The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1886-10-29
washlngton.
WAsnrNoroN, Oct. slh, 1886.

4 49, ~~~~f~
The situation IN the department
here Is remarkable. Nothing like |
has been seen for at least tweni,
years. A determined political slrug
| gle Is going on In the different states
and the Government clerk attends Il
his routine duties and Is apparenll,
no more interested In The result o.
tho election than are the mechanic.
and tradespeoplo of Washington.
Heretofore Il has been their custom
during a political contest 10 waste
their time discussing politics and "a
wager their money on the result. II
is douQ tless fact that a majority OF
the employees here secretly hope for
Republican success but the day oi
their organizing campaign clubs,
contributing and begging money, pro-
curing cheap railroad rates and leav-
Ing Ia body 10 stump and vote early
and often Cor the Republlcan canelI-
dates In their several states, Is past.
The country gains both Ia the purif.
cation Of politics aud In securing
more and better work from Govern
ment employees
This IL the time OF year that Gov
ernment Star Route contracts are let
out. The reader will remember that
mail routes, except those by railroad
and steam, are called Star Routes
from the fact that a star was printed
on all mail bags carried by stage
coach, horse back or by footman.
There has heretofore been much Just
complaint oi collusion between en-
ployes 10 the Post Office Department
and certain favored contractors. This
year the control Ct the bids were put
In the hands Of committee of three,
Of which Chief Clerk Nash OF the
Postoffice department was the chaIg-
man. Mr. Nash scot TO New Ycrk
aud purchased a trunk, biz solid
fellow that would make tho average
baggage stnAahey weep with dlspaIr
Of ever conquorIng Il. Upon this
trunk was placed = lock 10 which
there were only three keys, each
member Of the committee being Civ.
en- possession Of Que OF them. The
lock was 80 arranged that neither
member Of the committee could open
the trunk without the other men,
bers knowing X. This trunk was
placed In locked room. AS fast as
the bids were received they we're
locked up In the trunk 10 the pres
enco cf all three OF the committee.
After the bids we're opened not even
the most disappointed contractor
complained that anybody had ad-
vance information Of their contents.
During the last week two Cabinet
meetings have been held. The ques-
tIons discussed related 10 the surren-
der OF Geronimo and to the pariicipa-
ton Of Federal Office holders 10 OBJ
trusIve and practical politics. II any
body Is hsrboriug the notion that the
President does not mean to exact
obedience 10 his order prohibiting
Office holders from manipulating c.,n
voDtions, they are probably Of The
class OF persons who will not admit
that the President Is capable OF SIN
cerity, or Of another class that unFea.
eonabIy expects him TO correct all
offenses OF partisan character by
Instinct, Sinstead of waiting to have
theifscis In efch case laid before him
for consideration and action. "a num-
Der Of cases have besn brought TO his
notice and to the notice OF the Cab
met, aDdiIt II altogether likely that
some Of the more prominent ofren-
dera will be reminded OF their 'offen-
ses 10 such way az to convince ell
the lesser ones that the prohibItory
order was Issued In good faith, and
that It means ali It says.
The Indian Wholesale murderer
Geronimo, continues to be serious
issue In the Cabinet and;unIess band
Of patriotic iynchers shall put hin
out OF tho way, be is likely TO caus'
legal and military casuists more trvu
bic to fix his international sstatu
than II gave Gen. Miles to captur'
him. To man up tree It look
like a great waste of learning on
bad Indian. LIT IL he assumed tina
Gen. Miles 10 order 10 arrest tn
playful Geronimo In bis pastime Q
murder and rapIne, promised him
wIgwam on Fifth Avenue or TO max
him Secretary Of the Interior. Thl
promise would make It none the les
the christian duty of Cen. Miles !
brain Geronimo as soon as he got hi
hands on him. Since Gen. Mile
failed in his christian duty It Is ih
duty Of the Government 10 dIspatcl
him without more ado. The native
~ india when they want to catch