The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-15
MR., CLEvBLAND,s CIVIL SERVICE.

Says Mr.. Lucius B. Swift, gentleman
who worked and voted for the election of
Grover Cleveland as President of the United
States, and who is the chairman of the execu-
tive committee of the Civil-service Reform
Association of the State of Indiana:
Regarding the Pendleton act, the Presi
dent said: MY conception Of pub
lie duty requires that this should
be, in good faith and without evasion, en-
ised the people that this should be DONE.
Yet in the indianapolis postofice the only
Office in Indiana within the Pendleton act,
that law has been completely and faithlessly
evaded and nullifed."
Says Mr.. Swift
with regard to removals, the President
said that They should not be made during
the terms for which they (the incumbents)
are appointed solely on partisan grounds, for
the purpose of putting in their places those
who are in political accord with the appoint
ing power Yet the displacement of former
employees by those in political accord with the
appointing power has, in this State, using the
words of Mr. Hendricks, in 1876, been q re-
morseless prescription for political opinions. :"
Says Mr.. Swift:
Speaking of former partisan officials the
President said: Such officials, as we'll as
their successors, should be taught that eff.
cheney, fitness and devotion to public duty
are the conditions of their continuance in
public place Yet their successors have been
platoons and companies of 'unscrupulous
manipulators of local party management
Says Mr.. Swift
"The President said of many former in
cumbents that they had forfeited all just
claims to retention because, instead
of being decent public servants, they had
proved themselves offensive partisans and un-
scrupulous manipulators of local party man
agement.' Yet of the hundreds Of their success
sors, who, in Indiana, have impudently and
brazenly manipulated the local party machine,
not one has forfeited his place"
Says Mr.. Swift:
''The President said: Selections for Office
not embraced within the civil-service rules
will be based upon sufficient Inquiry as to fit
ness Yet the places in Indiana have been
given out as the booty of Congressman in dis
regard of fitness"
Says Mr.. Swift:
''The President said Oct 80. 1884: There
should be no mistake about Ek;s contest. 1t
is an attempt to break down The barriers of
the people of the United States, and those
that rule them. The people are bound down
by class of office-holders. ~ Yet
this year. in six congressional districts Of this
State the federal of1ice-holders have, without
hindrance or rebuke, thwarted the will of the
people"
Says Mr. Swift:
'1t is not pleasant task for those civil
service reformers who had q steadfast faith
that every promise would be kept to examine
the work done and report the truth; but their
sincerity is on trial. Besides, to stand silent
now would impose silence when some other
party succeeds to the national administration.
The truth must be stated plainly. In Indiana
civil-service reform has been disgraced and
made contemplate"
These are not the expressions of a Repub-
lican partisan; they are the statements and the
opinions of a man who felt that the Repub-
lican party was not good enough for him in
1884, but who exerted his utmost influence to
secure the choice of Grover Cleveland, with
the impression and expectation that under his
administration civil-service reform would be
in the hands of its friends. In 1884 Mr.
Swift and his colleagues had the promise; in
1886 they have the fulfllment Behold the
contrast