St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-22
BEDE'S RESIGNA-
TON.

10 Say tnat the democrats or the
state were surprised when Washing
ton wire advised them that Marshal
Bede had rendered his resignation and
that it had been accepted would be
giving faint expression to a fact. TO
say that they were indignant when it
was reported that the attorney general
had commanded him either to desist
from discussing the issues of this
campaign from the hastings or resign
would be an under-statement of the
fact. The surprise was great and the
Indignation greater. The latter found
immediate expression in the emphatic
protest. made to the president against
the acceptance of the resignation by
the state organizations of the party.
The impression that the attorney gen.
eral had forbidden public speaking to
the marshal was later shown to be an
error by the receipt of the letter of the
marshal, which assumed the truth of
the rumor of last week that the presi-
dent had notified the heads of the de-
partments that he expected his order of
1856 to be obeyed this year. The mar
sinai might have been further influenced
by the notice that was sent out to the
district attorneys by Attorney General
Olney, forbidding those officers from
taking part in the campaign by speaking
or other active efforts that would inter-
fere with the performance of their du-
ties.
But, although the head of the depart
ment of justice did not expressly in
clude the marshals in his order, it is
evident from his prompt acceptance of
Marshal Bede's conditional resignation
that he is willing to extend his inhibi
ton to those officers, and the acceptance
will be taken by them all over the coun-
try as notice to desiSt from public
party activity.
When the rumor Of the presidents
order came we said that there were two
views of the matter. each having strong
reasons supporting 1t. Without repeat
ing them or discussing the question OF
the participation of officers of the fed
eral government in political discussions,
it is pertinent now to say that there
should be uniformity in all the depart
ments whichever policy is adopted.
There should not be and cannot be one
rule in one department and the opposite
in another. Either it is SO right as to he
universally allowed or so wrong as to be
wholly prohibited.
That it is not the rule of the admins
tration, uniform in all its divisions. this
campaign has amply shown. Federal
officers have taken the stump without
| question. Comptroller Eckels, of the
| treasury, has been discussing finance
before meetings in several states. AS
slstant Secretary Uhl, of the state de-
partment, is now in Michigan, not only
speaking in support of the party, but Of
his own candidacy as United State:
senator nominated by the state conven.
ton. Last week Wade Hampton, rail
road commissioner, spoke in Wilson,.
district, and Secretary Carlisle hopes t.
find time for some speeches.
Why Attorney General Olney shoult
have or be allowed to have rule in hi
department that is not general to al
departments is not easily perceived
and because he has and should not have
we trust the protest to the presiden
will be effective. Why the attorne!
general should make this rule is easie
to understand. He is not in his plac,
because of his prominence as Demo
crat, or because of his sservices to thu
party. but solely because he Is lawye
who has attained eminence in his pro
fession. In his state he was not know