Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-12
"TALK OF THE TOWN"
JUDGE EDGERToN's REMOVAL FROM
THE cIvIL-sERvICE COMMISSION.
Asnappy History Of the Members Composing
It-0'Rerrall In the Gubsrna-
torial Race.
IRON Our Regular Correspondence

IFrom Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, February 1.-THE removal
OF Judge Edgerton from the Civil. Service
Commission to make place for Mr.. Hugh
S. Thompson, OF South Carolina, Is the talk
OF the town. The full effect OF this pecu-
liar performance on the part OF President
Cleveland Is Just beginning 10 dawn upon
the prominent men at Washington. II Is
the most remarkable proceeding ever
known, aud there is going 10 be some fun
over this though before the present Chief
Executive goes into private life. The
CiVil-SerVice Commission IL the colossal
humbug OF the age, and there are not many
men OF good sense who would care lig IL
the commission should be composed entirely
OF idiots from the biggest insane asyIums in
the land. II is useless concern, and some
OF these DAYS American manhood aud de-
cencv will assert themselves and the hum-
bug will be gotten rid OF in way that will
make Gentleman George II. Pendleton and
the Mugwumps weep II they persist
10 hanging on TO this form OF ldOatry which
has had possession OF them for ten years past.
AS before stated the system Is humbug. but
the venerable Judge Edgerton Is the best
man who was ever showed into the commits
SION. He il an honest, upright Democrat,
has never fatered in his duty TO his party.
and from the very first day that be became
member Of the clyi-seryice humbug
he has endeayOfed 10 practically administer
the affairs OF the commission, II such thing
were possible, when 1t is remembered that
his associates on the board we're such slippery
fellows. Lyman, the Republican member OF
the commission. Is and has been all slOng
sneakng member, who has thought more OF
his salary than anything else. Oberly, who
for nearly two years member and is at
present the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs.
was for wears one OF the worst machine
politicians IN Illinois. He and LYNN COM
bined aginst Judge Edgerton, the only
sound, sensible msu on the commission. and
both Obcrly and Lyn9n crlwled on their
bellies 10 the Mugwumps and crauks, and
Of the time Oberly was working The wires 10
slip into an Office that would paw
more money, furnish patronage, aud
give him opportunities for making money,
perhaps not strictly through his official ca
pacity, but indirectly. The Indian Com
missioner has a fat Job, and Il Oberly
hasn't made arrangements TO get good
business Job after Harrison boosts him ont
Of Office, then be has less sense than be is
credited with. BY trucking to the Nue.
wumps and cranks be kept solid with
Cleveland and worked the President most
ufANlluliFs " hfuffFA NNN uAAA-nf AitNfA
cranks who have posed az "reiormerS
csme 10 Washington with their miserable
wines about the way the Baltimore. To-
danapois, or Chicago post-otiices were being
run Oberly and Lyman listened ut them and
accompanied them to the White House.
Once there they 1atlered and humbugged
Cleveland, and he, poor man. allowed himself
to be gulled 10y the very element who did
mole 10 defeat him for r. election thau any
other crowd. Grand old Judge Edgerlon,
woo got bis Democracy IN Ohio long before
the average civil-serYicc crank was born,
would not Listen 10 these whining syco-
plants, and he told them plainly that
he for one would not li.ten 10 their walls
lie denounced them and sls0 denounced the
bumhuggery that was being praciiced by
Ohrry and Lyman. kdgefl0n spoke out IN
meeting, and OF course this incurred for nm
the enmItv Of the New York Times and
Hgrper's Weekly crowd OF crsnks. Unior-
tunately for the Democratic party, George
Jones and George william Quits have had
more Influence at the White llouse than
German. Bsrnum, Barbour, Vance, Randall,
Cockrell, Vest. Mcpherson, Cox, Beck,
and other prominent Democrats.
Everybody is taking about the EdgertOn
removal, and the old gentleman had ten
friends to-day where be had one this tlme
last week. The New York suns editorial
OF this morning j. regarded here az n SOCK
d0ager. IL has been very generally read
and commented upon, and there u point
IN n that only man possessing the genius
OF Charles A. Dana could make. II Mr..
Dana did not write It some man
on The staff did who catches the
spiut OF bis chief. The editorial starts
ont bv prai-ing Cleveland for having re.
n Of data limo In
causes the Presidents course is declared TO
be a oo'd hut tardg assertion al me dignity
OF his office. 1T gain, cXtrlordlnary ems
phasis.v continue. he sun, "from the TACT
that the civil servant arbitrarily removed 10
make place for another man il member OF
the very commission created to perpetuate
and extend the humnug at which Mr..
Cleveland. ia the last month Of his term,
strikes this blow"
A monster petition Is going 10 be sent 10
General Harrison from this city asking him
toappoint Judge Edgerton as the Democratic
member Of the commission. IL VIII be
signed by members Of both political parties.
and will include also The names Of over fifty
OF the leading Washington cOrrssp0ndtn :.
There arc few men in Congress or on News
paper Row who believe that Judge Edger-
ton hos had a square deal. Aud II the
humbug "a 10 he cOntinued the desire on the
part OF the average pubic man "a that
PLAIN frank, honest man Ike Judge Edger.
ton should not be removed merely TO make
room for man for whom Cleveland wauts
to make provision. Harrison may not re-
appoint EdgertOn. but the old man's friends
are going to put in \ few lcks IN bis behalf.
The senate will not confirm Thompson.
As,tated in this CORES pondsDce few days
svO. COngressman O'Ferrsll has been re-
ceiving great many letters from his friends
urging him 10 formally announce himself a.
candidate Tor Governor oil Virginia Colonel
O'Ferrall has finally yielded TO the solicita.
ton OF his friends, and will in few days
Writpaletiertoa prominent Nirglnian stating
that he is in the hands Of his friends, and II
a majority OF the next convention think that
be ought 10 be the andaid-bearer ~ tho
coming fight he Is ready TO accept, and
will consider IL the highest honor that
could be conferred upon Nirginiau.
Colonel OFerrall says that be does not
propose 10 enter into any scramble Tor the
nomination. II the nomination comes 10
him through the eXeftiOns OF his friends he
viii, OF course, accep. and be profoundly
grateful. Such a call would be one that
10 man could refuse 70 respond 70 who
has the welfare OF Nirginia gt heart.
palsn 10 10 be ono OF the most Bit
ter that has been Waged In mauy years,
hut he confidently believes that the
Democrats will win toe fight aud retain con-
troll Of all Of the State Offices and the Legs
aiure by the usual majority. Whilst he has
always been IN earnest tarin reformcr, be is
OF the opinion that during the next csm-
paign the issues will be confined strictly 70
state affairs, and that Federal ahsirs
will and ought not TO cut soy
figure Ia the fight. As to the debt
question. be believes in Standing by
the Riddlebergsr settlement-in other words,
The present staiu. OF that matter ought not
to be disturbed. lie favors also liberia!
policy a. TO the public schools and the State
institutions, aud that the campaign ought 10
be waged entirely on State lines Such
policy be believes will insure continued
Democratic supremacy.
Colonel O'Ferralfs letter il awaited with
considerable interest. EX-COngressman +.
John Ellis, VI Louisiana, who has been To-
Gated here for several years, and who has
done so much effective campaigning In VIZ
ginis, Is warm friend snd great admirer
OF Colonel O'Ferral. He saws that Should
a.. h. Il