The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1894-08-01
DICTATORS.
Ben Johnson and His Gang Are
Trying To Run the Earth and
Everything on II.
A Revenue Man In the Louisville
District Must Be for
Montgomery
OR LOSE HIS lob.

We have had occasion during the
present race for Congress to allude to the
fact that it appeared that the Collectors
Office at Louisville was undertaking to
control the elections through its en-
ployes, all over the Fifth Internal Reve-
nue. District. That il was violation of
law and violation of good morals, and
that it should be resented by the people.
Because Mr.. Montgomery gave his per-
sonal influence to secure the office OF
Collector for Mr.. johnson, il is no reason
why he should make a machine OF his
office and its employees to elect Mont
gomery Mr.. Montgomery dominates
the postmasters in his district and the
Internal Revenue Collector names his
subordinates, the two amounting to hun
dreds, located at the most serviceable
points during an election and their
whole force thrown in favor OF any ind-
vidual in an election is tremendous
power by which the ms could defy the
people and prevent rotation in office.
Add to this the promises OF place in the
future for political services in behalf of
the candidate Of these officials, and
active election work required OF those al
ready appointed, and we have an engine
OF decentralization that is a menace to
Democratic government and good morals.
The postmasters all over the district are
for Montgomery and they ought to be.
Mr. Montgomery has showed that he
considered their appointment perquisite
that attaches to his office and one in
which the people have no right to die
tate. He appointed his friends and they
,Dppperly remain his friends. But there
xfno reason why every revenue man in
the district should be for Montgomery
and tearing his shirt for him, unless the
head OF the department has solidified
him. The balance OF the people who
are under no obligations to the revenue
department are reasonably divided, why
is there not the same division among the
storekeepers, gaugeIs, etc., and why are
they out securing the country in the
interest OF Montgomery? We see the
regulars laid off in the middle Of the
month Ia thing unheard OF before) and
specials put in their places, the regulars
taking to the woods Immediately for
Montgomery, and the specials Topping
over TO him with their kin as far as they
can control them. Mr.. Cleveland, when
he was first president, called this Often
sive craftsmanship and violation OF civil
service rules, endangering the perpetuity
OF Democratic government, and he lop-
ped off the heads OF those engaged
therein. 1t lisa most dangerous effort to
debauch the ballot. This combination
OF Mr.. Montgomery and Mr.. johnson to
dictate TO the Democratic party whom
they shall nominate as candidates should
be resented by the people as wholesale
debauching through public patronage.
We do not mean to say that any man
in the revenue service has sold his |
birthright for mess of pottage" but |
we do mean to say that the unanimity |
Of their sentiments for Mr.. Montgomery
in indicative OF political organization in
the revenue service not contemplated by |
the civil service rules or promotive of |
Democratic success, aud those who
abandon their official duties to go cut |
electioneering are fagrantly violating |
the laws OF the land and Of good morals,
and cannot complain il they are repudi-
ated by the people in the future.
The Internal Revenue Collectors Of |
fee wants TO run the earth as is shown
by the following extract from the Louis
vile Evening Times OF the 2lst inst.
"Mr. Atherton's organ serves notice
on the postmaster at Louisville that he
must keep his hands off the Congress-
ional contest in this district like
warning to the Collector OF Internal
Revenue, both as to the contest in this
and the Fourth Congressional district,
might be conducive to civil service re-
form, which, as everybody knows, is the
sole point at which the Mugwump
Dickey Bird is driving. Marion Falcon.