, 1873-08-22
AN uNsEEMLY SCRAMBLE.

Tho scramble for the vacancy in tho Wsrdon-
ship Of tho Slate penitonttary, accustomed by
the death Of Capt. Smith, WAS 1'umiiating, not
to charactcrizo It by any hnrs,or appollation.
Capt. Smith, as will be remembered, was llorri-
bly, mutlatod In tho recent railroad accident, and
tho doctors ut onco decided that ho could not
1.-Two hut q sllort tmo. The newa Of his fate had
hardly roaclod Springfield boforo flvo app1ica-
tionH for his position wore on thoir way
from various parts Of tho State, and
tlioro would undoubtedly havo boon
many moro Ind all sections Of the State enjoyed
tho aamo facilities for getting tho nova. It
would seom as II decent respect for the mourn
ful ollaractor OF tho occasion, and for tho mem
ory Of tho Warden himself, should have kept OF
this hungry puck at least until death had sn-
forced his resignation. On tho other hand,
buzzards never congroFatod moro quickly or por-
tinaoiously about thoir oxpootant prey than
these ot1lco-Hcokors. With no respect for tho
living or tho dying, with no reverence for
the solemn character Of the occasion,
both In Springfield and Chicago, while
tolling, and funeral procesBions were passing
through tho etreotst carrying tho dead to the
ceuetery, those vociferoua and b:awllng hang
ors-on intrudod their private greed and itch for
ofilco upon tho mournful occasion. l. decent
regard for tho oonyentionaltioa Of such ocoh-
sionB should havo made tho small margin Of
ti1no botweon thus life and tho life to come ell
tiroly saorod. Capt. Smith had been faithful
servant to tho State, and while he lived no
ono had right to AK for his Office.
Thore was no necessity for tho immediate APP
pointmont of SUCCESSOR. There WAS no poasi-
bity that tho interests Of tho State would suffer
by tho delay Of fow days, Or that tho affairs Of
the state Penitontiary would DO administered In
any othor than proper manner.
Another reason for poatponing tho application
for Capt. Smiths shoes until after his intormont
would have beon to givo oil hands fair atart.
1t was ovory way unfair for four or five men who
happonod to bo within hailing distance Of Spring.
field and Chicago, and thus becamo aware Of the
circumstances almost rs soon as they tranH'
| pirod, to push in their claims nhoad Of othora
who wero not 30 favorably situated for running
This unseomly scramble for an Office While ite
Incumbent was upon his dcath-bod, suffering
most oxcruciating torturos, is only another proof
Of the dobusing character Of politics upon thoat
| who malo ol1ico-acoking profession. Nothing
is 80 sacred that it can be kept entirely frc,
from, their clutches. No situation can be s,
solemn TINT they will not use 1t it possible Il
/ further their greed. In this particu
| lar instance, their notion was hardly les
shocking to the feelinga Of tho com
munity than tho railroad disaster itself
| Politics have sunk to protty low standars
| when offlce-seokers cannot wait for man to di
who has but day to 1.-Two, md arc '' breaking
| for his situation before doath las removed hin
| from 1t. II Gov. Devoridge had orlerod th'
ravonous crowd to stand buck, and lad adminia
tered public robuke to thom for their unBoeml
importantly, he would havo given exprcBsion
tho sentiment Of tho pooplo, and his actio
would hayo beon applnudod by them.