The Portland daily press., 1886-11-25

The Case of District Attorney Stone.

me case OF DtSIftCT attorney Stone.
President Cleveland has refused the request for
the reinstatement made by William A. Stone re-
Gently suspended as District Attorney for the
western district Of Pennsylvania, for participating
IN the political campaign.
Stone wrote to Attorney General Garland from
Plttsburg under date of Nov. 49, saying he had
reaa the correspondence between the President
attorney connected with his restoration to Office
IN which Il appears that he was suspended from
once for his apparant neglect of official duties in
making campaign speeches, as his suspension
was presumably ordered for the same reason he
desires to state that he made but two speeches
prior TO the receipt Of the order of suspension,
neither OF which interferred with his official du-
ties nor were the courts in session those days.
At no time did he neglect the duties of his Office
lie concludes as follows.
feel II my duty after reading the correspon-
denee between the President and Benton to state
these facts IN Justice TO myself and respectfully
request that this communication be referred to
the President.
L may also add that did not think that making
an occasional campaign speech to my nelghbOrS
While not neglecting the duties Of my Office would
De a violation OF the Presidents order of July 10
President Cleveland wrote 10 Mr. Garland YES
terday as follows:
have received the letter of the 18th written to
yoqby WIN. A. Stone, lately suspended from office
as District Attorney for the Western District of
pennsylvania, ana the subject matter TO which 1t
reiers mas received my careful consideration.
shall not impute TO the writer any mischieyous
motive In his plainly erroneous assumption that
his case, and thai Of NJ. E. Benton recently sus-
iacts but prefer TO regard his letter containing
the best statement possible upon the question
Of his reinstatement. You remember Of course,
That soon after the present administration was
installed and, think, nearly year and half
ago, considered with you certain charges which
had been preferred against Stune as Federal
official. You remember, TOO, that the action we
then contemplated was withheld by reasons of ex-
cuses and explanations of his friends. These ex-
euses and explanations induced me to believe
that Stons'S retention would insure faithful per-
iormanee OF official duty and that, whatever
offensive partisanship he had deemed just1able
N other circumstances he would, during his con-
tlnuance in office at his request under an ad-
ministration opposed TO him in political creed
and policy. contend himself with quiet and un
obitrusive enjoyment of his political privileges.
l certany supposed bis sense of propriety
would cause him TO refrain from pursuing such Il
partisan course as would wantonly offend and irri-
tate the friends of the administration who insist
ed that he should not be retained in office either
because Of his personal merit or adherence to
the methods which for long time had prevailed,
In the distribution of federal offices, in the light
OF better system, and without considering his
political Affiliations. Stone, when permitted to
remain in office, became part of the business Or
eanizaiion OF the present administration. bound
by every obligation of honor TO assist within his
sphere IN its successful operation. This obliga-
ton involved, not only proper performance Of
oiheial duty, but a certain good faith and fidelity
which, while not exacting the least sacrifice of po-
l1tical principle forbade active participation in
purely partisan demonstrations Of pronounced
type undertaken for the purpose OF advancing
partisan interests and conducted upon the avowed
theory that the administration of the government
was not entitled to the confidence and respect Of
| the people. There is no dispute whatever con-
| cerniug the fact that Stone did join others who
were campaigning 1.-THE State Of Pennsylva-
| mia in opposition to the administration.
1t appears, too that he was active and prominent
| with noisy enthusiasm in attendance upsn at
least two large public meetings. that the speeches
| at such meetings were largely devoted to abuse
| and Misrepresentation of the ADMINISTRATION; that
he approved all this and actually addressed meet
| ings himself In somewhat the same strain; that
| he attended such meetings away from his home
| for the purpose of making such address, and that
he was advertised as one Of the sp akers at each
of the meetings. / shall accept as true the state
ment of Stone that the time spent by him in thus
| demonstrating his Willingness to hold profitable
Oficeat the hands of an administration which he en-
| deavored to discredit with the people and which
| had kindly overlooked his previous offences, did
not result in the neglect of ordinary oifcial duty
but his conduct has brought 10 light sucn UNI
| friendliness toward the administration which he
pretends to serve, and such a consequent lack Of
| loyal interest In its success that the safest and
surest guaranty of his faithful service is in my
| opinion entirely wanting. Stone and others OF
| like disposition, are not to suppose that party
Of government is to be trusted in places, high or
| low to those who aggressivey and
constantly endeavOr unfairly to destroy
| the confidence of the people in a
| party responsible for such an administration
While vicious partisan methods should not be al
I lowed for partisan purposes TO degrade injure
| the public service, 1t Is my belief that, nothing
teuds so much TO dscredit efforts in the inter
est of such service to treat fairly and generously
the official incumbency of political opponents as
pie of this country certainly do not require the
| best results of administrative endeayOr to be
| reached with such agencies as these.
Upon full consideration of all have before me
| | am constrained to decline the application OF
| Stone for reinstatement
(Signed)