The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-14
CIVIL SERVICE AND PRIMARIES.
The Federal Employe Can Attend His Party's
Primaries if He Chooses.

% the Editor OF the Indianapolis journal:
In the Journal of Thursday Citizen"
makes the nonattendance of primaries q
cover for an attack upon the civil-service
law and rules, and upon ex-President
Hayes, whose administration will 90 into
history with that OF Benjamin Harrison
among the best the country ever had. The
Hayss order relative to officers taking part
break up the custom of oficeholders die
Eating local politics. They took the time
which belonged to the government for that
purpose. He did not forbid their partici-
patton as citizens ia primaries. nor was Nh.
Arthur removed for the reason tina he
would not carry out the order.
Now Ior the example. A man who leads
his party in the national House was
brought for W ard for the Repu bllcan NOM
lna;ion for Congress by his frienda The
occupant of I'll - Office was of no account,
but he was able, as Representative, TO do
tate most of the subordinate appoiD tments.
In the custom house and leading postoffices
there were $50 su bordinstes who. TO q man,
were made to work for tho Representative
In office. In the custom house were sixty
Their duties kept them but eight hours o
cay In the custom house. The rest
OF the time WAS employed in
working up the wards for the
stupid Congressman. The brilliant mans
friends had to fight this combination after
they had been about their business twelve
hours q day. He carried the convention on
a close vote, carried his city In the prima-
riss by 200 votes, but the fight did not
end there. The oustOm-hOuse crowd suiked
some even demanding assurance of their
positions rs the price of their votes for a
regularly nominated party candidate, and
some gave their influence secretly for q
boiling candidate. This is but one case CT
hunHr.Ao and fha I.voa ArdAr fr,4 ~
them. and the oivil-servlce order has broken
up the unjust system OF Official interference
In making nominations which did the
party great injury from 1866 to 1876.
Citizen" is way off in his statement that
certain classes of subOrdinates In the fed
eral service are not permitted to attend
primaries. There is no suoh law and no
such rule under any law. There Is not an
official IN the country who Is debarred
from attending prim aries. Mr.. Cleveland
issued q letter forbIiding federal officers.
in An indefinite manner. from taking an
active part In nominating conventions.
Mayor Sullivan WAS nominated by a con-
vention made mp of delegates fixed by office
holders in city and cOunty-does Citizen"
want a ticket for the Republican party
nominated by such methodist
Why does not the average man attend the
primary Because. first. IL IL held at hours
In which lt Is not convenient to attend,
and, second. unless he Is prompt at a GER
tain hour. there Is no opportunity to vote.
Hold ward instead of precinct primaries.
and have the polls open from 5 until 3
O'Clock, SO that citizens can vote as they
go home-a sy stem which has been attend
ed with good results In other States. Again,
primaries should not be held SO long before
the election. tor the reason that busy peo-
pie are not prepared to act.
Lastly, party committees shonld consult
the voters about the time of holding con-
ventions. If the present committee had
consulted the opinion Of Republican voters.
the convention would not have been called
until September. a month before the cleo
tiOn. such inconsiderate action dlsgusts
many Republicans. Ii the primaries are
thInly attended. it will be- because they
are held one of the insufferAbly hot July
nights. after men, weary with the day. have
gone home. and who find some sort of an
excuse for absence. the leading one being
that they have not had time IN which TO
make mp their minds.
REPUBLICAN PRIVATE.
July 13.