The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-06-13
THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE MATTER

As Il will be noticed from the dispatches,
the Delegates from Montana recommended
and James ii. Mills was appointed member
of the Republican National Committee. As
by resolution unanimously passed In the
Bozeman Convention, they were instructed
to recommend M. A. Meyendorff, ESQ.,, for
that position, 1t is due all parties concerned
that the facts be stated. There is no doubt
whatever Delegates Sanders and Mantle
would have recommended Mr.. Mcyendorff
and secured his appointment had 1t not been
held by the National Committee that no
federal officer was eligible to the position.
That decision was under the following act
of Jan. 10, 1888:
SEC. 2.-That no Senator, Representative,
or Delegate-elect, or any officer or employee
of either of said Houses, and no Executive,
Judicial, Military or Naval Officer Of the
United States, and no clerk or employee of
auy department, branch or bureau OF the
Executive, Judicial, Military or Naval SER
vice Of the United States shall, directly or
Indirectly, solicit or receive, or be In any
many concerned in soliciting or receiving
any assessment, subscription or contribution
for any political purpose whatever, from any
person, clerk or employee of the United
States, or any department, branch or bureau
thereof, or from any person receiving any
salary or compensation from moneys derived
from the treasury Of the United States.
The question came up, we believe, on Mr..
Pride, of Idaho, being named member OF
the National Committee, but as he was a
federal officer, he telegraphed his friend,
Eugene Hale, to know IL he was eligible,
and received a response that under the law
he was not. meeting oftbe Congressional
Committee was held in Washington May 20,
1854, for consideration of the question, and
1t was unanimously agreed TO recommend
to the National Convention to make pro-
vision that no federal officer should be q
member of the National Committee. In
the Convention Col. Sanders, Of Montana
offered an amendment to Rule 10 as follows
Amendment to Rule No. 10.--Provided,
thai no person shall be q member Of the
Committee who is not eligible as q member
of the Electoral College. [Applause.l
Senator Hoar made the following explana.
tion of the rule:
"Mr. President, the gentleman from Mon.
tana asked me to explain for the Information
of the convention the law passed by Con.
gress year ago, commonly known as the
Civil Service act. II was not the purpose Of
that law to prohibit any Federal officer from
exercising all the rights Of an American
citizen. 1t Is expected that he may con-
| tribute of his service or Of his money to the
| cause of the political party to which he be
| longs as he would 10 the cause of his church
| or to any religious or humane enterprise
| That the law was enacted to prohibit the
exercise of official power over men in off
cial places. and to that end the provision, q
most stringent provision, has been enacted
that no person holding Federal office, shall
directly or Indirectly receive or solicit con
tribution of money from any other person
holding such Office. Now, II Federal Off
Ger, whatever that Office may be, wheths
member Of Congress or Executive or judica
officer, be q member of the National Com
mttee, IL will clearly be an offence which
will subject him to imprisonment and fine ]
that committee either by itself or by III
treasury shall receive o contribution Of mon
ey from any other Federal officer. BY placing
upon the National Committee, therefore,
gentleman holding such Office you have pro
hibited every one Of your fellow-citizen
| In the service Of the Government from aid
ing In this campaign by q contribution o
money, and suppose 1t was the purpose o
| the gentleman from Montena to have tina
clearly understood by the convention In call
insupon me to say what have. No person
holding Federal Office under the Constitu'
ton Of the United States can be msmbe,
of the Electoral College,"
The amendment was carried, and all tn
appointments we're subsequently made II
accordance Herewith. The necessity for !
under the law was imperative. In thanking
the delegates for their selection it is but fai
to say the appointes did not solicit the pre-
ferment, and the fact that It was made o
~ 49, ~.--. -..~ii,i1r- s,nAoiint al i-~N~'
knowledge Of all facts, gives the deed era
ciousness that elicits the gratitude of tb'
/ rariniaut