Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-07-02
THE DEMoCRTIC WAY.
Vice President Hendricks Explains
the True Spirit of Civil ServiceRe-
form to TO the Bay State Club.

the True Spirit of Civil ServiceRe-
form to to the Bay State Club.
the Administration win Be.
The Majority of Republican Officials
Must Make Way for Capable Demo-
Gratis.
Boston, Mass, June 25.-Vice-Presi-
dent Hendricks was the guest of the
Bay State club to-day and this after
noon was rendered a banquet at the
Parker house. Nearly three hundred
guests were present, prominent among
whom were ex-governor Castor, Col
onel Taylor, Congressman Collins, Hon.
Edward Avery, Charles P. Thompson,
eX. Mayor Prince, Mayor OBrien, Hon.
John Quincy Adams and Josiah g. Abb
bOtt and numerous state and municipal
officials.
Colonel Taylor, president of the club,
presented Mr.. Hendricks, who was re-
ceived with three cheers. After thank
ing the club for the homer conferred up
OH him, referring to his receptions at
Yale and Harvard, touching upon the
result in Indiana last fall, and express
ing the opinion that, since the trouble
in Massachusetts had passed, she would
take her place beside Indiana as a
Democratic state, he took up the sub
iject of civil service reform. He told
how he received letter from President
Pierce appointing him commissioner
general eft the land office; of his accept
ance of the position; of the important
work iE hand, including surveys be-
yond the Missouri river and in Califor-
mia.
NR. HENDRICKS SPEECH.
He then said: "When I took charge
of that office, with ONE hundred and
eighty clerks, I found the business four
years behind. The patents that ought
to have gone to the people living upon
the lands We're four years behind date.
I said at once this will not do. The
man whs has purchased the land of the
government has q right at an early date
to his patent so that he may sell it; SO
that he may obtain his rights whatever
they may be. / said at once, there
must he reform in this office. My AM
bition was connected with the reform
could not well afford to take that ap.
pointment and go out of that office
without having brought the work up &c
date. So commenced the work of re-
form seriously and very earnestly, and
very soon became acquainted with al
the clerks in the office, and very soon
knew the clerks that would he able tC
help ME with the work that had to be
carried Through, and very soon those
that limped or were unwilling or indif-
ferent did step out Applause. The
Hickory Broom of Jackson that repre-
sented Democratic reform was the sen
timent and emblem of the reform tha
| sought to bring about, and in tht
stead of
THE MEN WHO HAD TO SrEP OUT
there came in young and earnest fellows
who were willing to do the work. Sc
that when by one general orderI re
quired that the work done at each desF
should be 25 per cent. more than it haC
been before these men came in and tool
their share readily and cheerfuliy anC
cordially, and when ( left that office
nearly four years afterward it was only
four months behind in the delivery o
the patents to the men that had bought
the land. Applause.} From foul
years it came down to four months
and that was as close as it was practiea
BILE to bring work. That, [ thought
was reform.
want to tell you another thing gen
tlemen. When you men that give
your votes at the election and pay you
money to the tax gatherer want to un
destand the particular point at which
civil service can be brought about,
will tell you. 1t is not with the presi
dent in the detail, it is not with the sec
retaries in detail, it is with the bureau
officer that has to do directly with th'
work and with the clerks who perform
the work Applause.] I am not per
sOnally very much acquainted with tn,
bureau officers employed by the secre
taries at Washington. l know some o
them in the interior department.
know the commissioner of the land of
flee. | know the commissioner of In
dian affairs. know by reputation tin
excellent gentleman who is in the of
flee of patents. believe they by theil
own Judgment and force will
BRING ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
in heir departments. Applause
:" think l am safe in saying that
know they have already taken steps ir
,uJ direction; that the people will no,
be sold out by them.--[A Applause. Tha
is my own history about civil service
reform. 1t may be ofno account, but il
is mine. Appause. The administra
ton that will fill all the bureaus in
Washington city with capable men al
the head, and tell them that the
work devolves upon them and hold
them responsible, will bring about Ger
tain and prompt reform. 1 think we
are going through all right. 1t was 6
good while that the Democrats were
kept out. In quarter of q century the
sentiment of the country had been Ell
forced with the cruel prescription thai
the Democrats shall not share in the
honors of the public offices of the coun
try. Applause. 1t was
A CRUEL PRESCRIPTION,
such as never advocated towards the
opposite party, for l know there are
honest men among them, and woulG
not to-day, if / could do it, take the
charge of the entire government away
from the opposite side. They pay theil
taxes, they contribute to the support Of
the country, they help to fight the bat.
ties when war come upon us, and it is
but fair that they should share in ths
honors. But it is not fair and never
has been fair that they should clutch
them all and say to the young men ol