Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-26
HubbelPs Assessment Raid.
REMARKS nv VICTIM

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
While so much is being said through the press
for or against the Hubbell assessment raid a
word from one of the ''covey" may not be with
out interest to many Of your readers. Being
one of those noticed in the general distribution
OF circulars, l feel, before parting with nv
money, that would like to know by what au-
thority it Is demanded of me; the authority,
accountability or responsibility of the parties
making this demand; the specific uses of the
fund, and in whose interest it is to be expended.
how accounted for and to whom.
In ordinary financial transactions a claimant
for money can, by legal process enforce the re-
cOgnitiOn Of his claim and compel it's payment.
if Just.
There is another method of collecting money
when no explanation is made-nO argument or
protest tolerated. This system is much in vogue
in some parts of the west, and is one by which
the James brothers gained celebrity mean the
'stand and deliver" system. In which category
this Hubbell mask belongs those can Judge who
have had their pockets invaded.
III this committee is a self-consttuted one ex-
ercising the authority of terrorism to accumu-
late means to aid individual ambitions the buc-
caneering scheme should be promptly suppressed
by legal measures instituted by the republican
party itself, not only because it is violation of
law-thOugh the law is evaded with criminal
cunning under the farcical sanction of the At
man has constituency in the departments and
well knows that those employees are expected to
and do contribute to the campaign fund in their
respective congressional districts. They also
contribute to each presidential cOmpaign fund,
and pay heavy expenses in attending elections
and clerks, as a general thing. are not Overbur-
dened with cash.
These facts being clearly understood It ap-
pears to me hardship that any individual,
club. or committee should even tacitly be al
lowed to make a demand, that implies threat
upon Government employees for contributions
Of money upon every conceivable Occasion-eyen
for purchasing individual security in the politi-
cal field. Said chairman needs money to defeat
and succeed an ADLER republican from his own
state in the Senate. Louisiana must return its
present incumbent; other states have members
on the anxious bench, for whom the department
clerks must care, and put his family on short ra-
lions for season to make up the
deficiency in his resources. Is this the con-
dltion OF the case9 1t looks very much
like it.
1t seems to me the proper direction for these
circulars to take is into the counting-rooms and
offices OF business communities railroad steam
boat. mining and manufacturing corporations
importers, shippers, contractors and lobbyists,
into the money centers, to individuals affected
financially by political action. or the venality of
the men Of their choice. But would this COM
mittee dare place one Of these circulars before a
republican Of this class? Assuredly not, be-
FAUST tneS KNOW the act would De resented as
offensive and insolent. and the effect would be
to cause the party to crumble like dried clay
under PRESSURE; yet is said class OF men as
deeply interested in party success as the gov
eminent employe. Their gift is voluntary. and
out of the surplus not required by their fami-
lies; the tribute of the government employe is
wrenched from him like labor from a galley
slave-beyond his strength to do. These cir
culars taunt him with his helplessness They
are a tag to remind him of service that is
bondage. They sheer at his manhood and ieer
at his efforts to keep alive his sef-respect They
degrade and make contemplate in his esteem
the service he entered as an honorable one.
They are lash to his flesh, a seal upon his lips
knife at his throat
Like others, as far as my means permit, am
always willing to aid my party In my own state.
and for its national chief But the demand that
l must aid fund to carry on projects know
nothing OF, is one l am not disposed to submit
to without protest. 1t may be that shall suffer
for entertaining these views. But If this COM
mittee is an inquisitiOn, and high government
officials Its executiOners. the fact might as well
be known. There is satisfaction in holding to
ones principles though the threatening knife
may be distinctly seen.
Seeing the faintest chance of success, would
resist highwayman. Seeing a faint glmmer
In my favor in this affair--faith in the man at
the head Of affairs-I shall exercise INV iudg-
ment in the matter. REPUBLICAN CLERK