Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-17
"Union Men on Guard"

The Union League Club of New York
city, as is well known, is II Republican or
ganizaton. After. the division in the par
ty made by the Independent detection last
fall, the question arose rs to the attitude
the Club would take towards persons call
ing themselves Republicans, applying for
admission, who acknowledged no obliga-
ton on their part to support Republican
nominations. This was settled for the
time being by the adoption of resolu-
ton requesting the committee on adms-
sions not to inquire how applicants for
membership voted ut the last Presidential
election. This action was by no means
satisfactory to many members and at
very large meeting attended by over six
hundred members, on Thursday last, the
following preamble and resolution, offer
ed by Col. LeGrand b. Cannon, was car
ried by very heavy majority, less than
sixty votes being thrown against it:
Whereas, An impression may be entertain
ed from the action of the club at its last meet
ing-touching the action of the committee on
admissions in inquiring into the political stand
ing and anteccdents of applicants for admis-
sion that the club has to some extent rcceded
from its position us distinctly Republican
club; it is, therefore, for the purpose of cor
rccting any such imprcssion
ReSOtCCd, That the club rcafirms and de-
clares its adherence to the resolution of 1880,
which reads rs follows: That the club OK
presses the hope that the committee on adnis-
sionS Will not report for admission the name
of any person whose views on public matters
do not, i'll their opinion, agree with those of
cd"
The deliberate action of this powerful
club, is of more than local significance.
1t means that the Republicans of New
rif If OH do
their party organization. and do not pro
pose to permit it to degenerate into a mere
picnic. The men who fight and defeat
Republican candidates, one day, cannot
be allowed to make nominations for Re
publicans to support, the next day. OF
course wanderers from the party fold,
who come back avOwing their Willingness
hereafter to regard the fairly expressed
will of the majority will not be excluded
But men calling themselves Republicans
who bolt Republican nominations, rejoice
in Republican defeat, declare that the
Republican party has outgrown its use
fulness, and give all the aid and comfort
they can to its enemies, must go where
they belong. This question is not a mat
ter OF much Importance in Vermont. The
number of Independents here was inap-
probable, and no question will be raised
in regard to them but in the State of
New York it is a pretty important matter;
and there the decision clearly is-to revive
an ante-war eXpression-that men who
spit on the Republican platform and tick
ct cannot eXpect-to-rate as Republicans.
Miss Ada C. Sweet, daughter of a brave
Union General, who gave his life to his
country, has been United States Pension
Agent at Chicago for three years She
was asked by Gen. Black, the new COM
missioner of PENSIONS. the other day, to
send in her resignation to take effect j une
30th. Gen. Black added: There is no
reason personal to yourself or to your
management of your Office which Undue
es this request" Being a woman of
spirit, Miss Sweet telegraphed the Presi- |
dent saying: "My commission from the |
President runs for four years, my present |
term not ending until April IS, 1856. |
have performed the duties of my Office |
with an eye single to the interests
contided to my charge. Conscious
of this | do not wish TO resign and .
l know of no reason why l should"
The records of the Pension Bureau show
that no Office in the United States has |
been more efficiently administered than
the Chicago Office. Under Miss Sweet it .
has never been connected with politics. |
1t can be made one of the most efficient !
machines of the Northwest, and it was for |
this purpose that Miss Sweet was asked to |
step out. 1t has not created a very pleasant |
feeling, that the first change attempted in |
the federal offices at Chicago should fall |
upon woman, who is a competent and |
faithful non-partisan official. Personal
friends of the President say that he has
intimated that he has seen no reason to
Justify him in suspending Miss Sweet
and it is to be hoped he will not see any |
He can find none consistent with his pro-
fessiOns of regard for civil service reform
or his promises that faithful non-partisan
office-holders shall not be disturbed.
Mans Thanks.
h,-i