Wichita eagle., 1888-04-01
A PRoTEAN CIRCULAR,
A Second Edition of the Benedict-oIaynar,
Circu ara Futile Attempt to Evade tn,
Civil-Servico Law.

| Circuiar-A Futile Attempt to Evade tho
CiviI-Servico Law.
There is a vulgar proverb about ss whip
ping the devil around the stump" Its truth
is demon strated just now by the devious
manner III which the Benedict-Maynard
circular has been altered TO evade the Civil
Service law. and vet do its work effectually
| When the New York Tribune printed the
circular, or what proves now to have been
only first edition of it, Messrs Benedict
and MAYNARD made various shutting half
denials that their names had been used with
their authority. and the scandal was SO
great that finally announcement was made
that the circular had been dropped entirely.
The sequel shows how much confidence
was to be placed in this assurance. The
Sun prints in letter from Watertown a
copy of the following circular, the like Of
which it says has been received by every
office-holder in Northern New York:
LAWRENCE GARDNER, Chairman
HENRY L BIscoE. Treasurer
C. W. BENNETT, Secretary
BUREAU OF POLITICAL INFORMATION
513 EIGHTH STREET, n. w,
WASHINGTON. D. c., March I, 1893
DEAR SIR-The object OF this organization is
to aid in the distribution of papers and docu-
ments discussing the political questions and
issues OF the day from Democratic stand
point.
To efectually accomplish this result, we de-
sire the name OF every voter receiving mail at
the different post-ofices in your town.
Messrs. Thomas L. Benedict, l. H. MAYNARD
and other representative Democrats here, who
are in active sympathy with this movement
have referred us TO you as the most competent
and reliable person to furnish the list Of Voters
required
Will you kindly send US such list giving the
posI-ofice address of each voter, and indicat-
ing opposite his name tie party to which he be-
longs thus: D. for Democrat; R. for Republic
an: p for Prohibitionist, and L. for Labor.
Where there may be more than one voter in .
family belonging to the same party, but ono
name need be given.
If the preparation o, full lists should require
much time send partial lists from time to time
until all have been included
II you do not have the information at hand,
please confer with parties who may be able to
furnish it.
Your active cooperation in our work IS earn.
estly invited and you Will confer great favor
by an early response. Address as above. Very
respectfully c. W. BENNETT, Secretary.
As the circular was first issued, it bore
the names of Public Printer Benedict and
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury May
nard at the end as the persons responsible
for it, and the name of Mr.. Bennett,the sec
retary, was in the body as person towhom
the desired information was to be sent. As
the circular is remodelled, the names Of
Messrs Benedict and Maynard are given in
the body as of representative Democrats
who are in active sympathy with this move
ment," and who have referred the ''Bu-
reau of Political Information to the re-
spe.tive Office holder who receives the cir
cular as '.the most competant and reliable
person to furnish the list of voters ro-
quired." Mr.. Benefits name is put at the
bottom now.
These evasions constitute singular ex-
hibition of hypocrisy. Every man, whether
Civil-Service reformer or spokesman, would
have respected Messrs. Benedict and Mayn-
ard more if they had stood by the first cir
cular and allowed it to appear that they
were calling frankly and openly. upon the
Office holders for this political service. Tho
same call is made now, but in a less manly
way. The same implied threat is there, in
the mention of two conspicuous Govern
mont officers, each in a powerful place. The
offense against the spirit of the law is quite
hn;,, haiA