Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-12-01
An Open Letter to Hon. E.E.Meredith.

ALEAaNDRlA, u, DeC. i. loJ-.
Hon. f. E. Meredith, BrentsuiUe, IA:
My Dear Sir-In common with many
of my democratic fellow citizens dep
recate the scramble now going on in
Alexandria for the federal offices in the
city, not only tecause it is premature,
but because it evidences a lack OF
knowledge and appreciation of the
guiding motives and rules of conduct of
the high man who has been called to
the chief magistracy of this country for
the four years commencing March 4th.
1898. 1t seems to me that a moments
reflection and calm retrospect of the
incidents of the Presidential admins
tration Of 1SS5-1SS9 ought to convince
the most skeptical, that Grover Clevc-
land will himself determine who shall
fill the Offices; that he will make
changes only when he deems it proper;
that he is a civil service reformer in all
that the term implies: that he may
make his appointments regardless of
the wishes of Senators, Congressman,
or local political committees that he is
built of such stern stuff as to make his
opinions his convictions and that con
sequently he cannot change, and bis
recent letter of acceptance shows that
he has not changed his mind or his
rule of conduct in these matters.
But this is merely by way of preface
The matter to which l wish TO call
your attention is this:
1t is openly asserted in this city that
YOU have promised that in endeavoring
to secure appointments to the federal
offices here, you will be governed to a
great extent by the wishes of the city
democratic committee, and the specific
statement is made and has permeated
the town, that you gave that promise,
or one to the same effect, at a supper
set up by the committee and partici-
pated in by about forty gentlemen on
| the night of November 22nd at the
Opera House restaurant, and at other
| times.
was not invited and therefore was
not prcsel., the supper, and speak of
what occurred there from heresay
merely: but it is within my personal
knowledge that every day and hour
since that date, your alleged promise is
being interpreted and made use of as
committing you to the policy of secur-
ing or attempting to secure the offices,
oniy for those fortunate enough to get
the committees endorsement; and GER
tain it is, that the committee, sinking
its individual preferences, have adopted
the unit rule, and are recommending
candidates as if the members of the
committee agreed with such intcrpreta-
ton
l have, however, stoutly maintained
that YOU must have been misunder
stood, and basing my statements upon
my perfect confidence in your coed
judgment, ! have asserted that it was
not only improbable but quite impossi-
BILE that you could have made such a
promise, or desired such an interpreta
ton of your remarks, and my reasons
were these, viz:
knew that you knew that the city
democratic committee was elected for
lie purpose only-.hat of conducting
political campaigns up to and including
election days during their term of office,
and not for the purpose ofparceling out
the offices, or Of governing their distri-
button after an election, nor to give
their wishes any greater weight in de-
termining who should get the spoils,
than those of any like number of demo
cratic voters of like high character and
i ;spectability,
l also knew that you also knew that
this committee is composed of only S
gentlemen, whilst 1898 other AleXan-
dria democrats, equally as much emit
tied to consideration so far as their
views and wishes are concerned, cheer
fully voted for you for Congress, and
1874 of such others voted for Cleveland
for President; that hundreds of these
gentlemen had voted the democratic
ticket, through victory and defeat, long
before some of the members of the pres
ent city democratic committee were
born. and whilst some others of the
committee were wearing roundabouts
and kniclserbockcrsi and it is incon-
ceivable to my mind that you could
have made any such promise or desired
such q construction of it, because it
might involve disregard of the wishes
of the remaining 1898 democratic voters
of this city, or of q majority of them.
To forestall any attempt to impute
interested motives to me in the prem
Uses, | desire to say that am not af-
ter any office. Those might be able
to get have such small salaries attached
to them, that do not want them, and
those / might accept, have such great
responsibilities, require such superla-
tive talents, and have such large sal
aries attached to them, that there is
not the slightest prospect that Cleve-
land would give me one if asked him
for it.
1t is also true that | took no active
part in the late canvass, but this was
for reasons satisfactory to myself and
well known to my neighbors, and does
not deprive me, l think, of the right 10
ask this question, viz Whether it is
true that you made the promise refer
red to, or anything like it, and if SO
for what reason, and whether the in
depreciation referred to is proper
one?
My principal object in making these
interrogatories is to put, if possible,
stop to the discussions which have
arisen in the city in consequence of
the wide circulation of the statement
that's promise, or one with such a
meaning. was made by you.
Very trul " yours,
GEORGE A. MUsHBACH.