Evening journal., 1888-11-24
SEMl-OFFICIAL WARNING.
Significant Words of Harri-
sons Private Secretary.
CIVIL SERVICE FULLY APPRovED


TO BE Too sanguine--A Probably Tn-
splrcd Editorial written by mr. Haa-
ford-omce Seeking Discouraged.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov e4-Upon one after
another Of the questions Of executive policy
The indianapolis journal, whose editorial
writer Is Presidentelect Hnrrisons private
secretary, sounds a warning aud suggessivs
note
In the utter silence Of Gen Harrison upon
oil these matters there can be no more sag
nificant indication OF the trond of hia
opinions than the editorials Mr Hal
ford writes. He has been Cen. Har-
rison's companion and political ally In all
his canvasses for the governorship, senator
ship and presidency, Halford has been in his
counsels and az bis elbow. The doctrines OF
Halford upon such subjects as civil servies
reform and solid south are set great store by
here, and Office holders and Office seekers read
the utterances in The Journal Civil Servics
Reform sand Clean Sweep with compla-
cency or discomfort, according to whether
they were in or wanted to be-
1T was,n the article says, 'sthe doctrins
and practice Of TO the victors belong this
spoils.' which created necessity for civil
service reform. The movement did not come
any too soon. And, II held to its original
purpose, it cannot be too earnestly prose-
-uted for the welfare OF the country. The
fact that il has been made more or ls@
odious by hypocritcal professions and Peck
sniffinn pretenaes Is not the fault of the
movement itself The movement is essen
tially right Civil service reform in it's trus
sense, that Is, in the sense introducing an ele-
ment OF stability into the civil service and
conducting it on basis Of merit and eth
cheney rather than OF mere political spoihs-
civil service reform IN this sense hns come ts
stay, and will move forward rather than
backward
"Ihe Republican clean sweepors should nO@
lie unreasonable in their demands on the maxS
administration. The Democrats made thak
mistake four years ago, and Republicans
should profit by their example Tha more
unreasonable the demands and expectations
IN this regard the greater the liability % dis
appointment, and Of its proving a source Of
party weakness Thosa who make it forgeb
that the Republican party is fully committed
by its platform pledges TO civil service re-
form, and that Gen. Harrison has de-
ciared himself in full sympathy with
IL, They forget TINT the clean sweep
ing business was one Of the main counts IN
the Indictment against the Democratic party,
ann AAt AAlHtIuti tAlAANAAlAAdttAou RA sAsF
public service one Of tho principal cazlses of
is defeat II there IL any honesty in poll
ties the Republican party is pledged to usa
discrimination IN removals from Office as
well ns IN appointments thereto, and 10 nss
both primarily for the public walfare rather
than FOR supposed party advantages Above
all, our friends the clean sweepeIs, forKco
I that Gen. Harrison will be surrounded by
some restrictions in the matter OF removals
and appointments which he cnnnot diae-
gard The civil service law must be obeysd
IL has not been altogether ignored b. thu
present administr ton. and IL would be
scandnlous for a Republican administration
not 20 give il a still tairer construction
After remnrking what offices are and ars
not included under the civil service law, the
writer concludes "From what has been said
it is evident there are many things to be-
taken into account in connection with tbs
demand Of the clean sweepers, and II they
have the welfare Of the party at heart they
win recognize the necessary limitation of the
situation. One thing they can rest assured
Of the president elect is as old and earnest u
Republican any Of them, and can he de-
pended on TO do the very best thing for tha
party, as well as for the country