The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-06-08
POLITICAL AssEssKEHr.


department, of money, property OF
other things of value and the giving
OF receiving the same for political
| purposes or purity interests. The
penalty provided is Rne of $500.
and the loss of Office. The bill was
undoubtedly called forth by the
following circular which has been
circulated in the departments at
Washington and is being mailed to
government employees in all parts of
the Union.
| HEADQUARTERS REPUBLICAN Cox
GREssIoKAL Committee,
WASHINGTON. May n.
Tbs committee is organized for the
protection of the interests Of the Re
publican party ia each of the congress
sional districts of the Union. In sFder
that it msy prepare, print snd circuiste
suitable documents Illustrating the Issues
which distinguish the Republican from
any other and may meet all proper ex-
peDIes il cidtnt to the campAigu, the
committee feels authorized TO apply to
all citizens whose principles or interests
are involved in the struggle. Under
| tho circumstances in which the
country finds Itself placed the COM
miltee believe that you will esteem it
both privilege and pleasure to make
TO is fund q contribution which it is
hoped may not be less than - dSllars.
The committee is authorized totstAte that
such voluntary contribution from persons
employed in the service of the United
States will not be objected TO in any Off
cial quarter.
The laboFs of the committee will affect
| the result Of the Presidential election in
1884 as well as the congressional struggle,
and il may therefore reasonably hcpe to
have the sympathy and assistance of all
who look with dread upon the possibility
Of the restoration of the democratic party
10 the control of the government.
Please make prompt and favorable re-
sponses to this letter by bank check or
drsit or postal money order, payable to
the order of Jay A. Hubbell acting treas
urer, Pc lock box $50, Washington,
D. G
By order Of the committee.
(SiRnedl D. B. HENDERSON,
Secretary.
There is to be nobody sighted.
The door-l pers of the Senate and
House are assessed $25 each; the
pages are threatened with dismissal
if they refuse to contribute from
their niggardly salaries. Poor treas
ury girls must divide their wages
between widowed mothers and the
republican campaign committee, or
they must search for other employ
ment. This is perhaps the boldest
and most brazen levying of assess
ments for political purposes that
has ever been attempted. It is so
bold as to be more than i'm
pudent. No Official who received
one Of those circulars will fail to
read what is written between the
lines that he must "come forward"
or go. He knows that however ig-
norant he may be of the principles
Of the two parties or their relative
merits, he must help keep the
republicans in power and the
democrats out, or accept the
alternative of being deemed unfit
to hold Office under the govern
ment. There are more than 100. 900
ofice-holders to be assessed in sums
varying from S. to 500. With this
army to not only help fight bat fur
nish the sinews of war, 1t would be
wonderful if the 'ins'' ever became
the "outs." The political workers
who happen to be in have the means
of almost perpetuating their power.
Senator Skaters bill, providing the
party under which this system of
corruption and stealing has grown
into such proportions will pass it,
may accomplish some good. but the
cure lies with the people. If
they submit il silence to this sort
Of thing, and vote for the men who
practice it, any law that can be
framed will have little effect in
checking the evil. 1t is an easy
matter to let an office-holder under
stand that the price of retaining his
position is a fat contribution to a
campaign fund, and it will be easy
enough for that man to give with
out being exposed and turned out
Of Office for giving. The people
must repudiate the men and the
methods by refusing to vote for
them. ORly in that way can this
mOnstrous evil, which makes our
politics and the government itself
corrupt, be overcome. At the same
time it is hoped Mr.. Slater's bill
viii be passed. Some few Of the
scOundrels may be caught and pun
ished by it, and perhaps it will
brighten others into honesty.
The PRESIDENT having selected
and nominated the members of the
tariff commission Tro nav IoOl1 fo,-