IT, 1917.
The President called attention to
progress made since 1888 in improv-
ing personnel administration in the
Federal service, but added that the
task is not complete, and, by its
nature, never can be regarded as
finished because it is a problem re-
quiring continuing attention.
Presidents Letter.
The letter read as follows:
Il welcome the opportunity to ex-
tend to you and to all of the officers
and members of the National Fed
Grafton of Federal Employees cordial
good wishes on the occasion of the
25th anniversary of the founding of
your organization on September IT,
1917.
"As you recalled in your good let
ter of July 25, have had a very
intimate knowledge of the program
and the activities of the National
Federation of Federal Employees
since its inception. / know that all
through the years you have kept
constantly before you the ideal of
Federal service based wholly upon
the merit system; Federal service
which would function with the most
complete efficiency in behalf of the
people and the Government of the
United States.
The leaders of the National Fed
Grafton OF Federal Employees clearly
nave understood from the beginning
tnat Federal employees stand In a
very special relationship to the Fed
eraI Government, their EMPLOYERS.
They have, as result of this un-
derstanding, charted truly model
course in the methods and the
means and spirit exercised in reach
Ing the desired goals.
Progress Is Reviewed.
Since 1888 immense progress has
been made in the Improvement of
personnel administration in the Fed
eras service. BY legislation, by ex-
ecutive order, by host of admin
lstrative regulations, we have been
able to extend the merit priciple
throughout the Federal service. At
the same time, we have gone far
toward removing inequities and in
justices in administrative practices
and in many detailed ways we have
established more firmly the career
aspects of Federal employment.
This task is, of course, not yet
completed. And by its very nature
1T is one which never can be re-
garded as finished because the Fed
eral service by its size, it's COM
plexity and because of the human
equations involved posses problems
in personnel administration which
require continuing attention and
adaptation.
! BY these progressive enactments
we had laid firm and a sound
basis upon which an effective and
thoroughly useful structure is built.
1T seems to me that perhaps the
most important single contribution
OF the National Federation of Fed
eral Employees has been in the un-
broken continuity of its effort-an
enort which has been largely sue
| cessful-to bring about a sound
pubic understanding of the need
Tor a progressive, forward looking
and scientific approach to the
problems affecting Federal employees.
For the problems of Federal en-
ployes are, in essence, the problems
OF the Government and the people
OF the United States, and unless thew
are well and fairly solved all are
handicapped in accomplishing the
great end for which we are striy-
lng-namely, the welfare and sse-
curity of our country.
Praises Women's Records.
Your organization was organized
IN the trying days of 1918. TODAY
we are f1ghtlng new war against
the hateful enemies of decency. lib
erty and every virtue which orr
clvlllzatlon has taught us to cherish
and to revere as sacred. We shall
pour out our resources without limit
to insure the final victory of our
cause.
In order to win this war we must
nave the unstinting and unflagginp
effort OF every man and woman, re-
gardless OF service or station. The
record OF Federal employees in all ma
tlonal crises has been one in which
they can take justifiable pride.
But past records, in everv field
OF endeavor, cannot be accented ss
an accurate gauge of our REQUIRE
ments now. The success of or
cause, which is the cause of hu-
manity, can be assured only by the
unshakable determination of all
americans TO reach new goals of ac-
complishment.
In peace time the work of Fed
eral employees is important to the
Weh-oelng OF our country, and their
responsibilities are high. In wartime
they are incomparably greater.
The Federal service is facing its
seVerest test. Yet immense though
It's burdens are, its opportunities for
patriotic achievement are greater
still. I have the utmost confidence
that Federal employees will make
the most of them.
Very sincerely yours, Franklin d.
Roosevelt"