The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-10-09
THE REFORM" PROGRESS.
II Reaches Minnesota Lake Postofflc
From Democratic Standpoint.

II Reaches Minnesota Lake Postofflce.
From Democratic Standpoint.
| The Normal Literary Society will this
evening discuss, "rhat the Present Adj
ministration is working great Reform in
the Civil Service"-or something to that
effect. This is a subject that at present
~ quite prominent before the public,
but people will differ in their opinions
as 10 what great extent the service is be-
ing reformed" IL turning Republic
ans out of office and putting Democrats
in, can he construed as reform" then
the administration il entitled To an af-
frmative decision. But if suspending
or discharging from the service true and
tried public servants, against whom no
word of protest can be found, is called
reform" then it is delusion and a
snare-a gigantic humbng, burlesque and
monumental farce.
Our attention has been directed TO the
recent change in the pOstmastership Of
the Minnesota Lake office. For fifteen
years Smith r. Barnes, staunch and
unyielding Democrat, but a gentleman
wIthal, held the position of postmaster
at the Lake, and upon his election last
fall to the Office Of Clerk Of Courts of
Faribault county, resigned in favor of
his deputy, Mr.. NJ. V. Hill. During
Mr.. Barnes incumbency, Dunnell sever
al times rendered the Office to Republic
ans, but in every instance it was declined
with thanks-all being well pleased with
Barnes as an official. Mr.. Hill, who for
two years was Barnes deputy, and a
gentleman every way his equal, thor
oughly satisfactory to the people and
justly entitled, by all precedent, as we'll
az all established rules of civil service
reform, TO retain the position, was re-
moved within six months after the great
"reform" party came into power. And
for what? For no other reason than that
he was Republican. His predecessor
had held the position for fifteen years
under Republican administration but
here is II gentleman, equally qualified
and fully as satisfactory to the patrons
of the office, who is not allowed to hold
it one-half of one year under Demo-
cratic "reform" administration.
And too, we are informed that Mr..
Hills successor is mere boy, whose
home is i'm the eastern part Of the State,
but who has been staying at the LAX e
temporarily clerking in one off the stores,
without any home there or business in :
terests. Neither was he, if our informa-
ton is correct, old enough to vote at { he
last general election.
The respectable portion of the Demo-
Gratis ut Minnesota Lake and vicinity are
justly indignant over the matter, and as
one of them truthfully remarked the
other day at is making II dlsh-rag out of
politics." In Mr.. Hills case the "of-
fensive partisan" dodge won't work. as
he is anything but Offensive" either in
politics or business. lie is the proprie-
tor of drug store ut the Lake, and
while fully competent and able to get
along without the postofiice or Its emolu-
ments, his displacement is none the less
unjust, and the elements that conspired
to bring about the change are none the
less censlrable.
Not long ago, when certain fourth-class
postofices were being discussed in Man
kato, gentleman who il in the "ring"
or is closely allied thereto, remarked
that there is no use of wasting any gush
over offices of this class" guaranteeing
his auditors that the changes would all
come about IN good time. ltseems they
are--and the time is good deal better
than some of the men.