The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-09-19
CIVIL SERVICE AND THE CANTON
POSTOFFICE,
Editor Slark Countu Demooral

Editor Stark County Democrat
A letter from II. d. Shafer, late post
master of Canton, 10 the Repository, con-
firm the statements made in a former let-
ter to you regarding the civil service re.
form, much more completely than the
most ardent lover of Justice and truth
could desire. And Major Mckinley
should know that 1t is not his personal
or official record, nsr Mr.. Saxton's, that
gives interest to this matter. 1t is of a
more important character, showing, as
it does, the fallaCy Of the reform in the
civil service, which those in power un.
dertook to bring about with such -four
i5h of trumpet5, and which it is falsely
claimed they are effecting.
Major MCKinley's vindication in the
Repository is an absurdity. 1t is a denial
ony, and not vindiCation. A man does
not lift himself over the fence by his
own boot straps. The criminal who ri
ses up and says ~ an innocent" is not
told by the Judge to depart in peace. The
only vindication possible must come from
Fl, D. Shafer. Three lines from him
would have availed more than the three
columns in the Repository Mckinley
tried to get them and failed.
The three statements of importance to
this case in my former letter are, that
both the McKinleys had assured Shafer
that he would be retained in Office un-
der Hayes's civil service reform platform.
That the Office was offered to Shafer if
he would pay over 81 900 year, in the
manner specified by McKinley's uncle,
under circumstances that in SO cases out
of hundred would involve MCKinley's
knowledge and consent to the corrupt
bargain; and that Shafer was kicked out
by Mckinley because he refused to pay
the money demanded by his uncle.
The first of these charges is denied by
Mckinley, but the truth thereof will be
fully confirmed to him who seeks testi-
mony in the right quarter. The essen
tial part of the second charge is admit
ted, with little difference of detail over
Mr.. Saxton's signature in the Repository,
and fully corroborated in Shafer's letter,
AS to the third charge, Mckinley takes
upon himself the responsibility for hav.
ing removed Shafer, but he carefully
keeps out of view the fact that he went
to Washington the very day that Shat
er's petition was forwarded to the Post
master General. Did he go there to pro-
mote reform ia the civil serViCeP Does
any one doubt that it was rather to make
sure work, and put out of Office the man
who had refused to pay Saxton 81 900?
He says the Postmaster General asked
him to give his views in relation to the
respective candidates. Such, then, are
the methods of this pure and undefled
Administration Will some ardent sup.
porter of Hayes tell us wherein this diff.
fers from the Corrupting tendencies that
have characterized past administra-
ton? Congressman still have the power
and patronage at their disposal, and the
President is mere figure. head and sign.
er of commissions. Every one knows
that had only the interests of the public
service been at stake, the member of
Congress would not have gone to Wash.
ington; neither would his opinion been
asked for; neither would any change
have been made because man had held
office four or eight years; or because he
was Democrat or Republican, but the
question only of the public good would
have been taken into account.
The letter of the present postmaster
has nothing to do in the case. He fees
when no man pursueth. His and Sax.
ton's letters are desperate attempts to
whitewash Outrageous improprieties in
The conduct of the Representative of
this district. The only regret is that
they succeeded no better. Saxton is will.
ing to go any length to exonerste Nc
Kinley. He says he asked Shaffer for
The $1,000 year for Mr.. Slanker. Now,
this proposition presumed Skaters con-
tinuanCe in Office. Saxton said he and
the Major had been in close Confab the
two previous Sundays" Why did he
mention this at such time. No won.
der that he Impressed" Shaffer that he
spoke by authority
Afterwards, the $1,000 year being re-
fused ,Saxton goes on to admit that he told
5hafer he proposed to make it hot for
him" Why this charge? Had Shafer
done any wrongP No one claims that.
But ha refused to pay the $4,000 asked
for the Office by the uncle of the men,
Der OF Congress. And there we're other
Sunday talks" wherein Shafer was re.
solved out of Office by these apostles OF
No other inference can be ia
Ken from Saxton's own language. After
,hese admissions by Saxton no questions
IF veracity remain between him and
Shafer. Even if it did, it would not help
case particle.
ANDREW j.