Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-05
HOW THE BATTLE Is FOUGHT.

The efforts of the Republican party to
carry the election last year were tremend-
GUS, and the amount of money that was
snent was enormous. 1t was well known
last wear that the voluntary cOntrlbu-
tion" system was in vogue, and that in
the interests of good government only the
employees of the Government were called
upon to make voluntary contributions
to the Republican campaign fund, and
that they always responded. They re-
sponded because the request for subscrip-
tions was equal to demand accompanied
by threat of dismissal. The contriDu-
tions this year are being solicited on
different plan, plan devised to evade the
law against Government employees being
called upon to contribute to campaign
funds. The telegraph brings an account
OF the new method. II is from the Head
quarters Republican State Committee, st.
Cloud Hotel, Parlor c., Philadelphia. and
is signed by Thos. V. Cooper as Chairman,
and is addressed to J. Frank Miller,
Pension Office, Department OF the Inte-
rior, Washington. D. c. 1t is desired
that the subscription should be as liberal
as possible, in this respect being different
from the regular per cent. contributions in
vogue last year. Among the reasons
which Chairman Cooper urges in favor OF
liberal subscription is this one: "lf the
Republicans OF Pennsylvania win deci-
sive victory this year, it will prevent
anv agitation or disastrous change
of the tariff by the incoming Congress,
and pave the way for the overthrow
OF the Democrats ofthe State and National
Administrations. We propose to push
the work of the State committee with the
utmost vigor until election day" At
least, there is something fresh and con-
fiding in such request, and shows more
plainly than anything else that the Re-
publican party is still devoted to the
spoils system and the ways OF the ma
chine; and being still so devoted, they
desire to "pave the way for the over
throw OF the Democrats OF the State
and National Administrations. 1t is
we'll that this letter OF Chairman
Cooper's has been made public
that the people may know that the
Republicans are not so intensely bent on
civil-service-reforn as they protest. This
letter also shows how fortunate the coun-
try was in its escape from the clutches Of
the master spokesman, James G. Blaine.
No one doubts that had Blaine been
elected in place Of Cleveland, that every
employe OF the Government who did not
contribute so often and so literally to the
campaign funds as he was requested,
would have been dismissed the service,
no matter how competent or how faithful
he might have been in the discharge Of
his official duties. The whole system
OF requiring employees to contribute
10 campaign funds is wrong no matter by
whom nor by what party it is practiced.
1t is a system OF espionage and BULLDOG
ing; and that men whose support for
themselves and their families is depend
ent upon their salaries submit to it is but
natural, and such men should not be
branded as towards. The towards are
the men who, having the power to de-
prive man of the means of earning a
livelihood, use that power TO oppress a
man and make him further their schemes.
1t is to be hoped that these men who
have been requesting "early subscrip-
tons" may be punished, and if any
Democrats follow the example Of Chair
man Cooper, OF Penn, may they be pun
, ished too.