Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-26
NR. FLICK-s big SECRET

United States District Attorney
FLICK, who, as a Federal office-holder
and resident of this State, is fairly re-
garded both as a representative Of the
National Republican party and of the
Republican party of West Virginia, was
present at the Republican Congressional
Convention at Fairmont on Thursday
last.
II is not strange that so important and
conspicuous a person, officially and
physically considered, as Mr.. FLICK,
being present in Republican Conven-
ton, should be called upon to speak.
The fact that Mr.. FLICK was called
upon to speak in that body is not so sig
nificant as what Mr.. FLICK had to say
when he did speak.
Being a frank man, Mr.. FLICK pro-
ceeded to tell his brethren what he
termed a "big secret" The lnteIligen-
Ger reports him as having "'made some
very pertinent remarks on the situa-
ton, and closed by saying he had a big
secret to tell, which WAS that for the
next one hundred years the administra-
ton of the National Government would
be controlled by the Republican party"
The majority of readers might con-
strue this announcement to be one of
Mr.. FLICK'S jokes.
But the fact is that Mr.. FLICK'S "big
secret" but voices the purpose and the
policy Of the party for which he speaks
and of which he is the acknowledged
representative in this State. 1t is in
the nature of an official declaration.
The "big secret is rather startling
announcement when We cOntider the
means and methods by which the Re
pt blican party has determined to perpet-
uate its control of the government "fOr
the next one hundred years.
1t has already raised a million Of do
lars, from those in office to buy the con-
troll of the next Congress.
It has deliberately determined, and is
as deliberately pursuing the policy o:
the perpetual control announced by Mr..
FLICK, by means of money-of the
money which 1t derives from office
holders, contributed not by one party,
but by Democrats and Republicans
alike.
1t will the next Congress. 1t will
buy the next Presidency. 1t will buy
an hundred years lease Of power with
the pap and plumber it derives from it,
if the masses of the people remain qui-
escent.
As evidence of the systematic and in
suitable demand for money with which
to carry out the policy limited at by Mr..
FLICK, We call special attention to the
following editorial article from the New
York Times of Thursday last, which,
although leading Republican newspa-
per, is becoming alarmed at the unScru-
pulous and unprecedented prostitution
of the purposes of the government to
personal and party ends
nc tNlutllCt VI dNkANN SUI pun aNN'ANCN
to the Hubbell committee in the executive
departments at Washington is too strong to
leave any room for doubt. The COMMITTEES
is obviously supplied with complete lists Of
employees. corrected to date, and its agents
are allowed free course in the department
buildings Yesterday visits were male to
the War and Navy Departments, and the
clerks connected with a service which, in
its active portion, is modelled on sound
principles, were made to pay tribute
to the politicians. Nothing could il
lustrate better than this the singular
usurpatton which the Congress, through
the prostitution Of the civil service. has
been able 10 achieve. Ii is because the
hand Of the Congressman is on the springs
of appointment promotion, or dismissal
that the committees messengers are per-
mitted to roam through the departments
seeking whom they may strike. 1t is the
members of Congress, and not the heads of
bureaus or the heads Of Departmental or even
the President himself, who are the real
superiors and whose mandates must be
obeyed. And the power thus usurped and
50 shamefully abused is used to perpetuate
the influence of those who have seized it.
The spectacle now presented at Washington
is that of a committee of Congressman
drawing an election fund for Congressmen's
campaign expenses directly from the pub
lie treasury. Such 4 combination OF usur-
Ia,ion, petty despotism, and corruption is
enough to make the founders Of the gov
eminent turn in their graves. Imagine
James Madison in the role of Jay Hubbell."
Is not this veridcation of Mr.. Flicks
..biC secret 90