The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-04-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. April IL, 1886

WASHINGTON. April IL, 1886.
I'm regard to the right Of the senate
to demand papers in the matter Of Ap.
pointment and removal from Office
President Cleyeland's position Is
sound, the position Of the senate to
the contrary notwithstanding. The
novelty of having to deal with Il real
live democrat in the presidential
chair seems to he rather too much for
that august body. ltls not the first
time, however, that these distinguish
ed gentlemen and millionaires have
eaten crow. and an expectant public
may be edited by the same spectacle
in The near future.
Tie people of this country hardly
realize how great u man they have In
the presidential office. Broad. to the
extreme, in his views. he has also the
courage of his convictions. That part
of his inaugural address which related
to civil service reform was received
by many with an elevation of the eye
brow and smile. That was not Ell.
cOuraging but it can safely be said
that these gentlemen have Leen
taught II lesson they never expected
10 learn. and civil service reform is
part and parcel of the creed of the
democratic party to-day.
The rights and the interests OF the
working classes, so long neglected by
both politicians aud parties. was
promptly and honestly disposed of
by Grover Cleveland in his reply to
the delegation from the labor unioas
in January last. Eight hours under
the law is u days work and should be
so ,nsidered and paid for. l appre.
cia:s the effects upon the working
classes and the mechanics of the
country. Of the constantly increasing
use Of labor-saving machinery and the
great difficulty in keeping families
from want In consequence. / assure
you that my best efforts shall always
be directed to lettering the condition
of labor, and the eight hour law wi l
be carried out in all government work
and days wages Will be paid for the
same.
\ gentleman called on the president
to ask that his son, a bright young fell
low, be sent to West Point to finish
his education. The president answer.
ell that he had adopted rule in cases
of this kind that would prevent him
from granting the request. The rule
was: that none but the son of an army
officer should receive presidential
appointment to West Point. Ii it
were not possible to fill the ten ap-
pointments allowed by law to the pre-.
sident with such material the presi.
dent would of course go outside. The
visitor bluntly told the president that
he was not practicising democratic
doctrines and that his action would
aid in fostering an hereditary class in
the country, and further that the
people would not sustain his action.
The president smiled very pleasantly
and said: II am not SO sure OF that,
sir. You must remember that each
member of congress has two appoint
ments, and it would seem natural that
people CT influence and prominence in
the various congressional districts
would be able TO secure from their
member the same recognition that
you ask from the president. These
army people are scattered over this
country with no permanent place Of
residence. and with little if any poll
teal influence. As rule they are
poor and the question of educating
their children is often serious one.
Members of congress care but little
for army officers, and feel that they
are entitled to be cared for and so I
adopted this plan in reference to their
sons. 1 believe that in doing so am
doing my duty to the whole country"
Your readers, whether they be of Mr..
Cleveland's political belief or not. will
not fail to give his action the praise
it merits. If Cleveland was, in what
the general acceptation of the term.
Is known as poll tician, just imagine
to what political uses ten such ap-
pointments could be put. Cleveland
has not disappointed his best friends,
viz: the people.
The secretary of the navy, Mr..
Whitney, is very popular in Wash
ington and is rapidly becoming SO with
the business interests of the country
at large. Ills great wealth, which he
uses with lavish hand not only to
entertain his guests but to relieve
want and poverty, places him above
the suspicion of being connected with
any job. His course has been such as
to justify the belief that he aims at
giving the country an honest admin
stration of affairs in the navy depart
ment. His sensible course in Keeping
men who understand the requirements
of the navy close to him. Such man,
for instance, as Commissioner alker.
shows that Mr.. Whitney has that very
desirable quality so necessary to the
success of any business enterprise
whether it be public or private. viz:
common sense. Now, common sense
and honesty have not been combined
in the administration Of the affairs of
the navy department in quite a long
period of time until the present happy
incumbency.
Mr.. Chandler, the ex-secretary of
the navy Under John Roach, recently
attacked Secretary Whitney over the
shoulder of Commodore Walker
through the columns Of the United
Service Magazine. The Commodore
is an enemy of all jobs and in fact
rascalty Of any kind, and as a matter
of course Chandler considers him his
enemy. With the matter of cOntro-
versy it is not necessary to weary
your readers. Suffice it to say, that
although the ex-secretary does not