The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-09-19
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM IN CAN
TON.

The Canton POstOflce Tom SaXtOn's $4,000 BOnt
-COngressman Mckinley Pulls the Wires fol
Uncle TOm-Hayes Co., Come Up to the WOrl
and Send Reform to the Devil.
Editor of the Stark County Democrat
The Republican pnrty is now begging the
people to support it and keepit in power
because it is the only original Unior
party, but more especially because it il
the party of civil service reform" Now
for one l think the sham character Of
the claim 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 deCency
in the conduct of the civil service has
been perpetrated.
The chosen Representative of the Re-
publican party in Congress is the leading
character in this illustration of reform u
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 the sale of the Canton Postmaster
ship by Major Mckinley.
The Canton postoffiCe brings S4 700 per
annum, which includes So 600 for clerk
hire. The price fixed upon this appoint
ment by the Major was 81 00O The first
purchaser to whom it was offered was
H. D. Shafer, the former postmaster;
and the agent for effecting the sale was
7. w. Saxton, editor of the Repository
Shortly after McKinley's election he
was interviewed by several candidates
for the P. o., including Mr.. Shafer. The
latter received the most satisfactory as
surances from the Major; their relations
were most cordial, and both the Major
and his brother Abner assured Mr.. Shat
fer, that "they can't figure you out under
the civil service plank"
Such was the state OF affairs when,
month or 80 before Mckinley took his
seat in Congress, his uncle, 7. W. Saxton,
asked Shafer for private interview at
the postoffice. At this interview he sta.
ted to Shafer, that if he would pay him
ST 900 a year he would be appointed
postmaster for the next four years, from
March Goth, when his term expired. He
asked Shafer to pay him 500 each quar-.
ter, and that his father.ln-law, Mr.. SLAM
ker, be paid 5000 year for such services
as he could render. He assured Shafer
he spoke by authority, and that he
might get up small, respectable petit
tion or no petition at all, it would be all
right. Before being asked how they
could make such demand of him, Sax.
ton saiC he had done much work for the
party without getting much
pay, that now he had the matter in lis
own hands, and he was bound to make
it win; that Mckinley didn't care damn
about a second term, the honor was all he
and that he lad already. Mr..
Shafer refused squarely and indignant
ly. At the close of this interview it was
agreed that it should be kept quiet, but |
Saxton at once commenced circulating
offensive rumors about Shafer, and be- |
ing asked about his conduct by Shafer,
Saxton informed him that he was max
ing it hotter than hell for him"
Right after the interview at which the |
patronage was offered to
5hafer for $1,000 a year, he sought out
The Congressman himself, and told him
what had passed. Mckinley denied |
having any completely in the matter, but
Shaffer, estimating his denial at what
turned out to be its exact worth, de- |
manded from Mckinley his petition to
he President, which he had previously |
fled with Mckinley. This petition had |
The signatures of J of the business hous.
es of Canton, and majority of the
doing business at the post.
office. Mckinley handed it over very
and from that day onward |
here was no more of the Majors pleas.
,Dt, patronizing airs toward II. D. Shat
Ter.
The latter, feeling that he had strong
claim in his perfect record as postmaster,
and that upon the platform laid down by |
himself in his letter Of acceptance Presi
dent Hayes would almost necessarily re.
tain him in office, sent his petition to |
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. |
uST6, Luouy Who d Cllolos AuOeO lWO uOut
representative of the Republican party, |
in Congress and in the Presidential |
chair, had the power in their own hands
The candidate was a deserving man, an |
official who had been tried, and amply |
illed the measure of capacity and fidel |
ty required by the strictest rules Of civil |
service reform; a one-srmed soldier, who |
was known, at least to one Of the parties,
10 be a man of incorruptibility. What |
IN opportunity fol- vindicating the pro-
LESSONS OF the Republicans on the stump |
and in the National convention.
The result is well known. The man
who refused the bribe was kicked out
-urned out. Let every man who has the |
honor of his country at heart hang bis |
head in shame-becallse he spurned the !
Dribe! Had he consented to pay the 81 |
700 demanded of him he would be the
P. NJ. of Canton o.day, and would have
greatly improved his financial condition.
The knowledge Of these facts has demor'
llized their party in Canton. The late
fiends Of the Major barred him out Of
/ place in their delegation to the State |
They are now seeking ref
lge for their shame in the working