The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-05
An Anti-AdministratiOn Party.


The Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia Times is responsible for
the statement that Vice-president Hen
bricks is engaged in getting up an anti
administration party. He has expressed
his contempt for the administration,
privately and publicly, and is ready to
join in any movement in the senate
next winter to nullify the civil service
law and bring the Presidents reform
banner down from its lofty perch. To
adopt democratic senator's manner of
putting the case: "The administration
has got along all summer by snubbing
congressman; congress will snub the
administration all winter" AS pre-
siding officer of the senate, we are told
that Mr.. Hendricks will find himself
the nucleus of democratic dissatisfac-
ton, outside as well as inside of the
senate. 1t is even predicted that the
Cleveland administration will find more
to fear from a divided and disgruntled
party than from the republican senate.
A democratic senator from the South is
authority for the statement that not
only will the President fall far short of
the support of his party in the senate,
but he will not have more than a re-
spectacle negative minority in the house
of representatives
There is flavor of the sensational
about these revelations, quite charac-
teristic of the productions of Washing
ton correspondents during hot weather,
when the national capital is at its dull
est and they are compelled to draw
very largely on their imaginations for
interesting material for their letters.
While Mr.. Hendricks is doubtless dis
satisfied with the manner in which the
President has treated the indianapolis
postof1ice matter, and may not be able
to conceal his contempt for the general
policy of the administration, it will be
well not to put too much faith in the
predictions of what the democrats in
both houses of congress will do next
winter. AT present there is an inter-
esting issue between the President and
Vice-president. Postmaster Jones of
Indianapolis, who was appointed on the
recommendation of Mr.. Hendricks, is
charged with removing republican clerks
in his office without adequate cause and
filling their places with democrats. The
matter is being investigated by the
civil service commission, and if the
charge is sustained and the President
sustains the finding of the commission,
then we shall see how far Mr.. Hen
bricks will go in antagonizing the adj
ministration, and to what extent he
will be supported by the democratic
party. The Indiana democrats are not
pleased with the present situation.
They can see no reason why the APP
pointment of democrats to office should
be proceeded with so slowly. The
democrats in most other states have
more cause for satisfaction. The Of
fees are slowly but surely being filed
with democrats. The President does
not want to precipitate break with the
mugwumps before the New York cleo
ton next fall. Therefore his policy
in reference to filling the offices is one
of delay, as far as the pressure of
hungry and importunate aspirants will
permit him to carry it out. But in his
efforts to please the reformers Mr..
Cleveland may ALLEVIATE considerable
portion of the democrats from his sup
port. We shall soon know what his
course will be in respect to the politi-
cal campaign in New York. 1t may
be said, however, that if the President
really meant what he said when he told
George w. Curtis of his determination
to stand by civil service reform, then
there will be good cause for war between
him and the spoilsmen of his party,
and the rumored Observation-Disclosures
party within the democratic ranks may
become an unpleasant certainty for Mr..
Cleveland.