New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-19

SOME INTERESTING CONF1DEN-
TIAL CORRESPONDENTS.
fav rKLEoRAru To rnr rrr.rxrt
Washington Sept ls.-The Presidents warning
.eainst the use of official positions to control
political movements" was issued in merely Pick
vjcxan sense, else it was the work Of Dr.
Jckyl which Mr. Hyde was bound to ignore ana
reject Never were offce-hoders more active than
they are now; never were officials hunted down
more closely and compelled to disgorge part OF
their salary to help in the reelection OF Mr
Cleveland more persistcntly than they are at the
present time This is indeed the era of reform,
and public office has become private snap
The most shameless methods are being employed
20 crcumvent the Civil Service law and bleed
Government employees. Collections are not taken
up in the departments, but an Office has been
established across the way where voluntary
contributions can be made. 1t is as Congressman
Allen Of Missouri, sarcastically remarked the other
dav. like an election in his State AT sunrise
of the day when the ballot is to be cast gun IS
fired This is to inform the negroes that there
Is to be a fair election. If they express any
doubt about it, or look surprised another gun is
fred and this is continued at regular intervals
throu ghout the day, until they are convinced
that this is really to be fair election The notice
that an Office for the collection of campaign funds
has been opened has the same effect upon the
clerks that the firing OF the gun has upon tne
n.rroes: IL is at once understood by them. In the
one case, the clerks step up to the cartalhs
Office and settle, and in the other the negroes stay
prudently away from the polls. The correspond
ent of The Tribune is informed upon good authority
that Mr.. Cleveland was demonstrated with on this
score by some well-meaning Mq5wumps not long
ago. but that he returned as an answer to their
pleas a significant shrug OF the shoulders only.
,calf furf
matter. The violation of the Civil Service law
is going on right under his nose, and he cannot
pretend to be ignorant Of it, even If he affects
10 distrust the information supplied to him by
Mugwumps.
THE POSTAL MACHINERY IN FINE TRIM.
Under the administration of Don NJ. Dickinson
the Presidents most intimate friend and adviser,
the entire machinery of the Post Office Depart
ment has been set to work to secure Mr.. Cleve-
lands reelection The Postmastcr-General him.
self sets the example. Hc makes speeches and
presdes at political meetings. He reorganlzes
the service " in the interest of the party he
employs clerks to do campaign work lie writes
newspaper articles and inspires political cor
respondence. His first assistant, General Steven
son, does not need instruction. He is himself
the most active partisan. Even Don NJ Diclnn-
son could learn points from him. The General
office is like political headquarters nowadays.
Weak Congressman receive assistance by timely
appointments The clerks in his office are put
under contribution for campaign purposes. Chalr-
men of State Committees are informed OF the best
means of extracting funds from unwilling posi-
masters. There is nothing that General Adlai
Stevenson will not do to merit the title OF oen-
sivc PARTISAN There is nothing which per-
nicious activity" will suggest that he docs not
stand ready to perform. The proof OF all THIS
can be found in the following very interesting
letter which has come into the possession OF Inc
Tribune correspondent:
yIeadouarters Democratic State Central Committee
Gof Kansas sos Kansasave.. Topeka. Aug "a 1855
Personal and confidential
To General A. E. Stevenson. First Assistant Postmaster
General. Washington d. c.
NV Dear Sir l am just in receipt OF notincauoh
through channels with reference 10 'ne ps
~ the National Committee getting contributions Tor tha
committee from Federal occhoiders and that TINS matter
for the different States is made TO devove upon the re-
snectIve state Committees In pursuance OF my plan 10
carry out the wishes of the National Committee In TINS
rcspect you will please aid me by having iurhshea Inc
AZ your earliest convenience list OF the names Oh a
postmasters this State. with the exception oi 'ne
Presidential appontees.
r,o.s. haze this list furnished IN duplicate. and by
eoun,es one CODY of which Will retain in my Office Tor
reerece and check against and the other copy wiz
cut up into respective counties ana reier 10 S eo
tho counties as to the position and financial SIT
nation and polcs separate postmasers ana the
kbiity TO respond such requests as may MAKE po"
them.
The fact IS as well. that there are nun
dreds and hundreds these fourth class postmas'er
country storekeepers who while not enjoying any very
considerable emouments directly from their ohccs ye'
By reason of to their business hroue
association with post Office brings them In large am
valuable returns and large number Of them are more
able to contribute than arc many OF our
Presidential oflceholders
Again further, / wish you would furnish me the
names and location in State OF the gentlemen who are
in the United States Railway Postal Service quite
number OF these gentlemen have TO me and arc
dcsirous to contribute financially TO the National Com
mttec, and are only waiting Information as 10 tae
methods to be odoptede that end Yours respectfully
JOHN NJ. GALLOWAY, Chairman.
After this, postmastcrs who have lucrative
business in addition to their Office will not be
surprised at the demands that will be made upon
them Particularly significant also, is the re-
quest to have the list Of postmastcrs furnished to
the committeeman in duplicate and by counties
Who is to do this work? Who pays for itP 1t
is evident that it must be done in the Post Ofice
Department by Government employees, and at the
public expense And all this under the nose OF
the President, and to secure his reelection
Public Office is indeed a private snap.
"BILLn MoRRIsoN's ANXIETY FOR "THE BOYS
Having beeh appointed by the President TO
semi-udicial Office it generally supposed that
Colonel Bill" Morrison would thereafter lead
judcious life If there is scandal in the olien'
sivc partisanship" of any public onci"i
Ii certainly is attached to man occupying
an important semi-judicial position, who plays
the part of huckster and dealer in small posi-
Offices This is precisely the position occupied
by Interstate Commissioner Morrison Nobody
will deny the importance OF his office, the vast
power lodged in it, and the far-reachng c9nse-
oucnces 10 which its decisions may lead. 1t is
second only in Importance among Federal Ju,
dicial appointments, 70 place on the bench o.
the Supreme Court. Yet Mr.. Morrison forgetting
the dignity and obligation OF his place, con
tinucs to run after offices. 10 find places for his
strikers, and, generally speaking, TO give the
hovs a chance TO come in and warm their toes.