The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-24

torisl, stated thar IL had authorized in cor
respondent. Stealsy. TO examine and report
ther an order naming only Republican
papers for o1lcial recognition was stil. In
and that Stsaley reported that . Demo
correspondent could not obtain access to
the War Department. that this had been
brought to Secretary Endicott's attention. The
wump in these words:
yet not one word Of notice has that exalted
person deleued to take of IL. he. ike &C many
others. seems too great to be useful, TOO honest
to be . Democrat lunconsciously true
II Mr.. Endicott were q man of ordinary discern
mont. or had the slightest experience IN Affairs.
and the sliRhtest conception Of his position, he
would Immediately : have sent for the CORE
spondsnt and said Mr.. Stsaley. etc.
etc." ut is contsnded that we must submit to
these assumptions and pretentions 49, We
have said there haa never been such insolence in
Office rs marks the present situation in the de-
partments at Washington. Too many bsegArs
on horseback and too many professional reform
ers in the saddle 10 the prevailing disorder.
Every little upstsrt sets up for q tin Jupiter,
every poor devil. who thinks himself hedged
about by the divinity Of the civil cervice. pos
sesses at least . plaster image. To lick the boot
or kick the tail OF the next in succession mp or
down, in strict conformity to eivil-servics rules,
and TO treat the world In general with the scorn
which the tumble bug bestows ON the maggot is
the sort of 'Jefersonian Simplicity. which
Lu0k 400 NJ III
fuence 10 felt In the Departments Of War this
orgy Of sslf-conceit and riot Of ~ssrvility are of
more voluptuous growth, because there IL an
opinion that the Prssident dare not lay the
weight of o eacriligeous and disloyal finger up
on the heroes who saved the Nation by forging
commissary duplicates and falsifyine the pay
roll and who still hold the fort If Mr.. CIevs-
land wants TO do the country and the cause OF
reform a service be viii take q look at this won
The bullv Won TheNar Denartmsnt .stumbled .
The acknowledgements, IN gross and
dishonorabie violation Of decency and propriety.
lent his authority to using the depot for political
purposes. He demanded that Republicans be dis
charged and Democrats employed. He ordered.
fcr sbs first time in its history. an inventory Of
the political opinions of these War Department
employees at the depot In gross violation of
official courtesy be has for political purposes
subordinated the colonel and deputy quarter
msster-eensral in command, to . captain, who
IL . Democratic ward politician. whose habits
and associations are . surprise to citizens who
are accustomed to do business at the depot.
Steady succeeded at last in seeing the Sscre-
tary OF War. and got TO be . great man. who
was prayerfully consulted about the manage
ment of the depot. and in violation Of army
regulations. etiquette and official deceney. .
parade was made ir the newspapers through
this correspondent about what WAS to be done
at the depot March 3 he autographed the news
that the under officer at the depot had been
given exclusive control Of the employees; that q
well-knowu ward worker. of habits which made
him wholly unfit for the service, had been APP
pointed to q 81. 400 clerkship. when it was we'll
known that there Was no need Of such an en-
ploye, and especially such . man, and that the
sole object was 70 give a political henchman a
living at the expense OF the government. The
dispatch added that IL was understood at the
War Department that the new commandapt was
. Democrat, or he never would have been sent
here, and a. it was. would only remain TO
July !.
March "a. Mr.. Stealey volunteered az spokss-
man for the War Department.. through the news
papers. to indicate to the commandant that the
Secretary wss displeassd at his resistance Of the
order putting . captain 1eovs . colonel Of dis.
tiuguished service, announced that he must gos
as the Democrats in Indiana 'have got q big
fight to make well 1 should think sol to carry
that State this year. and they do not want q
government Official around with . disposition to
throw cold water upon their edorts-p He cur
:ously added. they do not desire. however. that
the Jacksonville depot shall be q political ma.
chine, as il has been for years under Republic,
ans, but they do insist that it shall DO controlled
by men who have sympathy and common cause
In their efforts, and the Republican employees
who have made themselves obnoxious 10 Demo
Gratis for years shall be dismissed from their
places" +,
This people know just how to value this stuff.
Men who became notorious in the p~enitentiary
corruption have been placed In charge Of these
valuable government stores. An honorable and
faithful old man. whose hair has grown snow
white ia the service. experienced, wise and
faithful, and so long ir the service that he Is too
old to learn . new business, has been turned
out. cruelty, almost without notice. to put in hia
place az inspector of cloth-a position requiring
great experience sDd KNOWLEDGE of ~eleth-soms
one of q number Of political heelers who know
nothing OF the business or duties, are wholly
and grossly incompetent and morally and men,
tally unfit for the place.
Let them enjoy it-if they can. The day Of
reckoning will como, In due season, and when II
comes, the conduct of every Official, from tho
qusrtermaster-g general down, will undergo the
most rigid aud merciless investigation, and the
~loafers. tramps snd scalawags who have been
thrust upon the service for political purposes
will get their walking papers just rs rapidly a.
blanks can be filed. and the service Of the War
Department, with experienced and competent
employees. will return to control of the army,
not the politicians No Republican War De-
psrtment ever presented the spectacle Of beinR
bullied and dishonored a. the present has beer
IN this matter.