The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-09-13
For the Democrat.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM IN CANTON
The Canton Post Office Tom Sax
tons $4,000 Bone.
CONGRESSMAN MCKINLEY PULLS
THE WIRES FOR UNCLE TOM.
Hayes & Co., Come to the Work and
Send Reform to the Devil.

party, but more especially because 1t IS
the party of "Civil Service Reform" Now
for one, ] think the sham character Of
the clai n to be called "Civil Service Re-
formers" by the present Administration
should be exposed. 1t can be done right
here in Canton, where it is no secret,
that the most fragrant outrage upon de-
cency in the conduct of the civil service
has been perpetrated. The chosen Rep-
resentative of the Republican party in
Congress is the leading character in this
illustration.
Many Republicans Of the best personal
and party standing converse without re-
serve about this matter, and from them
are learned the following facts concern
ing tie sale of the Canton Postmaster
ship by Major Mckinley.
The Canton Post Office brings 400
per annum, which includes an allowance
of SO 900 for clerk hire. The price fixed
upon this appointment by the Major was
81 900. The first purchaser to whom it
was offered was II. D. Shafer, the former
postmaster; and the agent for efecting
the sale was T. w. Saxton publisher of
the Repository. Shortly after McKinley's
election be Nick was interviewed by
several candidates for the P, O., including
Mr.. Shafer. The latter received the most
satisfactory assurances from the Major.
Their relations were most cordial, and
both, the Major and his brother Abner,
assured Mr.. Shafer that "they can't fig
ure you out under the civil service
planks
Such was the state of affairs when, a
month or 80 before Mckinley took
his seat in Congress, his uncle, T.
W. saxton asked Shafer for "a private inter
view at the Post Office, At this inter
view he stated to Shafer that il he wonld
nay him 81 900 year, he would be ap'
pointed postmaster for the next four
wears, from March Goth, when his term
expired. He asked Shafer to pay him
500 a quarter, and that his father-in'
law, Mr., Slanker, be paid $500 year fol
such services as he could render. He
assured Shafer that he spoke by author
ity, and said that he, Shafer, might gel
up a respectable petition, or no petition
at all, it would be all right.
Upon being asked how they could
make such demand on him, Saxton said
he had done much work for the Republi'
can party without getting much pay
that he now had the matter in his own
hands. and he was bound to make twin
that Mckinley didn't care damn about
a second term, nor about the money
the honor was all that he wanted, and
that he had already. Mr.. Shafer refused
squarely and Indignantly.
At the close of this interview it was
agreed that it should be kept secret
but Saxton at once commenced cirCula'
ting offensive rumors about Shafer, and
being asked about his conduct by Shafer
informed the latter that che was making
it hotter .han hell for him."
Right after the interview in which the
Congressional patronage was offered tc
SLafer for $1,000 a year, he sought out
the Congressman himself, and told him
, what had passed. Mckinley denied hav'
ing any completely in the matter, but
Mr.. Shafer, estimating his denial at what
, turned out to be its exact worth, de-
manded from Mckinley his petition tc
the President, which he had previously
filed with Mckinley. This petition had
, the signatures of two.tbirds of the bust
pess houses of Canton, and majority o.
the Republicans doing business at the
post.office. Mckinley handed it over
very unwillingly, and from that day on
ward there was no more of the Majors
pleasant, patronizlng airs toward H. D
Shafer.
The latter feeling that he had strong
claim in bis perfect record as postmaster
and that upon the platform laid down by
himselfin his letter ofacceptanCe, Presi.
dent Hayes would almost necessarily re-
tain him in Office, sent his petition tC
Washington the day he got it of McKin'
ley. Upon the same evening Mckinley
took the train for Washington. He had
been on Gen. Hayes's staff in the army
and was on intimate terms with him
Hero, then, was crisis These two men,
: representatives of the Republican party,
in Congress and in the Presidential chair
had the power in their own hands. The
candidate was deserving man, an Off
cial who had been tried, and amply filled
the measure of capacity and fidelity re.
quired by the strictest rules of civil SER
vice reform one-armed soldier who
was known, to at least one of the parties
to be a man of incorruptibility. What
an opportunity for vindicating the pro-
fessions of the Republicans on the stump
and in the National conventionl
The result is we'll known. The man
who refused the bribe was kicked out
turned outlet every man who has the
honor of his country at heart hang his
head in shame, because he spurned the
bribe. Had he consented to pay the
$4,000 demanded of him, he would he
the P. NJ. of Canton to-day, and would
; have greatly improved his financial con.
} dition. The knowledge of these facts has
demoralized their party in Canton. The
late friends of the Major barred him out
from place in their delegation to the
State convention. They are now seek.
ing refuge for their shame in the work.
ingman's party and other organizationsl
!, The old Democracy has bided its time,
and in October the shams and frauds
upon the body polite will be branded
as they deserve by the people, and turn
ed out to grass,