Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-07
HALF-BREED Reform.


The New York postoffice is understood
to be conducted strictly on the basis of
the civil service reform which George
William Curtis and his admirers are try
ing to engraft upon all departments of
the government. A few days ago each en-
ploye received copy of the following:
"NEw YORK, Oct. 80, 1SS1.-DEAR SIR:
The undersigned, having been authorized by
the republican state central committee to re-
celve contributions toward defraying the eX-
penses incident to the present election cam
paign, will be at room No. Ill Astor house on
Monday, 31st instant, from 10 a. m, until 4
p. m, for that purpose. Respectfully yours,
s'HUGH GARDNER"
Since this circular was issued the most
frequent inquiry in the postofice afore-
mentioned has been: "Have you been up
to see Gardner?" Most of the employees
have, and those who have not expect to
step up pretty soon. A reporter called
upon Gardner out of curiosity, and thus
relates what he saw:
Among the first of the victims was one
armed letter carrier, who was wet and down.
cast. He laid his bag on chair, and ap-
preached the august tithe-gatherer tinidly.
Justice Gardner eyed him from head to foot,
and then glanced at the list of employees. The
letter carrier took from his coat pocket copy
of the half breed circular, and delivered few
greenbacks. Judge Gardner took the money,
counted it, and laid it on his table.
''This is not enough" he said gruffly.
"You are assessed at per cent"
s'It is all can spare, sir the poor man
said. 81 an. unable to pay more"
"Then you can keep your money" Justice
Gardner retorted; but he took care to keep his
hand over the geenbacks he had already re-
ceived. Overawed by the manner of the agent
of the state commit 1.-THE carrier planked down
another greenback land Justice Gardner, eagerly
adding it to that already eXtorted, said that
was the proper way to do business. A long
line of men then walked singly before Justice
Gardner. Many of them had evidently been
taught a lesson by the treatment to which
the etter-carrer had been subjected. No
trouble was experienced with those who were
in the room during Justice Gardeners CONVEX
saton with the one-armed emplOye. Every
man as he arrived in front of the collector
took from one of his pockets copy of the
circular, in which had been wrapped the requi-
site amount of money. Occasion
ally a victim protested against the amount
levied, and then he was quietly given to un-
derstand that if he did not desire to pay the
required sum he needn't pay anything, and
the manner in which this Information was
gently conveyed always had the effect OF
b. Ringing forth the additional amount
Now, be it remembered, the New York
postofice is not under stalwart control,
nor has it been for years. Mr.. James in
troduced the reformed service there dur
ing the administration of the sanity
Hayes, and when he went into the Gar
field cabinet, cast his robe of reform upon
the shoulders of his son-in- law, who pro-
fessed the same adherence of machine
politics. that distinguishes all half breeds
The New York postofice and custom
house, ever since the appointment of
James to the former and the bouncing of
Arthur from the latter, have been referred
to by Curtis and the other reformers, as
illustrating in a tangible, practical way,
that it is not impossible to eradicate the
grosser evils of the political system. But on
the first occasion of test the reform plan
fails, or, at least, shows an utter lack of
sincerity in its leading advocates and pro-
moters. The half breeds are now ''run-
ming" or bent on running the state of
New York. An election is at hand and
the candidates are mostly half breeds.
Money for the campaign is wanted, and
the managers proceed to raise it in the
old, familiar way. They not only forget
about reform, but absolutely reveal con-
tempt for it.
There is nothing strange. or, at any rate,
nothing new, in this, or in the fact
which it must impress upon the public
mind. The loudest of reformers are the
worst of hypocrites. Many of the most
conspicuous champions of the cause
merely occupy their sanctimonious atti-
tude the more efectually to hide their
sinister designs. 1t is difficult to distin-
guish the true from the false friends of
really improved political system, and
until this can be done with greater readi-
ness and accuracy the progress towards
genuine reform must necessarily be slow.
KIEFER is playing fine game. He
the raw Scandinavians free,
and endeavors to encourage an increase
of voters by offering them marriage
licenses free during his term. He must
expect to vote the rising generation pref
ty early, or else calculates upon holding
on good while.