The National tribune., 1895-04-25
A sLANDERoUs MUGWUMP.
The NATIONAL TRIBUN

N
The Reform administration in New
York City has the misfortune common
to new political aggregations of bring
ing some men to the front who at once
demonstrate their unftness for the posi-
tons they secure. Older parties put
their leading men through an appren-
ticeship which shows whether they pos
sess the requisite qualities or not. This
is not possible to ANEW party which
suddenly attains to power. 1t must
take men largely on their own profes-
sions, which are very unsafe guides.
Mayor Strong, in looking around for
a person to fill ths important Office of
Street Commissioner, selected man who
has been known rather as an industrious
writer on sewerage and other sanitary
topics than as an executive of tried
ability in connection with important
works. Col. George i. Waring, jr,
who belongs to that precious set of Mug
wumps who circle about the New York
Euening Post and Times, derives his
title from some service he saw with the
4th Mo. Cav. in the early years of the
war. He seems to be as pragmatical, as
opinionated, as narrow-souled as only
Mugwump can be. Last week he hap
pened to meet in the city buildings DIR.
John Wilson Gibbs, formerly of the
Health Department, and Commander of
E. d. Morgan Post GAR What
followed is thus reported by the New
York Sun:
"The GAR men are becoming very ag-
gressive; altogether too aggressive. They
are trying to force themselves upon the diff
ferent Departments SO that man cannot
appoint whom he thinks most fit. / have
no sympathy with that sort of thing" said
the Colonel.
"Are you G. r. man ?" asked Gibbs.
mo, am not, and / never had any de-
sire to become one" responded the Commits
sionsr.
almost every veteran of good reputation
belongs to the organization" observed the
Doctor.
"well, / don't want anything to do with
them" retorted Col Waring" "A damned
lot of drunken buns -
"What?n cried Gibbs, jumping to his feet
and advancing toward the other. =" What the
devil do you mean by that statement, sir?
Pm a GAR man, and Pm proud Of it.
don't drink, and Pm not bum. You don't
daren-
Hold on, gentlemen" interposed Gen.
Clark "This is no place for a discussion of
this kind"
At the same time President Wilson put
himself between the two men and suggested
the propriety of moderation.
'All right, gentlemen" said DIR. Gibbs.
"There won't be any trouble here rs far as
I'm concerned But" he added, turning to
Col. Waring, "you have the advantage of
me in making that remark where / cannot
retaliate in the only, fitting manner. The
next time l meet yot in public, sir, shall
call you to account for that"
Sol Waring didn't mean exactly all
that he said, I'm snre," put in one of the
others present He spoke hastily"
"Yes," said the Colonel, "of course |
wouldn't say that all GA. K. men are drunk
ards or worthless, but q lot of them are. No
doubt some are respectable, and ifn-
II don't want any apology from you,"
said DIR. Gibbs. "You make baselcss at
tack on an organization that you probably
couldn't get into if You tried, and / hold
you to what you said, The first time meet
You on the street I'll chastise you. regret,
gentlemen, that this should have taken
place here. Good afternoon"
When interviewed in regard to this
Col. Waring said:
az said thought injury had been done to
veterans by this legislation; that for one
never appointed veteran, however good,
without telling him that did so with regret,
for the reason that could not get rid of him
without difficulty if he proved unsatisfac-
tory. / may have said that if veterans were
the men now they were in 1861, they would
be willing to stand on their own feet and
take their chances ON their merits. said
that if veteran should be dismissed for
sufficient cause he would not 90 to the
courts, because his chances of success would
not be good enough to warrant anybody
in lending him the money for his expenses.
"Dr. Gibbs said the Grand Army would do
that, and asked me If was Grand Army