Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-10
THE CASE OF STONE.
The Suspended District Attorney Of
Western Pennsylvania Will Not
Be Reinstatel.
President Cleycland's Reasons There's,
tor-The Correspondence in
the Case,
washington telegram.l

the Case.
Washington telegram.l
Tho President makes public the following
corres2ondence
nm P1ITsBURaH, Pa., Nov 49,
ne hon; A. d. Garland Attorney Generals
. s1h--l have road the CORRESPONDENCE between
II,e a5es ae and the Hon. NJ. u. Benton
restoration a to office, in which it appears that he
neglect OF official duties in making ca,ilaign
speeches. Presumably my SUSPENSION was
o sne Tor the same reason. l desire, there
Two speeches prior to tho receipt OF the order
or suspension--one Mt Butler in ON udjoin
n ing county 20 E,.4 the evening of Oct. l. and
bugh the eSenin % o town near Pitts
leaVe fittsburg for Butler until nearly O'Clock.
ocs. J. aud returned tho morning of the ID about
90 oclock lett Pittsburg for Kitsanning. sutur-
the same night. Both OF tho above dates the
united States Courts here were not in session.
except o short time in the morning Of each duy
the courts during their sittings and did not
leave the city upon either OCCASION until long
9 q1's the courts had adjourned. Oct. 10 the
united States District Court began it's sossio,,
ct Pittsburs for the trial of jury causes, Petit
and Grand Jury being III attendance From Dot
z until Oct Is was engaged in tho preparation
o.. causes for trial, and from Oct Is until Oct a.
The date OF the receipt of the order of suspension
WAS engaged in the trial Of these causes. Nei.
tner during this period from Oct 2 to Oct. 81
me ea o. any ny other Other time did in any particular
ments may be verified by inquiry of any officer
OF our courts. feel it my duty after reaaing
the correspondence between the President ind
Mr.. Benton to state these facts in Justice t.
myself and respectfully request that this COM
munication be referred to the President NAV
also add that did not think that making an
While not neslecting the duties OF my Office.
would be violation OF the Presidt nt's order OF
July 10. 1886. Very respectfully, your obedient
servant VIM A. STONE
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. Is:
The Hon. A. H. Garland, Attorney Genoral;
DEAR SlR-I have read the tier of the 18th
inst. Wilton to You by William A. Stono lntely
suspended from office as Dist, let Attorney for
the Western District of Pennsylvania and tho
subject matter TO which it refers has received
my careful consideration. 4 shall not imputc
plainly erroneous assumption that his case and
Chat of Mr.. Benton, recently suspended and re-
1nstated rest upon the same state Of facts, but
prefer to regard his letter as containing the
best statement possible upon the question of
his Reinstatement. You remember, of course,
that soon utter the present ndministra-
ton was installed, and l think nearly Il
yenr and half ago. considered with you
certain charges which had been preferred
against Mr.. stone rs q Federal official. Yon
rsmember. too, that the action then contem-
and explanations Of his friends These EXCUSES
AID explanations induced me to believe that
MIR. Stones retention would insure O faithful
performance of official duty, and that Whatever
offensive craftsmanship he had deemed justifiable
in other circumstances ho would, during his
continuance in office at his request under IN
and policy. content himself with q quiet and
unobtrusive enjoyment Of his political priyi-
leges lcertninly supposed that his sense Of
propriety would cause him to refrain from pur-
011Rr rfSG
offend and irritate tho friends of the admin
jstration, who insisted that he should
not be retained in office, either because
Lne methods which have for n long time pre-
vailed in the distribution OF Federal offices. In
the light of q letter SYSTEM and without consid-
cring his political affiliations Mr.. Stone when
permitted to remain in Office became u part of
the business organization of the present admin
istration. bound by every obligation of honor to
assist within his sphere in its successful opera
ton This obligation involved not only the
proper performance of official duty, but a.csr-
tain good faith and fidelity, which, while no.
exactng the least sacrifice OF political principle.
forbade active participation Ia purely k,urtisau
demonstrations OF q pronounced type, under
taken for tho purpose OF advancing partsan,in in
terests and conducted upon the avo~ed theory
that the administration Of the Government
was not entitled to the confidence and re-
spect Of the people. There is no dispute what
ever concerning the fact that Mr. Stone did join
others who were campaigning the State OF Penn
sylvania in opposition to the administration 1t
appears too, that he was active AMI pron. mont
with noisy enthusiasm IN attendance upon Mt
least tive large public meetings, where tho
speeches were largely devoted to abuse and
Misrepresentation Of the administration :; that
he approved I'LL this aid actually addressed
the meetings himself in somewhat the Same
strain; that he attended snch meetings away
from his home for the purpose of making such
addresses; and that he was advertised as one
of the speakers at each Of said meeting.
shall accept as true the statement OF Mr..
stone that the time spent by him in taua de-
monstrating his willingness to hold q profit
able Office ut the hands OF IN adminis ration
pie, and which had overlooked his previous Of
f-nses, did not result in the neglect Of ordinary
official duty; but his conduct has brought to
light such an unfriendliness toward tho admin
i.tration which he pretende to serve, and Of
which he is nominally part. and such u conse-
auent luck of loyal interest in it's success, that
the safest and surest guaranty OF his faithful
service is, in my opinion. entirely wanting. His
course, in itself, such Us should rot have been
entered upon while maintaining official rela-
lions to the administration. also rsntws and
their character and intent. the charles of
offensive partsanship heretofore made,
and up to bhis time held in allegiance.
Mr.. Stone and others Of like disposition
so for obliterated that the administration
Of the Cove rhn1ent is to be trusted. in places
high or low to thoss who aggressively and con-
stantly endeavor unfairly to destroy the con-
tdence Of the people in the party responsible
for such administration. While vicious par.
tisan methods should not be allowed for lntrti-
san purposes to degrade or iniure the public
service, it is my belief that nothing tends sc
much to discredit our efforts, in the interest Of
such service. to treat fairly and generously the
official inculnbency OF political opponents az
conduct such as ia here disclosed, The
people OF this country certainly do not
| require the best results Of administrative
endeavor to be reached with such agen
| cies Us these Upon full consideration
| OF all have before me, am constrained tx
decline the application of MIR Stone for his re-
| instatement inclose his letter with this. and
desire you to acguaint him with nay decision
| Yours very truly, GROVER CLEVELAND.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
| WASHINGTON D. c., Nov. "a, 1886. {,
| The Hon. William A. Stone. Pittsbure, Pa:
| SIR am directed by the President to say tt
| YOU that. after consideration OF your letter. o
| the 18th inst, be will not revoke or change TIL
| order heretofore made suspending you us Dis
| trict Attorney for the Western District of Penn
| sylvania. Very respectfully,
| i. II. GARLAND, Attorney General.
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Enough of a Good Thing.
"Papa, just see my new dress, said