The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-11-20
THE WINNER.
An Interview with Gov. Cleveland His
--ttitusIe Toward Civil Service Reform.

THE WINNER
An Interview with Gov. Cleveland His
--ttitude Toward Civil Service Reform.
Edmund Hudson. editor OF the Washington
Capital, has had an interview at Albany with
Gov. Cleveland: In reference TO civii-servloe
Governor that his elect on had been followed
by something like panic among the minor
employees OF the Government at Washington,
who are supposed 10 hold their places In accord
ance with the new civii-servce regulations. and
inquired OF him whether 10 might not be
worth while for hun To indicate n, some way IL
oivii-service would be adhered "a cftcr Ia f.h
of March To this the Governor b.fskly replied
think have said enough on that subject.
IL II In my letter. IL IL IN the platform. There
IL no use trying TO beat brllus into peoples
heads. Let them attend to their business-let
them attend to their business.
lie repeated the words in very decided man
ner and with gesture OF the head that indicated
more than the tone in which he spoke.
MIR. hudson's impressions of the President
elect are thus given:
I'm conversation the Governor speaks with a
good deal of animation, and the strongest i'm
preston one gets from him Is OF great firinness
and force in adhering TO course once 4. IL
adopted. One would say, Here IL man sure
ly who can not be driven. but who viii do the
driving himself whenever 1t he necessary
One might ask good deal of such n man, but
to demand l should think would be losing
business.
ing that they will reach the eve of many who
have been saying and believing that Grover
Cleveland il n weak man, and that he won't
know how TO withstand the pressure that inevi-
tably bears upon the freshly chosen occupant of
the White House. There IL strength and de-
cision in his utterances which would seem to
say that IL any man wanted to.have row with
Cleveland, he could be accommodated immedi-
atcly, and would not be asked TO postpone the
ceremonies until another day. His manner IL
that OF a business man who conducts large
affairs without pretension, without circumlocu-
ton, without unnecessary talk or labor, but
with care and judgment"
A Washington special TO the Chicago Times
SAYS: "A Southern member of the Democratic
National Committee says that in the course OF a
conversation Gov. Cleveland said to him: III
there is any one matter to which have given
my fullest attention. it is TO reform and effcien-
cy in the civil service. When came to Albany
as Governor, found nearly all the departments
full OF clerks whose political predictions
were Republican. The State officials who
came into office with me called upon
me shortly after my accession, and asked
movals from public service for political
sons. One gentleman. whose department is
perhaps the most important at the office, said:
My office il full OF extreme Republicans, ap-
pointed by Gov. Cornell. Now, what am to
do?' replied" said Gov. Cleveland: You are
respon Sible To the people for the good admins
dinates should be selected with great care. and
those you doubtless will appoint from your per-
sonal friends. There can .be no objection to
tons zeal, and ability of your Official force II
a clerk is faithful and competent he should be
retained, no matter what his political predilec-
tons may be. During my term l have dis
charged no employee from the Executive De-
partment for political reasons, and many of
Gov. Cornells personal following are still In the
service OF the State III / am elected President,
said Gov. Cleveland, with emphasis. "the clerks
in the great del artments at Washington who
are mt for their positions will remain in office.
Ability and zeal in the service will be the meas
ure of usefulness. The rules Of 1.-THE civil service
commission will govern all minor appoint
ments.
An Albany special to the Chicago Times says:
The fact that Cleveland had been elected has
been SO tboroug hly established In mems minds
here or the last three days that when the final
announcement came it caused little excitement.
At the State House Gov. Cleveland has been at
tending TO his business as usual, to al appear
ances the least interested Of all around him in
the result, but Col Lamont, his Secretary, has
been constantly in receipt OF kilograms an
nouncing the progress of the canvass. These
results he would from time to time announce to
Gov. Cleveland, who would simply nod his head
in silence and go on with his routine work.
While all around him were anxious and excited,
he showed no sign Of interest in anything save
his duties as Governor of New York
The Executive Chamber in the new Capitol
at Albany is q most commodious and extremely
handsome room. 1t is richly furnished deco
citizens OF New York, and is one of
the sights of Albany were it not that
IL is Gov. Clevelands Office. But now
that it Is daily occupied by the President-elect
of the United States the first Executive elected
by the Democrats in twenty-four years it is
doubly an object of interest. AT a large desk at
the northern end of the room sits Gov. Cleve-
land. His Office hours are from 10 n. IN. TO y.
m, and so far during all the excitement OF the
campaign he has hardly missed minute from mis-
desk. He Is a man about five feet eleven inches
in height weighing $50 pounds, compact and
muscular in build, and, TO all appearances, both
mentally and physically strong. The pictures
OF him shown during the campaign are, in the
main, crrrect likenesses, but they fail to show
the expression of his eyes, which are clear.
bright, and fearless. He is always dressed in
black Prince Albert coat and black pantaloons,
and his sole neck gear is a black silk ribbon. In
manner he is extremely easy and cordial, In
no way arrogant or conceited, has not the slight
est trace of what is vulgarly known as the big
head, and his every appearance Is that
head OF large establishment who has
much to do, but Is yet calm and self-reliant,
under the consciousness OF being thoroughly
competent to perform his work quietly and well,
none of the hesitancy OF a weak or laundering
one. He is entirely free from self assumptions
of any kind, and his manners are those once de-
scribed as being the best because you noticed
no manners at all
Day in and day out his Office is crowded. The
door swings wide open, and all who please can
enter. There is no guard at the entrance, no
fiunkeys around. The Governor IL always dem
ocratic, and as easy OF access as hungry lawyer
anxiously waiting for fee. In and out the
crowds come and go. Some OF the visitors are
his friends come TO see him, most of them
strangers anxious to look upon the next Pres
ident. To all of his acquaintance he has a
greeting and a Misunderstanding, and pleasant
words for any stranger who wishes to speak TO
him. No Introduction is thought necessary.
and the different stations in life of his visitors
seem TO make no difference In the kind of greet
ing given them by the Governor. large part
OF the visitors are women, and they wander
around the room, look at the pictures, admire
the furniture and fittings and constantly glance
curiously at the quiet man working so in