The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-13
ATTENDANCE OK PIE PRIMARIES.
1t Sheu!d Be Encouraged. and Slnrs should
Not Be Cast at Those Who Take Part.

To the Editor OF the InaianaDolis Journals
The article in the journal Of the Sth inst.
was intended only as q mild rebuke TO the
press for its too-frequent use OF iIl-consid-
cred language, the tendency of which. in
my opinion. is to deter rather than en-
courage. as 10 should O more general
attendance upon political primaries.
the Importance of which can
scarcely be overestimated He who
attends them should heartily and gracious
ly receive whatever credit Is due. No one
has any more right To impugn my motives
for attending a political primary Than ioI
attending q Christian church on the Sab
bath. Yet it Is done. and good men" mot
good citizensl knowing Is TO be SO. habit
uslly absent themselves from these meet
ings to avoid the nngrnerous and
oftentiInes false imputation of be-
ing Office seekers or members
OF the Tin horn crowd" A sentiment pre-.
walls, however much TO be regretted. that
those who attend primaries and conven.
tons do so from "mercenary motIves."
While the press Is at fault for the existence
of this sentiment it Is not wholly SO.
An order was ISSUED during the admins
tration of Rutherford Is. Hayes. to Chester
A. Arthur. then collector of the port of New
York, ~forbidding all employees In the GUS
toms service from participating IN the pro-
ceedings OF political primaries and cOnven.
GAObos W " I'LL JAZZ III
MIR. Arthur. as is we'll known, was re-
moved. No one. / presume, will question
the motives of the Presldent In issuing
this order-to correct alleged abuses grow
out of the "spoils system" yet 10 was moth.
ing less than abrldging the rights of citi.
zenship by executive order. History will
yet stamp 1t as n bigh-nanded measure,
however we'll intended. The order of An
drew jackson, while President, to his SEQ.
rotary of the Treasury. Roger Is. fancy. for
the removal of the deposits was no more
so. Further on came "civil-service re-
FORM" with its rules. now in force.
sanctioned and gwen the force of law by
congressional enactment. With the many
obnoxious PROVISIONS, these rules embody
in principle this one of Rutherford Is.
Hayes: Employees In the government serv-
ice. receiving an annual salary between
500 and Sl.e0O, are enjoined from particle
pating in the proceedings of political
primaries and conventions. Ia &c surpris-
ing then that good men" do not attend our
primariesi Why shonld they be aksed or
expected To DO an act which executive
orders and congressional action, in effect,
plea; these things are done TO lift ~polisics
out of the Slime and filth OF mercenary
motive" How well 10 has succeeded. after
years of trial. may well be Judged In the
single illustration of the recent Terrs
Hsute postotice affair u case
unparalleled IN the history of the most
offensive period OF the spoils system. Let
us get back. then, As soon az may be. to
first principles. Dg abrogatiDg those rules
having the sanction of la " which deter or
prevent good men from sharing IN one OF
the dearest duties eDJoined by repre-
sentative government-tne attendance
npon the primary. It's u privilege and q
duty. Let all be made 10 feel 1t is also an
honor. CITIZEN.
~INDIANApOII Is July 10.