The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-05-08
DIVIDING THE SPOiLS.
The Republican Idea OF Civil-Service Re
form and Political Honesty.

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rhe Republican Idea OF Civil-service Re-
form and Political Honesty.
1t is very evident that the spirit
which, in the days when Mr.: Blaine
was Speaker, appointed a committee
with General Butler at it's head, to ex-
scute a war dance on the principle of
Civil-Service reform, is again at the
helm in Washington. Within one
month after his Inauguration, Presi-
dent Harrison has completely set ut
rest all foolish forebodings that his
was to be a Mandy PANTY, milk-and-
water administration. 1t is already
apparent that for the next four years
this is to be a government Of the
boys, by the boys and for the boys,
and that no one is eligible to share in
its beneficcnce unless his Republican,
ism is OF the Tom Plat and block of
five brand. When that noble Sunday
School superintendent, Mr: Wanna
maker was appointed to the Office Of
Postmastcr-General it was universally
conceded to be business-like stroke
of political sagacity, which liquidated
a $4,000 obligation on the one
hand and promised business
like administration of postal bust
ness on the other. And In
this the President showed q
very long head. Mr.. Wanamaker's at
tention had been attracted to the ex-
pertncss shown by one John S. Clark
son hi handling the mailing lists of the
Voice, the Prohibition organ iii New
York, which he obtained surrrepti-
tiously, and carried to the heaaquar-
tiers OF the National Campaign Com
mittee with the greatest celebrity and
without losing piece of the precious
mail matter. The Voice made great
ado over Mr. Clarkson's connection
with its mailing list, and Mr.. Wana-
maker, being a prohibitionist, nat-
urally accepted its eulogies of his en-
pertness as a disinterested tribute to
Mr.. Clarkson's qualifications to hold
any place IN the Post-O1ice Depart
ment lower than the Postmaster Con
eralship, for which liz recognized the
absolute fitness of only one merchant
prince in the United States: There
fore, he named Mr.. Clarkson as his
first assistant, and gave into his hands
the power of decapitation and appoint
ment throughout the Union, reserving
for himself the control of tho post
office at Philadelphia, lest the business
interests of Wanamaker, merchant
might suffer through the selection of
some political hack to tend his mails.
In this Mr.: Wanamaker demonstrated
that he possessed the capacity to look
out for number one, with which the
world that buys at his store has credit
cd him.
Mr.: Clarkson knew what the Presi-
dent and Mr.. anamaker expected of
him, and was too anxious to see the
chips fly to waste time caressing the
handle of the axe entrusted to his keep
ing; so he began laying about him
with all the indiscriminate energy of
boy with his first Ratchet. Wherever
he saw Democratic postmaster his
little axe fell with unerring celebrity.
He never had to strike twice to sever an
offensive partisan head from the office
that supported it. Only one consid-
GRAFTON restrained him from removing
every Bourbon heal with one fell sweep
OF his reeking axe. 1t was necessary
to make out commissions to fill vacan-
cies as rapidly as these were made, and
SO he is forced to prolong the agony.
But with his enjoyment of the task this
can not be considered uncongenial ex-
tension of his labors. How he per-
forms his share in the glorious priv
ilege of giving us a first-class mail
service may be gathered from the
following account of Congress-
man Owen of Indiana's visit to
his shambles: 81 went in the
other day with a long list of Repub-
lican names I wanted favored and
asked that as many Democrats be
turned out General Clarkson took
my paper, and after running over it
hastily said that new rule had been
established by which men In Congress
would be required to set down opposite
each name and post-office where
changes are desired the amount of
salary the positions pay. replied
that If nothing more was required |
could soon comply, and stepping out
side picked up blue book, and within
ten minutes filled in the twenty or
thirty places where the amount of SAL
airy was required. Then l went back
to General Clarkson, and he took
blue pencil and wrote across the back
Of each one, appointed. )" This is the
way the thing goes from morning to
night every day except Sunday. The
clerks filling out the commissions and
looking up the bonds are being over
worked. There are no reports to the
effect that his work has began to tell
upon Mr.. Clarkson. The labor we
delight in physics pain. Chicago
America Qnd.).
A ROTTEN BOROUGH.