The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-08-24
-No.3

sofa, AUGUST "a, 1898.
service reform and not party adherence
must be the guiding principle to public
office. A large field is open to the
party that shall first place men in Office
on their merits. If worthy, the people
will keep them there; if not, they can
send them to learn principle of us, who
if not better, are at least but little worse
LEONARDUS.
Xxx
Civil service reform as practiced at
present is glaring farce. AS politics
are now run this great reform can not
be accomplished, for the party leaders
depend on the machine for support and
operators of the machine expect to be
repaid for their labor in spOils The
watch-word of both G. O. Ps is spoils.
Reform they will have none of. The
blow of the headsman's axe as it re-
sounds on the block, is music to their
ears. The partisans will not allow
this great reform to be instituted with
out struggle; for, if it was, the days
of their usefulness would be over They
hear with alarm the voice of the people
as it is raised crying to be delivered
from their pernicious policies. and they
plant their feet firmly, determined to
fight it out to the bitter end. But the
day of machine supremacy is drawing
to close. The protest of the people
must be attended to; this system of
spOils must be abated, and the machine
and it's operators relegated to oblivion
where they properly belong. YON.
*##
In the face Of the gigantic financial
problem that cOnfrOntS the present adj
ministratiOn civil service reform cuts
but sorry figure. And yet there it is
as large as ever, and twice as pushing.
Like Banquo'S ghost, "'t viii not down.
and the politicians who have exercised
this Frankenstein, are bitterly anathe-
matiZed by their faithful" cOnstitu-
ents. What gala time thi" would
have been for the rank and file? In the
confusion and turmoil of what bids
fair to be heated session, how many
fat sinecureS could they not secure
How many favors could be granted and
how many pledges fulfilled. And it is
questionable whether it would not be
the proper thing. In all lands and in
all ages to the victors belonged the
spOils; and it is but hollow victory
for the unterrified to land their candi-
dates in office and then retire behind
the scenes, while the high salaried en-
plOyee serenely puffs his partaga, and
scOwls on the humble inquirer. In
different alike to threats and promises
he wakes fat and lazy and oftimes i'm
pertinent and performs such routine
duties that veritable tyrO would soon
find too easy. WAYNE.
The fact that civil service reform is
advocated by any political party is
proof conclusive that that party is not
altogether given over to bad. RecOgni-
tion of this principle will put a party
on its merits pure and simple. AS far
as has been tried it has purified what
ever branch of government it has been
applied to. The corrupt and vicious
element in politics will promptly step
down and out when once they find that
there is no plunder in sight. Ambi-
tiOuS but corrupt men will find no
supporters. mercenarv politicians no
| patrons. Powerful inducement to both
to be sincere and honest. Civil service
reform strikes at the root Of machine
| politics. 1t starves it out. 1t makes
public Office public trust. 1t substi-
tutes efficient service to the public for
subserviency to the party. 1t raises the
man, and manhood of the serving,
and subserves the best interest of the
served. For no government employee,
knowing that his special qualifications
and the faithful performance of his
duties are ample guaranty for his main
tainance in office, would vote against
his conscience or work for measures
detrimental to the welfare of his
country. ST. CRIsPIN.
Since it's passage decade ago, the
! Civil Service Reform act has on the
whole been honestly administered, and
its scope has been constantly extended
| by both Democratic and Republican