New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-08-19
VIOLATED THE LAW.
Influences of United States Officials IN.
lawfully Used in Primary Elections in

Influences of United States OfhciaIs TN.
lawfully Used in Primary Elections in
Baltimore.
WASHINGTON. Aug. I'm the latter part
of March information was received at the
Office of the civil service commission that
the provisions of the civil service law relat-
ing 20 political assessments were being
violated by persons in the official service of
the United States in Baltimore and that
the influence of United States officers was
unlawfully being used to control primary
election. ...- -r.-E H. .-r.- .-.
An investigation was begun and con-
t1nued through April, conducted by Com
missioner Roosevelt. and copy Of his re-
port has been submitted to the president
with the approval OF the commission. The
following statements are taken from Com
missioner Roosevelt's report as embody-
ing some of the results of his inyestica-
ton:
1.-The primaries held on March 80 were
marked by very bitter contest between
two factions OF the Republican party. It
was without doubt mainly fight between
the office holders on oneside and the disap-
pointed officeseekers on the other. Ap-
parently they cared primarily, for the
offices, party success beng purely second
ary consideration, important only because
1t facilitated getting them. 1t seems to
ME that this fact alone furnishes tolerably
accurate measure ofthe much vaunted use
fulness to any party of the otfice-monger-
ing, otfce-seeking and office holding va
rlety OF ward worker. AS whole the con-
test was marked by great fraud and no little
violence At present the ordinary office
seeking ward workers and very large per
centage Of office holders have grown to be-
lieve that it is part OF the natural order of
things that those who hold or seek to hold
the offices should exercise the controlling
influence in political contests. The ward
worker, who is simply in politics for the
offices, is
CURSE TO THE COMMUNITY,
and the sooner this is recognized the better.
His political activity is purely unhealthy
and mischievous. Take it out Of the power
Of any politician to give him any O flee and
he will cease from his noxious labors in a
very short space OF time. AS for the gov
eminent officeholder he must be taught
that his duty is to do the work of the gov
eminent for the people and not to pervert
his office for the use of any party or any
faction.
In regard to the posto flee and the mar
shals office, the evidence seems to be pc
fectly clear that both Of these offices were
used for the purpose OF interfering with or
controlling the result of the primary cleo
ton, and that there was systematic some
times indirect, effort made to assess the
government employees in both for political
purposes. Marshal Airey was undoubtedly
one OF the leaders Of one Of the factions at
the primaries and took a very active part
therein, even to the extent Of coming ii.to
physical collision with one OF the opposi-
ton judges, whom he accused, whether
rightly or wrongly, OF CHI eating"
The commissioner then asks the dismissal
o! twenty-five men in the marsha.'s office
and other departments. 1t is evide nt," he
says. that from the testimony the nom
classified service in the Baltimore posto-
fice as is the case with the non-classitied
service in almost every patronage office
was treated as bribery chest from which
to reward the ward workers who were USE
full or likely to be useful to the faction in
power: The appointments were made Sec
ondarlly with view to the we'll being OF
the public service. Therefore, while it
does not appear that Mr.. Johnson has used
the postoftice to influence the primary cleo
tons, it is evident that it was so used with
his full knowledge, and that he took no
effective steps whatever to prevent such use
thereof. l am strongly OF the opinion
that at least decided steps should be taken
to show that the rule against this is not
hereafter to be regarded as dead letter."