The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-09-15
Bleeding the Boys.
How the Hopeless Republicans are Rachng
the Poor Government Clerks.

the Cleveland PtG1n Oe2tef makes
this interesting report
The Republicans are TriDglng every
dollar out of the Government employees
that it is possible to get 10 order to
obtain the cash that is needful in this
campaign. They are not stopping
with the clerks, but are wringlng as
sessments from every person who IN
any way receives money from the Gov
ernment. Secretary McPherson's man
was even going around among the
soldiers who are stationed here with
his little book, but the officers heard
of it and promptly fred him out. The
= clerks are bled mercilessly. One Of
them said to-day that there never
before had been so burdensome tax
put on them for political purposes.
ssWby," said he, ''it amounts to rob,
berry. I have only my salary Of 81, 200
year, ogt of which l have to pa7
rent and keep NY family. l have al
ready paid three assessments. l was
assessed two per cent. early in the
campaign by McPherson's committee.
Then afterward I was called on for
another two per cent. for the national
committee. Now Mcpherson sends
around the hat for another two per
cent. That makes six per cent. Of
nv salary, or s72, that I have paid
into the political pool. But that isn't
all. I'm from Maine, and the State
Committee have sent down here twice
to assess US. I've paid $50 into that
fund. Then, whenever there is a
meeting or anything of that sort here,
We have to pay for it. The ratifca-
tion meeting the other night was
paid for By the clerks. I had to shell
out $40 for that. Then there are
other calls on US almost constantly.
Altogether I've paid at least $3.50 for
campaign purposes SO far and it is a
good ways to the election yet. and the
howl for more money is louder than
ever every day."
ssWhat becomes Of the money ?'
20, I don't know. It goes 20 pay
campaign expenses I suppose. That
is, the most of it does. It sticks to
the pockets of a good many people
that have the handling Of it, too.
There's good many politicians who
make good living out of campaigns. ="
"Why are the assessments SO heavy
this year?'
aMore money is needed. There are
more places to put it. There is
bigger list of doubtful States and
the emergency is greater. You see
this is the first time the Republicans
have had to fight for their lives IN
Maine as we'll as Indiana"
"Do any of the clerks suffer by
these exactions of money"
s:Mapy of them do. It's shameful,
TOO. I know many who can't pay their
rent and who are in actual need offood
and clothing. It's terrible hard
thing for man with family to take
money that ought to be used in pro-
viding for them and pay it into a
campaign fund"
sBut you are not obliged to pay,
you know =
"Wen, # you were clerk you'd
mighty soon fin out. We all under
stand that it is a contribution, Of
course, but We understand well
enough, too, that we've got to pay it.
The man who refuses to come down
with his assessment will get his walk
ing papers before he knows what he
is about. We've got to grin and bear
it. and that's all there is about it."
He WAS coNFIDING.
An officer of the Post-oGce Depart
meDt, it seems, walked up the wrong
passenger. The Buffalo Courier mar
rates as follows:
A well-known Buffalo merchant
who has just returned from business
tour through the West, relates an H.
cident of his journey which is not
without political interest. On the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, between
Mansfield and Toledo, this gentleman
made the acquaintance Of an official Of
the Post-offce Department who had
come from Washington Oh an official
mission and was travelling with young
Dir. Hayes, the Presidents son. The
official, taking it for granted for some
reason that our friend was a Republi-
can-which he isn't by any means
became quite confidential as to the
political situation, and the Buffalo
man encouraged him to 60 on with
his revelations. The purport of these
was that in oGce-holding circles at
Washington the belief was steadily
gaining ground that Hancock is going
to be elected; that discouraging news
had been received from Indiana, while
the hope of carrying New York had
been virtually abandoned; that Mr..
Garfield was not considered as strong
in Ohio now as was Mr. Hayes in
1876, and that, in fine, the prospect Of
electing the former was conceded,
away inside, to be decidedly slim.
The expectation of HancOck's success
was so strong, the official further IN
tinated, that nearly half the employees
in his (the post-of6ce) department
had declined to pay their party as
sessments. A good deal more to the
same effect was poured into our Bufa-
lo friends ear and he parted COM
pany with his informant convinced
that he had been afforded genuine
glimpse Of the true inWarduess Of