Evening star., 1951-10-12
Who Is Smeorinq Whom?

1t would have been better if Chairman Ram
speck OF the Civil Service Commission had adopted
his own advice when he prepared his Detroit
speech condemning indiscriminate "smearing'
OF Government employees. In that speech
Mr.. Ramspeck said: Criticism should be spe-
cine, not general" Yet he proceeded to criticize
lntemperate and sometimes hateful criticism"
OF Federal workers without being at ali specific
about what or whom he had in mind
The civil service head was anything but
temperate himself in describing the undesig-
mated smearers. His address was replete with
vague references to the deadly rnalady aff1ict-
ing our country" the "snide sharpshooting,"
"insidiouS indiscriminate criticism" indictment
by generalization and conviction by accusation"
"underhanded tactics" "noxous and pernici-
ouS' disease threatening the Nations self
, destruction" "unScrupulous" attacks by selfish
persons on men in public Office, leaders in
public affairs and Government personnel gen.
erally," vilif1cation of such public servants on
the basis of mere hearsay, vague charges and
testimony of disreputable and discredited per-
sonS," facts "cunningly selected and disSem-
mated by some power-hungry and politically
ambitious individual or organization motivated
by self-serving purpose" mania of self
destruction. "hammering away" Cby "many WELL
meaning and well-intentioned individuals and
~~c~~-~SASS
the story about Federal employees" headline
hunting" and SO ON.
It is taken for granted that Chairman RAM
speck was not directing this barrage of general
izations at the Presidents loyalty program, which
has rid the Government of some unfaithful
employees; or at the securty-risk program, which
Is aimed at unreliable ones; or at the congress
slonal committee reports on overstafing of de-
partments, or at the Hoover Commission, which
found inefdcency and waste in the Federal estab-
lshment; or at recent congressional disclosures
OF widespread corruption in the Internal Revenue
Bureau or at the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tions roundup of Federal employees charged with
stealing Government property at various military
installations
Presumably Mr.. Ramspeck is disturbed by
the amount of publicity which has been given
the series of revelations rejecting on relatively
few public servants. The public at large is
equally disturbed. But there Is no evidence that
all of these incidents add up to smear campaign
tmperiling the destruction of the Nation, as
Mr. RamSpeck suggested. Nor is it WISE in view
OF the substantial facts that have been proved
to date to minimize the seriousness of the
revelations.
Mr.. Ramspeck was entirely right when he
defended the good name of the majority of
Federal workers. Most of them are honest, faith
1ul public servants who are as shocked by recent
disclosures as any element of the citzenry. It is
not without significance that many of the
irregularities which have hit the headlines
involved political appointees, rather than career
members Of the merit system. The rank and file
Of Government employees are not under fire. -Un-
less Mr. Ramspeck can be more specific in his
criticism of the mysterious individuals and
organizations whose attacks on the civil service
are threatening our "self-deStruction," the
suspicion will be justified that he was fitting
with windmis.