Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-10-17
FEDERAL APPOINTEES FOR THE
TERRITORIES.

TERRITORIES.
Colonel Frank j. Parker, of the Walla |
Walla Statesman, has been having an in
terview with the President on the subject
of Federal appointees for the Territories
Colonel Parker said that all the Demo-
Gratis wanted vas that good and faithful
members OF the party be appointed to
office. In so saying he voiced the gem
eral sentiment of the Democrats through
out the Western Territories. The first
great need for the Territories is that they
shall have good and efficient officers, and
while it would be far preferable if such
appointees were selected from the Terri
tories in which they are TO be Federal Off
cial, still if superior and better men can
be had from without the Territory, let
us have them from without. The great
trouble is that where appointments are
made from without the Territories they
are procured by political influence, and
the good Of the Territories to which they
may be assigned is Il matter OF secondary
consideration, ii of any consideration at
all. 1t is well known fact that already
the President has been imposed upon in
the matter Of appointments, and notably
in the case of Judd. There was another
case in which some man was recon-
mended for judgeship, and was ap-
pointed on the recommendation. The
person who made the recommendation
wrote to the President expressing sur
prise that the appointment had been
made, saying that the appointee was
totally unfit for the place. The letter
that the President sent that man will be
famous in history, and most salutary in
politics. Oregon, we believe, has the
proud distinction of having furnished the
applicant and recommendation in this
case. Recommendations as rule, amount
to very little, and have the same value rs
the good Indian papers which are met
with occasionally in different parts OF the
Territories. Aside from the usual WORTH
lessness OF recommendations there is an
other important matter. Federal ap-
y
unacquainted with the material, political,
and social condition OF the Territories to
which they go. Let a mans fitness for
an office be never SO great, il he is unac-
quainted with the genius OF those among
whom he oes as an official he is
lacking in an important essential.
Likewise he is wanting in SYM
pathy and interest, and his Office
is merely his means of livelihood. The
Territories are places in which to mend
broken fortunes or to make new ones.
The rule among Federal officials in the
Territories is to quit the Territories sc
soon as their term OF office expires. Theii
future is not to be in the place of theil
official life, and hence they care but little
what reputation they leave behind them
Either political party in the Territories
does not feel responsible for the con
duct of the Federal appointees be
cause these appointments are made
without any consideration OF til,
parties in The. Territories. Political par
ties in the Territories are very largely t.
blame for this condition OF things, be
cause they do not in a party capacit.
recommend applicants for office. If
party were going to put ticket in TIN
field for the very same offices which ar
now appointive by the President, woult
not such party call its convention
and place in nomination its best men
and determine who were its best an
fittest men by an open canvass OF til
merits of all candidates for nomination
The party would feel that if it were sue
cessful at the polls that upon it reste
the responsibility for a good or ba
administration OF public affairs, and S
would want the men who were to repre-
sent it chosen by the haphazard metho
of favoritism. Is there any reason why tn
merits of candidate for appointmer
should not be determined in the sam
way? II the Democratic party woul
hold convention and determine upon
set OF candidates, the probabilities Al
that such candidates would be appointe
to office; and if they were not, the Den
ocrats of Utah would know that they ha
done their best to obtain the appointmei
of men for whom they could vouch.
.