New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-12
TIE SAME OLD STORY.

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR Seeing by your columns that commune
cations the political situation of different sections OF
the country constantly reaching you, We thought
that a statement OF affairs they this Island,
the most southern portion Of land in this Union might
not prove altogether embarrassing to your readers
The population OF Key West ia about 1000, 1900 OF
whom orr gnaliy came from the Bahama Islands. The
remainder consists OF 1900 Cuban refugees settled here
since outbreak of the struggle for independence in
Cuba and about the same number of coored persons.
There about 1900 registered voters in this place,
nearly equally divided between the entire Republican
and Democratic parties, the latter obtaining majority
of four two years ago, ina municipal election. The
united Republican vote would now DO in the ascendency
as il has since that time recsyed accessons; but the
party is separated into two wings owing to precisely
the same general and circumstances that caused
the split In Missouri, and which has subsequently be-
come general throughout the land, and with these
causes nearly every one at the present time is
thoroughly cOnversant.
I'VE propose TO enumerae some OF the special causes
of the division this place the of this article
There are about registered Cuban voters all of whom
will support Horace Greeley also $50 cOored voters, OF
whom at present about onehalf in favor OF the Gin
cnnatl nomination; the other half under the nnu
ence OF carpetbaggers and ocehoders. There l2j
white voters, not Cubans, lis Of whom are Liberal Re-
puDncaus ana feildinlnB ~ bId1l
whom we will name, giving their offices and plainly
showing why they are for ofice-holders and Office
seekers candidate:
james W. Locke, U. s. District Judge State Senator,
County Superintendent o. Common Schools. &c. L. J..
Ware Postmaster editor OF The Key West Dispatch, an
Administration organ, Chairman County Executive
Committee OF the Osborne Cheney Wing; Geo. ID. Allen,
U. 5. Marshal; Benz. H. Kerr, U. 3. DeputyMarshal;
f. N Wickers u :. Treasury Agent; +. o. Locke, Clerk
L. g District Court, U. g. Commissioner Principal OF
Common School, and three four more aspirants TO
office. These subOrdinates Of the Osborn,
CheneYCarpetB Bag Ring, which has ruined this State,
having increased Its debt TO s5,Oo)00O. Nearly all
these men here during the wal, as army followers
clerks. suffers, &c.
The great carpetbag politician and Chief Jas. W.
Locke. came here civilian, captains or paynas-
ters clerk in the navy aud before his appointment
Judge kept sponge store, Clerk OF the u. s. Dis
rict Court u s. Commissioner, State Senator, Probate
and County Judge County superintendent Of Common
Schools Chairman County Executive Committee, prae.
law mercantile agent for business houses in
the North owned wreckng and sponge craft. made an
attempt with Others obtain control Of tho Custom
house here and last year candidate for the Mayor
atty of this city, bringing his name out several days
after the adoption by the majority Of the party OF
other candidate or the best and oldest Republicans
in the State This is one Of the causes Of the split
Since receiving the United States Judgesbip he still
tive and judicial position at and the time F.
n wickefs of Lockport, n. Y. not even registered
voter of this county and not known by 90 people in the
State OF Florida. though olceholder was sent from
this the RenOmnating Convention at Philadel
pa TO vote for Grant the choice Of the people Of this
state when he citizen Of tand $50 voters
against Outrage and insult against 90 votes
(some were cast for him by mistake the persons
ing believing him to have been Harry vickers. coOred
NAM that he claims to have received at meeting
This is another for the split
Locke United States Judge, appointed his brother
clerk of said United States District Court whose salary
m some depends the amount Of salvage de-
creed by said Judge, and while presiding the bench
regularly licensed wreckins vessel licensed by said
Court the schooner Pelican, owned by HIM Judge
Locked libeant for salvage in the Of the ship
St. James, from which she delivered at this port two
cargoes OF railroad IRON Hes principal stockholder
In The Key West Dispatch the Grant paper here, and
contrary 20 custom and propriety, is, not
wthstandlng his judicial position. an active politician
such men these instituted system OF dragOoning
ana coercion In order TO promote their own ambitious
designs, which had become mtoerabe TO the great ma
iority here and although the majority, yet to such
extent has personalism and cesarism raned from the
great source at Washington even down to this little
and maintain them except through the brute force of
superior numbers, which, being peaceabdlng and order
loving citizens we were not disposed This
pubican oppression became intolerable that with
drew forming Independent organization, embracing
ali the wealth, respectablliv Intelligence, and moral
worth OF the party here known as the Key West Re
publican Association. Hente called boilers,
soreheads, &c.
All the Democrats here IN favor Of Horace Greeley
and Gratz Brown but the clrpetbag Legislature has
DISTINGUISHED the people OF this State in the Presidential
election. We have attempted TO convey q meager out
line Of political status. Much more might be said
for our rights the nallenabe rights OF freemen and
citizens OF this great Republican representative
government, have been Ignored and trampled down.
Some who In the dark night OF the nations
distress, by land and sea, did their little all bat
ting TO maintain the perpeunty OF the institutions
founded and handed down 10 Us by our fathers have
been senced when essayed TO raise our voices and
perform duties patriots We respectfully request
that our grievances may be made known through the
medium OF your columns. IL be urged against this
article that IL Ii too personal In Its tenor but the facts
are palpable and evident TRUE REPUBLICANS
hey Hea, July 8, 1879.