Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-10-31
Doctors Disagreeing.

Inc DOCTOR OF tue MILWAUKEE, Nent1.
net, and the doctor of the Chicago
Tribune seem to be greatly at variance
as to the Interpretation to be given the
Presidents order concerning federal
Office holders and the part they may
take In the management of political af-
fairs. Both of these papers are ardent
"reformers" and go the entire swine
on the Presidents Southern policy, as
we'll as that of civil service. They be-
lieve implicitly in the wisdom of every
measure adopted by the President
having for its object the re-establish-
ment of fraternal relations between the
North and South, and the elevation
and improvement of our politics. But
the Chicago Tribune has taken the
back track recently upon the latter
proposition, and IS not so much opposed
as it was once to federal officials lend
ing helping hand In electing the par
ty candidates. It has been bowling
for months that under the President s
order these Office holders were to stand
aloof- neither participating In the
primary meetings of the party, nor
meddling in the least with nominations
after they were once made-and leav-
ing to the people the exclusive right
to name the candidates and manage
political campaigns. Office holders,
according to the Tribune, had no re-
sponsibility or privilege in the matter
except to vote, and in this they were
limited to its enjoyment only upon oc-
casions when it did 'not interfere with
the discharge Of their official duties. !"
But recently-and notably since the
Ohio election, when the Tribune heard
something drop-that paper has taken
a new tack and now boldly strikes out
upon different ground. It regards the
Presidents order as milder document
than it once claimed it to be, and in
sists that the construction which has
heretofore been put upon it is forced
and unnatural. It says:
There is nothing in that order that
prevents Office holders from taking part
In campaign after a convention has
nominated candidates and ticket is in
the field. 1t was only imperative on
one point, namely, that federal Office
holders shall not pack conventions or
dictate candidates on state, county, and
city tickets. There was nothing in it
that bebarred an Office holder from
taking part in campaign or doing
anything Legitimate in advancing the
success of regularly nominated candi-
dates.
Now, we are at loss to see how the
Tribune can arrive at any such conclu-
sion as here given, and We quite agree
with the Milwaukee Sentinel that the
Tribune "does not know in the least
what it is talking about" The follow
ing extract from the order spoken OF
will suffice to show the error into
which the Tribune has fallen:
"No officer should be required or
permitted to take part in political or
CARNATIONS, caucuses, conventions or
election campaigns.
In view of this, the Sentinel is On.
tirely correct in saying the officer
IS just as much prohibited from taking
part in election campaigns as he is in
saucuses and conventions" and it is
fully justified in administering to the
Tribune rebuke for weakening in its
pretended support of the President. and
its misrepresentation of facts to excuse
Its backing down.
The Sentiners appreciation of the
Presidents order is unequivocal, yet
one feature is lacking to command the
full measure of that papers assent. 1t
has such hatred of Office holders that
1t begrudges them the one poor boon of
which they have not been deprived, to
Wit, the right to vote the Republican
ticket. II the Sentinel could hare it's
way, it would modify the terms of the
order to embrace this provision, as we'll
as the one already there that Office