The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-29
A Most Infamous Official Circular Is
sued from the Ordnance Office.
Arsenals and Armories of the United States
Turned Into Political Machines at the In
stance of Secretary Of War Endicott.
Women and Children Dismissed to Make
Room for Hungry Democrats.
The Widow and Daughter ofa Wounded Union
Officer Displaced from the Rock Island
Arsenal Because They Are Republicans.
A few days ago the Journal received through
the mail the following letter:

A few days ago the Journal received through
the mail the following letter:
Rock ISLAND H.. Sept. %, 1883.
TO the Editor of the indianapolis Jourrsr
have had the fortune, good and bad, to te-
come possessed of the inclosed secret circular,
issued from Washington two years ago. 1t is
the most damnable thing ever promulgated by
any government pretending to be civilized, and
10 proof positive of the fact that Mr.. Cleveands
administration has prostituted the whole power
Of the government to secure his reelection. The
official who had the hardihood to sign his name
to this order is, believe, still Ia power. with
annual appropriations Of three or four millions
and an extraordinary allowances Of FIVE or six
millions by the present Congress. ell evidently
to be expended for the sole benefit Of the Demo-
cratic party. Surely the Republican Senate
does not know the character Of the men to whom,
il SO willing sccords confidence. A committee
of tie Senate could quickly verify the issue Of
| this order and other similar instructions
throughout the service of the government
Under Republican admin istrations. for over
| twenty years, no such swe eeping discharge OF
| Democrats was ever thought Of, and there
thousands of them in the employ OF the
| government to-day who obtained their places
| long years ago under Republican auspices.
| without question as to their politics. and
| have retained them-General Benes among
the number. None Of them, men, women
or children. have ever been asked: "Are you
| Republican," or "Are you a Democratf
| What have womsn and children to do,
| with politics in this great countryf
| Why should political test be applied to them3
1t is absurd and silly!
| My sister. tho widow Of wounded officer Of
volunteers. who served faithfully during the
war OF the rebellion, had employment for her
self and two daughters at one OF our large
srsenals until about six months ago. when they
/ called before the commanding officer
and told that they could not have ary mors
work from the ordnance department. When
my sister asked the reason he informed her that
he bad learned that she and her daughters
| were Republicans. Are discharged for
that reason onlyi' she asked. ''He replied, at
il perhaps improper fo- me to reply that
| question; can only say that I am complying
| with conhdent tial instructions received from the
| chiet OF ORDNANCE"
only learned Of this a few days ego as a re-
| suit of my sisters application TO me for means
OF subsistence. and, on visiting her. found the
above state of facts. One of the clerks who is
in the ofics of the officer in charge Of the ar
ssnal, being intimate friend OF the family.
very kindly gave me copy of this infamous
production.
To what depths OF msauuess may not q man
descend who can thus, deliberately and secretly,
persecute women and childreni
You may publish the circular and the letter.
or take any other steps in the matter that 10 BY
seem best to you. j. @. ELLERY.
The circular referred to in the foregoing
letter, copy Of which was inclosed. is as fol-
ORDNANCE OFFICE. WAR DEPT,
WAsHISGToS. ID. c., Jan, 4, 1885,
lCoafdentaiJ
'To the commanding officers Of the national armores
the United States arsenals at New York West Troy.
Ny, Philadelphia, Pa. Boston. Mass, Benicia.
Cal, ETC.:
"Sir-While arsenals and the ar
mory are not intended to be con-
verted into political machines, two
political parties in this country are
recognized. 1t is therefore ordered
that hereafter in employing and dis
charging employees of any and all
grades, other things being equal,
and qualification satisfactory, Dem
ocrats will be favored, The object
being to divide the force in the diff
ferent grades gradually between
Democrats and Republicans. THIS
RULE WILL APPLY TO WO.
MEN AND CHILDREN, as well
as to men, and will be strongly en-
forced.
Respectfully, your obedie,t servant,
rs. V. BENET,
"Brigadier- general, Chief of Ordinance, United
States Army
The statements in the foregoing letter were
so astounding and the circular ot such an ex
traordinary character that its genuinenes
was doubted. In order to ascertain if such q
circular had really been issued, and to get a
the bottom facts in the case tae letter anl
circular were sent to the journals CORE
spondent at Washington, Mr.. P. s. Heath,
| Win 1nStructlOus 10 lnVeStlgate the matter
and report. Our cor respondent, who is thor
oughly trustworthy and we'll known In Wash
ington and throughout the country, con
cluded to commence the investigation at the
I fountain-head, and accordingly called on Gen
; eral Benet, at the War Department, anC
: handed him a copy of the circular. Follow
: ing is our correspondents report the inter
view, conveyed in private letter to the
, editor:
"The General was taken nback, but he finall,
said that ne believed he had written the crcula
| himself Then he called 10 his adi,tant, and
handing that officer the circular, inquiret
whether he [Benetl had written such circula
as this, and instantly the adiutant replied tha
he (Benet] had General Benet then requeste,
the officer to compare the copy with thu orgina
draft, and among the Enclosures you wiz find tn
, very copy, with the corrections in Genera
Benets assistants own hand, so that it b an off
cial auihentication of the circular.
"At great length General Benet explained th
: circumstances under which this circular orig
mated 1 will relate them briefly to you, as thi
matter is likely to raise considerable comnotion