Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-15
AN ASTOUNDING ORDER.
Making War on Women and Children.
-"Peckaniff Endicott as Spoils-
man.-The ArmoTy and Arsenals as
Party Machines Soldiers Orphans
: Must Give Way to Democrats.

- 49, $500 ~ ~ ~ $4,000
WAsHISG1ox, Oct. 9th. Here is some
work cut out for Senator Hale's investigating
committee. On January 4, 1856, IS. v.
Bennett, Brigadier-Geueral, Chief of Ord
nance, U. S. A, issued an official circular,
marked confidential of which the follow
ing is copy:
while arsenals and the armory are not
intended to be converted into political ma
chimes, two political parties in this country
are recognized. II is therefore ordered that
hereafter in employing and discharging EN-
ployees of any and all grades, other things
being equal and qualifications satisfactory
Democrats will be favored; the object be-
ing to divide the force in the different grades
gradually between Democrats and Republi-
cans This rule will apply to women and
children, as well as to men, and will be
strictly enforced"
A copy Of this circular was sent to the
commanding officers of the National Armory
at Springfield, Mass, and all the United
States arnories, and its provisions are still
in force. Some of the officers who received
it reported that majority of the employee.
under their direction were Democrats, and
desired to be informed whether the circular
should be construed so as to require that
Republicans should be favored in appoint
ments and discharges until an equality should
be established. 1t is understood that they
were informed that such was not the purpose.
OF course not.
General Bennett attempts TO explain the
matter as follows:
Secretary Endicots said to me that he
was constantly importuned by prominent and
influential Democrats to cause the removal
of Republicans employed. in the armories
and arsenals, and have the places given to
Democrats. He felt compelled to do some
thing in the matter, and asked me if it could
not be arranged. | replied in the aftirma-
tive and drew up this circular and submitted
it to him and he approved it. | then had
copies made in manifold, and a copy was
stht W lHc VI every
armory and arsenal. Several of them re-
ported that upon investigation they found
that majority of the persons under them
already were Democrats"
General Benet also declared that no per-
son had been discharged under the circular
because he was Republican, in order to
make place for Democrat General Ben
ct is mistaken. A soldiers widow at Rock
Island, H., a woman whose husband fell on
the battlefield, has three daughters, who
were employed in the United States Arsenal
at that place. They were suddenly dismissed,
without any cause being assigned, and other
persons were employed in their places. At
last, after many efforts, the mother ascer-
tanned that her daughters had been dismissed
because their sympathies were with the Re-
publican party, while the persons employed
in their places sympathized with the Demo
cratic party. The officer explained that he
was acting under direct orders from the War
Department, which allowed him no discre-
ton in the matter. 1t is asserted, and with
truth, in all probability, that great many
other persons have been dismissed on the
same ground AID Democrats employed in
their places under this heartless order from
the Chief of Ordnance-this Brigadier- Gen
eral who disgraced the uniform he wears and
the honorable commission he holds when he
signed it, "This rule will apply to women
and children" he writes, and Endicott, "Re-
former" approves it.