Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-10
Cleveland, and the Civil Service Re
formers.

William ID. Faulke of Indiana, conspic
uous civil service reformer in the West,
who did not vote for the Republican pres
idential candidate in 1884, having been
then good deal drawn towards Cleve-
land by his loud professions and the argu-
mentS of his Mugwump friends, has now
lost all confidence in the good faith and
sincerity Of the President. In view Of
Clevehnd's antecedents,, and surroundings,
of his Buffalo politics and his strong par
tisanship rs Governor of New York, it is
strange that intelligent citizens could
have believed that such man and his
party would make better Administration
Of the Government than Mr.. Blaine and
the Republican party would have done.
But the instances are numerous of sensi-
bic men being humbugged and carried
away by charlatans and false guides.
But il Is to the credit of Mr.. Faulke that
ne now frankly acknowledges his mistake,
and does not try to mask himself under
the guise of Free Trade. lie
has carefully investigated the
performance of this "reform" admnistra-
ton in the matter of turning the rascals
out" of post Offices, aud putting partisan
Democrats in; and he has published the
results of his inquiries in the New York
Nation, IN administration Democratic
organ. Mr.. Foulke finds that, out of 1856
eases of postnasters removed on generally
false charges of offensive partisanship,"
or other false charges, 'in only two in
stances was there any investigation made
other case no notice of any charges had
been given, no cause for the removal was
assigned, no opportunity for defense,
denial or explanation" In twenty-one
eases requests for information and an OPP
portunity for investigation received no at
tention, and the charges were not dis
closed to the accused. Frequently the ac-
cuscr was rewarded for making the ac-
cusatiou 10y being given the office. Mr..
foulkc names many instances. He also
names many instances where such charges
We're the work of personal enc
mics of the accused. He also names five
instances out of many where the new
appointee, thus rewarded for slandering
his neighbor, was a Jail bird or an incom-
pctcnt. In one ease, that of James
bowling, Mr.. Bowling boosted that he
had bribed members of the common
council of indianapolis. He was tried by
the council and found guilty by two
thirds vote. Beforea grand jury Bowling
refused to testify upon the ground that
il would criminate himself. Yet he was
put in office and kept in office until he
had to be discharged for gross violation
of the postotlice laws. MIR. Foulke says
truly that these facts show "the deliberate
man who will consent to prefer charges
against his neighbor. which he knows are
neither to be seen nor answered, is to be
rewarded by the coveted place. Ii is to
premium to libel and false testimony.
which are to be protected by perpetual
secrecy. TO adopt such a course is to
establish that law of most unnatural Sc
lection which leads inevitably to the sur
vival of the most unfit. 1t is the man
who will descend to secret calumny who
is rewarded by the spells of office. And
this is done under the direction of Pres
ident who has told us that the voters of
the land who have learned that mystery
aud concealment in the management of
their affairs cover tricks and betrayals."
MIR. Foulke shows that President Cleve-
land is personally responsible. He says
IL communicated personally to the Presi-
ident the result of my inquiries, together with
the names of the postmasters in question.
| found, however, that the President APP
proved this course. He stated that he con-
sidered il impracticable to inform the post |
masters of charges against them, that this |
would be 10 turn the question of their re- |
moval into judicial investigation, that they |
were continually protesting, objecting and
asking for copies of the charges, but that |
these could not be furnished them. / sug-
gested that there was little use of the charges
being preferred If the postmasters were not
permitted to see them and there was 10 be no |
investigation: that charges were made by
persons VINO were utterly responsible, and
often by persons who did not pretend to know
the facts; that such charges were false and
that it was not possible to procure informa-
ton that was accurate until both sides had
at least, chance TO be heard. He said that
he regretted that had made these inquiries,
that the department had got its informa
ton as best it could that he had great difficult
~ in bringing many of his party friends up
to his idea of this reform and that Indiana
was particularly bad State in that respect
left in his hands a summary of the results
of my inquiries"