The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-05-22
PETITIONS ron OFFICE.
Recommendation Cor Once Easily Pro-
cured and Generally WORTHLESS.

cured and Generally WORTHLESS
President Clevcland's severe criticism
on the facility with which the signatures
Of prominent persons are secured TO the
petitions for applicants for Office will.
we hope, tend 70 remedy habit that i
misleading and dscrediiable. We say
habit. be cause signatures to petitions Of
this character are given generally with
out reflection and as II the giving Of
them was only matter Of form. rather
than from any disposition 10 trifle with
the appointive power. II appears I'M
gracious 10 most citizens 10 refuse
signature that involves only barren
recommendation. aud so IL has come to
pass that .'numcrously signed petit
ton for Office i very easy thing TO Sc
cure. requiring only the energy neccs-
sary for its circulation. and i generally
regarded as amounting 10 nothing when
il j. obtained. This way OF looking AT
such recommendation may furnish
some excuse for those who carelessly
sign such documents. but il does not
prevent the misleading consequences Of
their acts. All officials from the Prcsi-
dent down. who are charged with the
power of appointment. are ncces-
sarily compelled to place some reli-
ance on the written recommendations
OF applicants and they have right 10
presume that the signcrs thereto testify
To the truth and Of their personal
knowledge. And yet ip many. we
might say most. instances The reverse Is
really the truth. the signers do not tes-
tfy 10 the truth. nor are the statements
In the petition in accordance with their
personal knowledge. There is no inten-
lion probably to falsify or mislead. but
there Is carclcssness as TO results or a
moral cowardice which will not permit
refusal Of signature. although the
applicant is known TO be unworthy.
either If which deserves to be stigma
TIED rs political dishonesty. II the re-
port Is true that President Cleveland
has appointed South Carolina Rerub-
lican to be Consul-Gcncral nj Melbourne
and that the petition of the applicant
contained the names Of Democratic
Senators and other distinguished party
colleagues Of the President. the fact will
be aforciblc illustration Of the incongru-
Gus recommendations too often EN-
braced in such petitions. Whether such
an appointment was made with full
knowledge Of the facts or not
will not alter the case so far as
the distinguished Democrats who
recommended the man are concerned.
They got what they asked for. and il
they do not like il they must lay the
blame on their own want Of care and
rectitude in signing petitions for Office.
Without. however. placing much rcli-
ance in the story about this particular
appointment. il Is evident. from the
Presidents statements in connection
with the Postmasiership ut Rome. y. r..
that he has been confused and worried
by unmeaning recommendations and
that he does not pay ~ much attention
to petitions and the names signed there
to as petitioners generally suppose.
What he has said on the su'.;e 4 j.
known in every State in the Union 70 be-
1 true: and il il induces citizens Of inilu-
ence and standing to be somewhat
more careful in granting their sigma
lures 10 petit on> needed reform viii
have been SIT on foot. All that j. re-
CURED j. that recommendations shall
be- based upon personal knowledge Of
the applicants or other thoroughly re-
| liable information. and that the petit
ticns Of unworthy or unfit persons shall
not bear Endorsements calculated 10 de-
ceive or mislcad the official 10 whom they
are addressed. ". LoEis Republican,