Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-18
REFORM MEN AND MEASURES.
senator Pendieton Talks About the Demo-
cratic Candidates.

senator Pendieton Talks About the Demo-
cratic Candidates.
A Washington telegram says: Senator
Pendleton, who has Just returned from the
Chicago Convention. was seen 40 his resi-
dence tonight by an Associated Press re-
porter and asked 10 express his opinion on
The Convention, its nominations, and its
declarations on the question OF civil-service
reform.
He said Of the Convention that /. was the
finest body OF men he ever saw; that II
conducted It's business with gravity and
with great eaTnestness. ana thorough APP
probation OF the importance OF the work
II had 10 do. OF the nominations he said d:
81 think they are excellent. have not
the pleasure OF knowing Governor Cleye-
land, but he has given New York clean
and wise and honest administration. As
far as understood New York politics II
has been an adm inistration in favor o! re-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS reform, ciyil-Service
reform, and tariff reform. His nomination
Is platform Of Itself. because his acts have
shown even more strongly than professions
that he Is in favor OF the best reform. The
position OF Governor Hendricks on these
questions has always been right. His
speeches in 1872, his letter in 1876, his late
controversy with Secretary Chandler, show
him 10 be on the right side Of these ques-
lions. He Is an experienced statesman, and
is not likely 10 make mistake upon any
question that interests the people,"
With respect TO the declaration Of the
Convention In ITS platform in favor OF an
honest reform Of the civil service, Senator
Pendeton said that that declaration was
satisfactory TO the ciyil-service. re'ormers,
and that the nominations were alike salts
factory 10 them. He said that both Cleve-
land and Hendricks were strongly COM
mitted to the reform of the civil service,
and asked: ''Who could desire more abso-
Lutte committal 10 the doctrines OF reform
than the acts Of Governor Cleveland and
the declarations OF Governor HendrickST'
Continuing. he said: e. Let me read you
what Governor Hendricks said as long ago
as 1872 At the meeting in Indian
apolis III July Of that year TO raiify
the nomination Of MIR. Greeley, he
SAID: "GOvernor Morton thinks we
do not know what civil-service re-
form means. He will find that we under
stand II. and that the people, without re-
spoet 10 party differences. understand it,
and that they will have the reform. The
plainest mind, II honest, easily compre-
bends II. II means that honesty, capacity,
and fidelity constitute the only valid claim
10 public employment; ii means that men
are not TO be appointed to office merely be-
cause they are relatives or subservient tools
OF party leaders; 1t means that men are not
10 be appointed whose only claim is that
they nave been the corrupt agents OF
a party, and with foul hands have detiled
the peoples ballot-bOx; it means that
the public Offices belong to The people,
and that their duties are TO be discharged
by faithful men and only for the public
good. believe II means all that. and this,
too, thnt men who hold appointments 10
discharge administrative duties, who are
faithful and Efficient, and do not prostitute
their positions TO the service of party,
ought not to he removed because OF their
political opinions. II men Of that character
are retained they become a check upon the
supporters Of the party in power who may
attempt fraudulent practices upon the Trea-
sury. Vouchers could not then be with
drawn aud raised, and additional thousands
drawn upon them. The sum Of the whole
natter Is that the public offices ought to
he filed md their duties DISCHARGED for the
benefit OF the country, and not Tor a party,
And In his letter Of acceptance in 1876 he
says: In the reform Of the civil service
most heartily endorse that section OF the
platform which declares that the civil SER
vice ought not TO be subject 70 change AZ
every election.' and that II ought not TO be
made 'ihe brief reward Of party zeal, but
ought TO be awarded for proved compcten-
ey and held for fidelity in the public en-
ploy.'"
As to the result OF the campaign, Senator
Pendleton said thai he thought the Demo-
cratic nominees would be elected. lie
thought the Democrats would carry New
~. A. A..
sonable hopes Of carrying New Jersey. and
would get every southern State. Indiana,
he thought, would be carried by Hendricks.
and OF Ohio he said: ave VIII have hard
and long-oontiuued and desperate fight in
Ohio. We will omit nothing that can
honorably be done. and / have very great
hopes we Will carry the State"