St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-17


mayor by votes from both parties in that Re-
publican city. His life as mayor Was a con-
unuous struggle for honesty and fidelity in
of1ce against the Jobbers, spoilsmen and
partisans. who had long preyed on that city.
de mastered the situation and became known
as the veto mayor His fearless way of deal
ing with them is shown by the language Of
his vetoes."
Commissioner Eaton has quoted from
Cleveland's messages, from his letter accept
ing the intern ationsl nomination aud from
other communications to show his decisive
and unequIvocal endorsement Of the civil
service act, and pays q high tribute TO the
honesty and nonparlisan business capacity Of
Gov. Cleveland as evidenced in his admin
istration Of the affairs Of the state Of New
York, and continues as follows:
''Tbe rapidly growing reform sentiment Of
the country has been demanding more hon
esty, courage and administrative capacity
with less politics 10 executive places. Gov.
Cleveland has the distinction Of being
the first man since Washington who
has been elected president because he pos
sessed these qualities in prominent degree.
They have advanced him more rapidly to the
head Of the nation than military glory ever
did any one of her favorites. To believe that
such man, with sucE history, who never
sought an Office, will come 10 the nation al
capital 10 repudiste his pledges aud all that is
best of his official life, to make hostile all the
Republican journals which now support him,
TO ruin the prospects Of his party an disgrace
himself and his country by oVerturning a
work Of reform kindred to that upon
which his own distinction rests only 10 se-
cure 3 free field for patronage, mongeriug and
spoils system and debauchery, that such an
assumption should be made by any sensible,
well-iuformed man is TO me simply impos-
sible. II am mistaken in this view, hope
the rules viii be utterly overthrow before
the March winds are over. II the Democrats
enforce the spoils system policy they must
take the consequences. No true friend Of
reform would have any part In = perfunctOry
and deceptive enforcement Of the rules
mutilated In ESSENTIAL parts. He would
rather await their certain resurrection four
years hence over the graves oftheir enemies.
JUDGE THoNAS SPEAKS.
The views Of Judge L. d. Thoman, the
Democratic member Of the commission. we're
also obtained on the same subject discussed
by Mr.. Eaton.
"What do you think will be President
Cleyeland's policy as TO civil service reform ~
was asked.
Il do not know, but It would seem that
his past public uttersnces and acts are a
sufficient guarantee that his policy will be
conservative and in thorough sym pathy with
the present civil service laws aud rules.'
"Will there be many removals OF govern
ment officials from officet''
Eyes, sir; and many will remain. am
satisfied that thorough administrative reform
will cause the removal of many officials
.r1n a l.. n
policy is pursued by which the business Of
ness principles, the biennial reg
will contain several thousand less
names than It does to-day. As TO disturbing
subordinates in these public offices, much
will depend upon the heads of departments,
bureaus and divisions, and also upon their
efficiency in the places they occupy. There
never has been such q thing IS a clean
sweep The power of removal is not
abridged by the civil service law, but places
made vacant cannot be filed within the
classified service without requisitiou on the
commission. Thus il is that the motive for re-
moving thoroughly efficient aud trustworthy
clerks is gone"
In the course of further conversation,
Judge Ihcman took occasion 70 saw that
''had Mr.. Blaine been elected, be would have
made more removals for political motives
than Mr.. Cleveland, because in a political life
of twenty-three years, much Of which
time was given TO seeking
the presidency many pledges and
promises must nave been made, and, as 4
second reason, until his letter of acceptance
appeared the public had not been advised
that Mr.. Blaine was in sympathy with a re-
form of the civil service, and in no speech
during the campaign, although he made
several hundred, did he refer II
this question. Governor Cleveland,
Judge Thomas continued, "had declared
himself on every occasion that he addressed
the public in favor of the system of reform
that is now being successfully carried out
under the provisions of the Pendleton bill
and the rules promulgated by President
Arthur, who at all times has given the com
mission hearty and unwaverlng support"