Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-10-02

iress at Association Hall. There was a
srge audience, many of whom were
ladies'.
MR.. CURTIS ADDRESS
reviewed the political events tioce the last
meeting and declared that the platform
IF the party which was successful last fall
pledged itself to Civil Service Reform, as
explicitly as it did to Protection. President
thus entered upon his admins
ration as the cbOica of party which ex-
piessly claims the honor Of beginning
reform IN the civil service, aud has
promised to complete it. Not
content with requiring that the ex.
Isting law should be extended
to all grades of the service TO
which it is applicable, the party went
intirely beyond these grades and tffirmed
that "the spirit and purpose of the reform
should be observed in all executive ap-
This, however, was not
pledge TO any extraordinary action. 1t
was merely declaration that if the party
were successful at the polls the administra-
tion would do its plain constitutional duty.
For such it is. Whether the convention
had said anything upon the question OF
had remained silent, the executive duty
would have been the same.
How FAVE THEY BEEN KEPT.
Mr.. Curtis then asked how these pledges
have been fulfilled? Have fidelity and
efficiency proved to be a sure tenure of Of
fee, or have such appointments generally
been made precisely as they would have
been made had there been no platform
promises, no pledges Of the candidate, and
no public interest in civil service reform?
1t was not an answer 10 these questions
to say that the reform was not favored by
the people; because majority of the peo-
pie had elected Mr.. Harrison on the pledges
of the Republican platform, and Civil Ser
vice Reform vas one OF these pledges.
II was not an answer to FAY that the
Reform outran public opinion, or that the
President mad not violated his pledges more
than sny other.
What then is the answer? What is the
spirit Of the party and the conduct Of the
Executive? The answer OF course involves
great detail and can be only generally indi-
Gated. Let US look at the signs Of party
feeling.
REFORM TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT.
A few weeks ago, a hilarious admins.
tration party organ at the cspital Of New
York, ore Of the most Influential and rep.
party journals, exclaimed:
Fifteen thousand fourth.clsss pOstmasters
have been removed to date, and Mr. Clark
con remains in Washington with his coat
of and bis shirt sleeves rolled up. Go it,
Clarkson! Out with the whole fifty-fve
by January 1st." Ia Missouri,
the chief party organ thinks Mr.. Clarkson's
labors although, laudable, yet rather de
liberate in the direction of true reform, and
ls confident that "when the dog days are
over and cool weather sets in Colonel
Clarkson will greatly accelerate his
speed"
In New Hampshire the chief admins
traton organ sTraigning reform as "a
stuffed and painted and unpopular hum
bug" and "a bald and rickety affair that
bullies and wheedles good citizens" mex
,rably condemns it ito the scrap heap"
In West Virginia a JEALOUS organ believes
ievOtedly that the spoila belong to the
victor, and the editor having secured his
part OF the booty, announces that at the
earliest practical date every Democratic
sppoiutee in the office entrusted to him,
from the humble and poorly paid apple
ack gaugers to the well paid storekeeper
md clerks will be succeeded by Simon
pure woodland yard wide Republi-
ans" In Pennsylvania an administra
ion journal of importance declares that
the people are tired of the sham of re-
'orm and would gladly snow il under with |
heir votes "
HARRISON RECREANT To HIS PLEDGES.
While this is the public sentiment of the
party as revealed in all the ordinary meth
ids, what is the executive action? Does
hat conform to the platform promise and
he Presidents pledge? The knowledge
# eyery citizen in his own community an
wers. The daily record Of the news.
,sper for seven months answers. The gen
raj political prescription; the policy
which President Harrison when Senator
lefined as "the frank and bold, if brutal,
method of turning men and women out
imply for political opinion" the
lean sweep which is proceeding
n the posiofice; the alarm
which prevades every branch
# the service; the open, figrant contempt
or public opinion, for private Information
md for the psIty promise, which was
hown in the appointment of the late Conn
missioner of Pensions; the Executive re-
nsal TO include the census service 10 the
ules and the removal OF public officers
fitted by character, ability
nd experience, who have absolutely and
onfessedly disregarded politics in their de-
,o.ion to official duty and the public ser
ice. all these facts, ard such as these, an
wer the question. how has the executive
clion conformed to the party promise and
he Presidents pledgeP
HERE ABE TWO SIGNAL ILLUSTRATIONS
# the manner in which those pledges have
,een kept. The fundamental principle OF
eform or Of reasonable conduct of the pub-
ic service requires the retention and re-
appointment of public officers in import
mt places who are especially fitted for
heir trusts by personal character, proved
.bility, by long service and great expert
rec; who are in DO sense active politicians.
md who are exclusively and most efhci-
ptly devoted to their official duties.
When the administration cams into power
lpon a platform of reform, it found two
ueh officers iD the city of New York, the
and the Naval Officer. Both
f them had what is almost impossible
lnder q spoils system, pride and en-
busiasm IN the public service, in
which both of them were Knights
without fear and without reproach. The
d administration could have given no such
,ractical proof of its regard for reform as
heir retention in Office. One Of them, the
,ostmsster, was summarily dismissed at
he expiration OF his term, nor can any
eason connected with the public interest
e assigned as the cause Of the dismissal.
The other, the naval officer, was displaced
,efore the end Of his term without word,
r a sign, or resson alleged. The ablest
nd most serviceable Of experienced public
Ulcers are dismissed like messenger boys. '