Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-01
MONEY, NOT REFORM. WANTED.
Assessing Federal Officials to Pay Gle
velands Campaign Expenses.
BOSTON Record TReu.l

Boston heccFd rep j.
The Democratic State Committee is vigor-
ously at work carrying out its peculiar notions
of civil service reform. Today every clerk
in the post-oface has received circular
notifying him that financial assistance in
needed aud asking him for his contributions.
The following is copy of the notice:
DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE,
No. 252 WAsHINGToS ST.,
BosToS, Aug. %, 1888. J
DEAR SIR: The pending presidential CAM
paign is of great importance to the country.
Every voter ought to be interested in the re-
suit.
The State Committee desires to conduct an
active and vigorous campaign in this state,
and to enable it TO carry out such intention
and to defray current and other legitimate
expenses which must necessarily be incur
red. the financial assistance and support of
all supporters of the Administration in the
State are required and needed.
The committee urgently appeal to and
solicit you, as one interested in promoting
the success of the present Administration, to
contribute such an amount of money as you
may feel inclined to give for these purposes.
Please send your contributions to Charles
ID. Lewis, treasurer, 252 Washington Street,
Boston.
Respectfully yours,
CSignedl CHARLES d. LEWIS,
Treasurer.
The circular is being sent to the custom
house and TO all the post-offices and Govern
ment officials through the State. Every of
fice-holder is to get one. Look out for 1t.
The Ohio style.
Cincinnati Commercial [Rep.l.
Postmasters that are now being assessed
by the Democrats to pay campaign expenses
happen not to be all Cleveland men, and one
in Ohio furnished the following confidential
letter to him from the State chairman;
OHIO STATE DEMOCRATIC
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
COLUMBUS, o., Aug. l6, 1888.
My DEAR SIR: Presuming that you would
like to understand the situation in Ohio at
this junction, write to you in strictest con-
tidence on the out look. On a recent trip to
New York and Washington We were deeply
impressed with the necessity of making an
intense and vigorous fight in Ohio. Infor-
nation from high authority convinces us
that the greatest struggle ever made in
American politics will be fought on Hooser
soil.
The plan of the opposition is to COLOMBO
every possible floating vote from Ohio into In
diana. Those high in the councils of the
party look to us to oh OK this dangerous
scheme. Though hopeful of carrying the
State and placing it in the Democratic col
umn, our first and greatest object should be
to keep every Republican at home. In order
to do this it will compel us to incure large
expenditure of money. To obtain this we
must look in other directions than assess
ments on the state ticket, which, as you will
know. will produce but meagre sum, You
will no doubt be annoyed by requests for
donations from your local committees.
We sincerely regret that we are forced to
appeal to your generosity for our committee.
The only means we have thus far received
are donations of 800 each from few post
masters. Letters in the nature of a demand
were sent out last year, which necessarily
gave offense to many and a few indiscreet
individuals gave them to the press. There
fore, we hope you will give your most gen
erous consideration. Letters of similar
character have been forwarded only to those
whom we regard as the true and tried friends
of our party.
knowing how well you appreciate the fact
that your term of office, to a certain extent,
depends upon this years result, We com
municate with you freely and in strict con-
fidence. Anxiously awaiting your early re-
ply, | am, truly yours,
j. b. TOWNSEND, Chairman.
1t was to inspire and help on such ne
farious work as the above that Grover Cleve-
land has just subscribed $4,000 to the
Democratic fund. 1t is his effective method
of instructing his army of officeholders to
pay over the cash.