The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-17
MIR. swift's Views.


Mr.. Swift has made the following
statement:
There is no question but that q conspiracy
was formed weeks ago by O gang OF political
buccaneers, who claim 80 be democrats. to get
possession OF the Terre Haute postoffce and
all II up with their own men and cheat the
civil service law. John Lamb and Crawford
Fairbanks were concerned in this conspiracy.
Money wes offered to Postmaster Greiner If he
would resign and he was at the same time
given TO understand that IL he refused
sensational charges would be made against
him. Hurry fast they could the civil
service examination was likely TO overtake
them before they could get the change made.
Charges which had no foundation and which
there was no attempt to prove were made
against the local examining board and a
week gained by securing q postponement
of the examination. In his Senator Voorhees,
was engaged, IbkG nAsa IL Tor last Saturday
and the commission to the new postmaster did
not arrive until last Friday. lie undertook to
take possession at once by force and afterward
oi iJobeyed the order of the department at Wash
ington directing him to wait until Saturday
night. The keys aud office were not turned
over TO him until Saturday night and until
after the examination had been held. Friday
he caused to be delivered to every employe OF
the Office except three, notice of dismissal
from the service, and on Saturday morning he
made an neiiectuaFattempt to keep them out
plenty OF absolute dismissals in writing. and
signed by him, yet yesterday he told Mr..
FOulke and myself that he had only dismissed
two men-the mOney-order clerk and the regis
try clerk.
The motive OF these operations was con-
fessed on every hand. From the beginning the
openly announced object of all engaged in the
business was to fill up the office with their me n
and get ahead of the civil service law. This
was notldenied up TO the last moment and is not
now. Saturday night Postmaster DOnham
said to the registry and money order clerks
al interpret this law under the old spois sys-
TEN. to the victor belong the spoils. II would
not be treating Mr. Brophy and Mr.. Messick
successors OF these clerks) right who have
stood shoulder to shoulder with Inc through
the last campaign, not to give them places"
Donham was chairman OF his party county
committee.
Yesterday afternoon, lin the interview with
Mr.. Foulke and me, he said frankly that they"
felt that If they could get possession OF the
office before tho examination. that they could
make these changes aud that the reason
why they were in such a hurry. He further
said that every one of the men he had ep-
pointed was his friend, aud he was very anx-
ious to get them in; also, that he was opposed
to the civil service law and wanted to avoid
the effect of IT, This is fine specimen of an
officer to have charge of the execution of the
civil service law. He is the plant tool of
VOORHEES, and Lamb and aDs solutey under their
control and direction. In the course of
these operations the law and the reg
ulatiOns have been shamelessly cheated,
swinded and violated. The administration
will soon be in possession of all the facts. Rep
resenting the Indiana civil service reform as
soeiation have forwarded a report to the
president and the postmaster-general. We shall
not make this public until they have received
it. The closing paragraph of the report is
follows:
1--WE feel that the civil service law is on trial
in this Office. The law should be in the hands
of those who respect il and who will give il
honorable and fair enforcement. In this case
1t is In the hands of an officer who not only
does not respect il, but who is its open and
svowed enemy. The opportunities for evasion
and notification Ia the hands OF such man
are too we'll known to need statement here"
There is no question about the people OF
Terre Haute. They do not approve OF this
Voorhees, onslaught upon the civil service law.
Onec more President Cleveland will have TO
decide between a group OF the most vicious
politicians and the people. lie will not be in
ignorance of the facts. l was repeatedly told
in Terre Haute by democratic citizens that II
the president would strengthen himself in the
estimation of the people there. as he had never
done before, all he has TO do is to choke off this
gang
Civil Service Commissioner Johnston will
have to bear bis share of responsibility for
this transaction. His attitude since he has
been upon the commission has been such as to
encourage this kind of assaults upon the law:
He does not represent the cause of civil
service reform nor even the proper admins.
traton of the merit system. He must recog-
nize this, and II he Is an honorable man he will
get of from the commission and give place to
such democrat as John 4. Andrew.