The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-05
RESIGNED.

Hon. Leroy ID. ThOman's Resignation Rs
Civil Service Commissioner Accepted BY
the President - An Interesting Letter
From MIR. Thoman-The Presidents Re-
ply.
WASHINGTON, D. c., October 81
The following is the correspondence be-
tween Hon. Leroy d. Thoman, of the
Civil Service Commission, and President
Cleveland, respecting the formers resig-
nation, which the President has ac-
cepted, to take effect November lst,
next:
WASHINGTON, d. C., October 20, lsS5.
SIR.-EesDecffulIy referring to converse
ton had with YOU as early as March 10th, in
which ] expressed the wish to be relieved OF
my duties as a member of the United states
Civil Service Commission, and also to the
apparent fact that is was not then yonr pleas
ure to cons der my request, noW nave the
honor to tender formally my reslgnatIon,
and earnestly to beg an early con-
sidcration OF the same and its accept
ance. While thus asking release from
so honorable trust, / desire
to record my ratification over the proved
Dracticability and remedial effectiveness
of the reform procedure. Tried veterans
in ppIitical warfare view with Amusement
Tie facilc though radical departure from the
familiar methods of the spnlS system OF
Distributing patronage strenuous ana SIN
L
sion. lHIrk the opposition OF Inherent
groups Of antagonists. And Yet 1t must be
concluded that 4 majority OF the pOiltlcal
lenders IN either party IS n accord with the
PcndlctDn law. its original enactment, ana
emphatic Endorsement by q subSeg uent
Congrcs s. were honest legislative express
siOns. and not the coercion OF moral COW
ardicc ny popular sentiment, nor partisan
Iegerde main.
In the great task of administrative re-
form which Won have undertaken in accord
.. and RI
people VIII give aid. Ii has been nv pleas
ura within the last two months to visit quite
"A number OF thr states and Territories OF
this Union. and II was my good fortune 10
meet with many of their citizens. 1t l.
gratifying to know that the people con1ide
in the uncguyOcaI intention OF the
President to sustain the mer-
1t system IN the civil service.
They had condemned the evils OF the former
methods. Long experience had made Their
knowledge accurate. They welcomed the
Inauguration of the new. The distinctive
features OF the present reform appealed TO
n tyDicaIlV American sentiment which com
mands and advances merit. With the pre-
else details of the new procedure their &C
quintance WAS not so intimate. To tins they
are fast succeeding, and the result Will be
cordial approval
The inception and maintenance Of great
reforms are with the people. / believe that
the fundamental idea of civil service reform
is characteristic of American thought Pop
ular hesitation over the acceptance OF stat
utOrV details. suggests merely a safe con-
SerN atlSn. In the INITIAL Stages Oh tillS It-
form there was response throughout the
Nation. Political contests assumed new
tone Old time methods of corruption were
discouraged, and bOssism was grappl"d
with fresh vigor. The Improvement is yet
marked. IL viciOus elements still seek OBJ
trusion into elections the chances of their
success have been iessened.
The reform spirit is militant, and advances
toward complete success. Corruption by
official patronage has been removed. With
the imparting of purcr life to official cir
Giles. the power of the private purse to pur-
chase nolitical honOrs will be less danger
Gus Public appreciation of the fact that
this reform does not trench upon sturdy
partiZanship came late. 1t was SedulouSly
maintained that the civil service was
TO be composed of men who should
abjure certain rights of citizenship. With
the gradual, but inevitable, refutation of
this false view. the outlines of the reform at
last stood forth in cIearness. 1t is q reform
which views the civil service as a vast bust
ness agency: its search Is for the best at
tainabIe merit. In business, which is not
political. IL enforces no tests of party. With
confident trust in the success of your admin
istr2ti0n. am
Your obediept servant,
LEROY u. TH0MAN.
l,a