The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-02-13
Civil Service Reform.

!,
bill, and triumphed from the Lakes tc
the Gulf, from the Atlantic to the Pa
ci6c.
;. In Ohio the endorsement was emphatic
and we won easily.
In Michigan ,be Democ, attic platform
contained this plank:
1--WE also demand that Federal snhor'
dinate offircrs shall no, he appointed ol
removed because of political belief, ror
appointed until their ability and merit
have teen proved by open, public exam.
inatior and competition; and that polit.
cal as sessmen OF forced contributions
frcm public officers sbopld be made felo.
ny by law"
But the demand for Civil Service Re-
form did not stop there, some Demo,
cratic State Conventions Bot only de.
mar ded reform, hut they endorsed the
Fendlcton bill 5y name, as for instance
the folio wing from The New Hampshire
State platform:
I'VE demand complete reform of the
civil service, as contemplated by the Pen
dletoR bW, or any measure that ,oiu dc.
complish The same result
The Democratic Convention of Mas
sachusetts declared:
"Wefavor the principles of the Fendle
ton bill in regard to appointments in the
CiUi Service, and the WILLIS bill in re.
gard to assessment OF Federal Office
holders"
The State Convention of California,
where the Democrats made a clean
sweep, endorsed the PENDLE1oN bill by
name
Outside of the State platforms the
Civil Service Reform aud the PENDLE-
TON bill were made direct issue in some
States and in many Congressional Dis.
tricts.
GROVER CLEVELAND, Democratic can
didate for Governor Of New York, said
in letter dated October %, 1882 prior
to the election:
81 have no hesitation In saying that
fully approve OF the principles embodied
in the Pendieton bill relating to the sub
ject (Civil Service Reform J, and that
Should be glad 10 aid in any practical
legislation which would give them a
plsce in the management of the affairs
Of the State snd municipalities, so far as
they can be made applicable thereto"
Our readers will no doult remember
that be was elected by nearly 200, 900
msjority.
Or the Democratic candidates for
Congress in New York, nearly. and per.
baps all announced themselves in favor
of the PENDLEToN bill.
Tie DEM cratic candidate for Con.
gressman-at-large in New York, H. ":
SLocUM, wrote under date Of Oct )ber
20, 1889:
/ am In sympathy with the objects
sought to be accomplished by the Civil
Service Reform Association, and, elect.
ed TO Congress, ! shall support any
proper measure tending to reform the
method of selecting Federal officers in
.he Civil Service, and shall favor any
easale calculated to prevent the prac-
tice of assessing the agents of the gov
e nment for the benefit of political
party."
Among The Democrats elected from
Pennsylvania we find letters from W. A
DUNCAN, who savs: AZ will support the
PENDLEToN hill II afforded the privilege, ~
and from JOHN B STORM, who says
III elected TO Congress | will support
the PENDLEroN bill We do not know
whether The question was submitted to
SAMUEL ]. RANDALL or not. He was
not present when The bill was passed by
this Congress, but he took occasion a.
terward to snnounce that il be had been
present he would have vote for the bill
IB California each Democratic cand:-
date for Congress before the election
pledged himselfn elected to support The
Pend;cton bill, and the Ecmocrocu made
a clean s,ceep, eleetinq cvery Congress
man
In Connecticut the Democratic can.
didates pledged themselves to support
the PENDLEToN bill. and the Democracy
at the election reversed the representa-
,ion from that State. In the presen
Congress it is represented by three Re
publicans and one Democra', while il
the next ii will be represented by three
Democrats and one Republican.
In III assachusetts the hill was made .
distinct issue in several districts anC
candidates elected who we're pledged t
support the bill. In the Fifth Distric
the issue was made direct between S. Z
Bowman, Republican, who opposed th'
bill, and LEOPOLD MORSE, Democrat
who favored the bill, and MORSE wa'
elected by over 1900 majority. In 1885,
the District gave $500 Republican ma
jority.
Titles to Military Lands In Ohio.
! WASHINGTON Feb. 6.-First Comp
troller of the Treasury Lawrence who il
known to be thoroughly acquainted Will
the situation in regard to the Virgins
military land titles in Ohio. was asked
to-day what effect tbs decision of thu
Secretary Of the Interior, in Jere Hall
case, had upon the rest OF the lands