The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-01
NONRESIDENT HENDRICKS.
He Talks of the Last Campaign, Civil Service
and His Relations with the President.

He Talks of the Last Campaign, Civil Service
and His Relations with the President.
Chicago Times.
Mr. Hendricks is looking unusually we'll. and
has gained flesh and color since his tiresome
campaign last fall. In speaking with reporter
he referred to the contest in Indiana as the most
trying event in his life. But" said he, 81 was
ambitious. The vice-presidency was position
determined to carry my own State at least. /
did an awful amount Of work during that cam
pagn, frequently making seven or eight speeches
a day. The result of the election showed that
the State was closely contested by both sides.
We polled ninety three per cent. of the entire
voting population, which was the largest vote
ever polled by any State. / can truly say that
never worked so hard in all my life"
When questioned as to how the duties of his
new Office agreed with him he replied: ''Well,
it is certainly great change to a man who has
been in active political life. look upon the
position as one of dignifed laziness Of course
there is no comparison between the positions of
vice president and United States senator was
in the Senate from 1868 to 1869, and there were
many occasions when I was obliged to take a
firm stand. But find the duties OF Vice
president very agreeable, although at times 1
rather long for the excitement of outside politi-
cal work"
''What about these complaints that the Pres-
dent is going too slow with his appointments
asked the reporter.
1.-THE people who make such charges do not un-
derstand the situation at all. There is a great
deal of complication about it, There are great
many Offices in the United States to be filled, and
it is necessary to fill them with good men, 1t
necessarily takes time to accomplish this And
think, added the Governor with smile, that
in short time Democrats will be occupying all
the offices, and it is but right that they should
The election OF Democratic President meant a
change, and the people who elected him wanted
change, and that was what they voted fer
What, then, are your ideas on civil service2"
oil hnHn ~ =
civil service that that question might be difficult
to answer. am believer in civil service, but
there are different ways in interpreting it. That
system that is considered by some as indispen-
sable in the management of the government and
that permits outsiders to dictate who shall re-
main and who shall 60 would not be tolerated
for moment by a railroad corporation or large
manufacturing establishment. / do not see why
it should be tolerated by the government and l
believe the President has as much right to man
age the government as the head Of a corporation
has to manage his, and by so doing can see no
violation of civil-service rules. do not believe
in civil service that keeps incompetents in
Office and allows the affairs of the country to Suf
fer. at one time held an executive position in
the Land Commissioners Office When wentin
the work of the officewas very much behind. The
matter was looked into, incompetent clerks were
discharged and new ones put in their places, and
in four months the work of the Office. which was
behind four years. was made up. That was
civll-service reform 1t is the kind of civil
service that believe in. Of course, we want the
civil service, and we must have the reform.
But it is all nonsense to suppose that the Repub
licans are going to remain in the offices. We
fought for change. and we are going to have
it."
Mr. Hendricks attention was called to the
numerous articles in the papers stating that he
had but little influence with the President in re-
gard to appointments.
"Both sides of that question have been pub
lished," said the Governor good naturedly.
1.-THE statement that have no Influence in the
the one that indorse the application of every
man that comes TO me. Neither statement is
correct, but what do say is that will spars no
zeal in urging the claims OF any man to q posi-
ton If consider him the most proper person to
fill it'
Whom questioned about the alleged caucus OF
Republican senators held last March, at which it
was said resolutions were passed refusing to con-
firm Clevelands appointments whore the re-