The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-07-24
Assess the Army for Fosters Benefit.

Assess the Army for Fosters. Benefit.
Under the protection of Mr.. Hayes
and his fraudulent Cabinet, the Repub-
ican strikers are levying tax upon the
department clerks at Washington for
money to be used in Fosters campaign
in Ohio. H
We are informed on credible author
ity that already more than $4,000 has
been raised in the departments for this
purpose. But $4,000 is not enough.
At least five times thst sum is needed
and expected from Washington by Mr..
Foster. The tax on the assistant au-
ditors, clerks, doorkeepers, messengers,
janitors, copyists and foor-scrubbers,
has, therefore, been apportioned on a
basis of something like 100000.
Very few of the officeholders who
are approached and requested to con-
tribute to the Foster fund feel lively
interest in the political fortunes Of the
beneficiary. The majority of them, it is
safe to assume, do not care a copper
how Ohio goes provided they are al
lowed to remain in their little offices
and draw their salaries in peace. Even
the clerks who hail from Ohio would
prefer to keep their money for their
family expenses, or to provide innocent
summer amusement for themselves and
their wives and children. But they
dare not send away the collector empty
handed. They know that the request
for " voluntary contributions" is de-
mand which they cannot afford to re-
fuse. They have plainly been given to
understand that the demand is backed
by all the power of the fraudulent adj
ministration, and that that power will
be pitilessly employed. They submit
to the blackmail because they know
this.
The remarkable thing about the as
sessment is that no attempt is made by
Mr.. Hayes and his Secretaries to con-
ceal, excuse, or palliate the outrage. The
robbery of the clerks proceeds openly, in
the face and eyes of the whole country.
Yet it is only two years since the follow
ing letter announced Mr.. Hayes deter
mination to reform the civil service:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON. June %, 1877.
SR-I destre ID call your attention to the fol-
lowing paragraph in a letter addressed by me
| to the Secretary of the Treasury on the conduct
to be observed by officers of the General Gov
ernment in relation to the elections:
No officer shall be required or permitted to
take part in the management of political or
carnations, caucuses, conventions, or election
campaigns. Their right to vote and express
| their views on public questions, either orally
or through the press, is not denied, provided it
does not interfere with their official duties. No
assessment for political purposes on officers or
subordinates should be allowed.
This rule is applicable to every department
of the civil service 1t should be understood
by every officer of the General Government
that he is expected to conform his conduct to
its requirements. Very respectfully,
R. 3. HAYES
The sham, the cowardly hypocrisy of
that order, and of all the snuffiing pro-
fessions that accompanied it, were loog
ago exposed. It is too late in the day
to waste words over it.
In the interest of the civil service
clerks who are to be forced to supply
campaign-fundsf for Mr. Charles Foster,
we desire to make suggestion to the
managers of that candidates cause.
The issue made in the platform on
which Foster stands is the old issue OF
the bloody shirt. Mr.. Fosters cam
paign is to be an aggressive war upon
the late Confederate States of America
OF course Foster was deeply concerned
in the fate of the Union, during the
period between 1861 and 1855, al
though the exacting requirersents Of
trade kept him away from the scene o
actual hostiities. Now that hs 10 about