St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-17
Cleveland and Civil service Refo,m


WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.--The views Of Hon
Dorman B. Eaton, president of the civil
service commission, in regard 10 the prob
able effects of Cleveland and Hendricks
election upon the maintenance of the civil
service law, have beeu obtained by a repre-
sentative of the associated press, aud Sare
given in the following report of the inter
view:
Qucstion.-'You are from New York, Mr.
Commissioner, and know what Gov. Cleye-
land has done there for civil service reform.
Please give the associated press the facts and
your views as to what be Is likely to do rela-
tive to removals and to the civil service act
aud rules"
Mr.. Eaton-These are very delicate cues
tons for one in my position to answer.
have taken no part whatever in the late cam
paign. have not the least right to assume
to speak for Gov. Cleveland OF bis party
Having acted with the Republican party from
its origin, can hardly speak without some
party bias. Nevertheless, will frankly tell
you what think. We shall have an admin
istration absolutely Democratic in policy, but
whether with a mem Der Of the cabinet repre-
senting those without whose votes the Demo-
cratic party would have failed, / will not
guess. But the civil service act Will not be
repealed, either at the coming session
or during this generation. Gov. Cleveland's
party would oppose any attempt to repeal it,
Republicans as a body would resist, and the
senate would defeat such an attempt. The
rules will not be abolished. They will be en-
forced under the new president but not,
fear, with such enlarging breadth OF applica-
ton and such m oral support from the party
in power as would have been the case GER
tainly had President Arthur been reelected
and probably had Mr.. Blaine succeeded. The
disinterestedness and patriotism of the SCUM
try arc not very equally divided between the
great parties, but, in my opinion, my party
has much the larger part of the intelligent
conviction which has thus far supported
civil service reform. Great numbers Of
persons in the Democratic ranks are so pref
udiced and uninformed on the subject that
they will clamor for removals for the sake of
patronage. They do not comprehend that =
party which could only elect its candidate by
the aid of the Republican friends of reform
has no chance if it alienates those friends in
the future, when they are sure to be far more
numerous and powerful than now. They
still believe in the old proscriptive spoils
system, not comprehending that it Is
doomed, and caring more, as do many Re-
publicans also, for a four years. saturnalia of
spoils than foc all the future beyond that
A great struggle in the Democratic ranks
over the issue of reform is, there
fore, certain. The statesmen OF the party,
Bayard, Pendleton, Lamar, Garland, Carlisle
Randall, Cox, Morrison, Tucker, Hewitt,
Willis, and others, each of whom has already
spoken and voted for the civil service act,
will stand by the new president in its sup
port, but many worthy Democrats, and all
the demagogues, spoilsmen and rabble of the
party will be against it. Republicans will
stand together for the act and the rules, an
xiousy waiting for the Democrats to rule
themselves. The president will lead the re-
form element of his party, and his clear con =
, viction, high sense of duty, his courage and
his strength of character viii secure victory
There is no public man in this country who
has higher sense of hts moral obligations
in official life, or who is
more certain 10 NlInSIanu mere partisan
and selfish appeals than Gov. Cleveland.
This is great element of power, and popu-
larity, too, as the people now feel, and lest
my motives be misunderstood let me add
that he has never done me favor and that /
could neither ask nor accept one at his
hands. Many officers outside the rules and
some within win doubtless be removed for no
very good reasons, but, so far as possible,
Gov. Cleveland will prevent mere political
prescription. He cannot attend to every
thing. Much will depend on the members
his cabinet and especially on the postmaster
general. If there are. as is charged, some
officers who have used their influence to en-
orce assessments and neglected their duties
and violated the proprietes of their stations
to engage in party warfare, the fate they
have challenged may very likely await them.
If persons are to be selected for public work
irrespective of politics they had better attend
to that work and not meddle with the cleo
ton.''
Question-"What has Cleveland done in
New York to warrant this estimate Vt hin ~
Answer" Buffalo was a city almost as
partisan, lawless aud badly governed as Gin
cinnati Upon being made sheriff Mr..
Cleveland exhibited those qualities which
are being more and more needed and ap-
precisted BY the people. TAey comprehended