Evening star., 1948-04-18
Smith, Sasscer
Urge Relaxation
OF Hatch Act
Commission Clarifies
Status Of Arlington
Federal Workers
By Alex R. Preston

Two members Of Congress, rep
resenting nearby Virginia and
Maryland areas. have asked the
Civil Service Commission for .
public hearing to liberalize It's reg
ulations under the Hatch Act so
that Federal Workers may take .
greater part in local partisan
politics.
Chairman c. Harrison Mann Of
the Arlington Democratic Com
mittee. yesterday made public Q
letter to the commission by Rep
resentative Smith, Democrat. Of
Virginia. The House member from
Alexandria. said he was Joined In
his request by Representative
Sasscer, Democrat, of Maryland.
The commission, in the meantime,
issued a formal statement to clarity
the position Of Federal workers in
forthcoming primaries. conventions
and mass meetings in Alexandria,
Arlington and Fairfax. Democrats
in those areas will select delegates
to the party's State Convention In
Richmond June 2.
Considerable Opposition Created.
The convention method of select
ing State delegates in Arlington has
created considerable opposition there
because Federal workers are unable
to participate under the rules adopted
by the County Democratic Commit
tee.
In another development in tho
Virginia political picture, John
Locke Green, Republican treasurer
OF Arlington. assailed his party's
nominee for the Senate. In a letter
to State Republican Chairman Rob-
ert II. Woods, who will oppose Sem
ator Robertson, Democrat, In No.
vember, Mr.. Green asserted that
perhaps it would be feasible for
another Republican to become .
candidate
This limited at reports that Mr..
Green might enter the Senatorial
contest when the political picture
clears after the Democratic State
Convention. When questioned about
reports that his friends may cir
culate a petition in his behalf, Mr..
Green said this was true, but added
that he had not reached a decision
In the matter.
The letter from Representative
Smith to the Civil Service commits.
sion was sent in response to a reso.
luton of the Arlington Democratic
Committee Mr. Mann declared.
Smiths Letter Quoted. . a.
Under the present regn19k fisy's
Mr.. Smith Wrhtesf TedS5al en-
ployes are prohibited from running
for purely local offices on either
the Democratic or Republican tick
cts. '4he present regulations ignore
the realities Of the situation be-
cause voters are. generally divided
into members of either the Demo-
cratic or Republican parties.
Under the regulations, Govern
ment employees, If they desire to
run for purely local office, are pre-
emptorily required to run as indie.
pendent candidates. In other words,
in order to serve their community
in purely local capacity, they are
compelled to divorce themselves
from the political party to which
they belong and incur the penalties
imposed by their respective parties
for irregularity in their party afiili-
ation.'
The Alexandrian said an amend
ment to the Hatch Act by Senator
Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia, Clearly
leaves 1t within the discretion Of
your commission to afford the relief
which am asking and which seems
to me so eminently proper and de-
sirable."
The Civil Service Commission
statement, which was made inde-
pendently Of Mr.. Smiths letter,
pointed to the Arlington convention
plan in which delegates would bs
required to pay a S. filing fee to
vote for delegates to the State con-
vention.
Situation In Alexandria.
"The commission points out" the
statement said, that Federal EN-
ploye could not file such an applica-
ton, or pay the fee, because doing
so would be equivalent to becoming
candidate for appointment as
delegate to q convention or political
party, which is prohibited activity
so far as Federal employees are con-
cerned." ....
The commission said. further,
that Government workers may at
tend the county wide caucus in
Fairfax County to name the State
delegates, but they could not par
ticipate in the caucus beyond vot-
ing: they could not address the
group and could not make or sec
ond a nomination or do anything
beyond merely casting their votes"
In Alexandria, where a primary
election will be held to elect State
convention delegates, Federal work.
ers may vote, but they may not be
candidates, the commission said.
Arthur r. Souther, Arlington
Democrat, who said his wife-a
Federal employees prevented from
taking part in the county conven-
ton, declared the commission state
ment makes it clear that procedure
adopted by the County Democratic
Committee prohibits the participa-
ton of Federal workers.
He will appear before the 9th
District Democratic Committee
Tuesday to appeal the action Of
the Arlington Committee.
Woods Replies to Green
Mr.. Souther declared that he be-
lieved State Senator Charles r. Fem
wick of Arlington, a member OF the
9th District Committee, should dis
qualify himself from participating
in Tuesdays session.
Mr.. Woods said last night that the
ranks of the COP are wide open to
every citizen of Virginia.
Mr.. Woods made his statement In
reply to the letter from MIR. Green.
Mr.. Green charged Mr.. Woods with
trying to make the Republican Party
ayernl nNrnNraftASz