The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-02

DAILY INTELLIGENCE
who are applicants for positions and
others who believe that they SEQ In this
tendency to apply the rule all along the
line the danger OF building lin an office
holding aristocracy. The merit system,
so-called. has lis good points and It's
bad ones. but perhaps the former over
balance the latter,
There are Indications that more sweep.
ing reforms In this direction will be
made before President Cley oland's term
expires. and that civil service rules Will
be applied TO the GO, 600 fourth-class post
offices In the country. a very strong
pressure Is now being brought to bear on
the President to act In the matter. but
ho has not yet slgnifled his intention OF
complying With the demand. II " said
that many members Of Congress would
hail such an order with some degree of
satisfaction, as 1t would relieve them OF
an embarrassing responsibility which Is
often fraught with danger TO their poll
teal fortunes. Everybody realizes that
the matter OF postoiIlce appointments Is
serious problem to every congressman
ut the beginning of each new admnls-
tratlon,C and II Is not surprising that
many OF them desire to be relieved OF the
embarrassment OF having to choose be-
tween from u half dozen TO a dozen ap-
plicants for each postoliicc In his district.
all OF whom are his good friends and
staunch supporters, and 10 NIL of whom
he may be under personal obligation.
Custom has imposed upon the congress
elonal representative the duty of recon-
mending for appointment the successful
postmastcrs. and II Is a. burden that
many a CONGRESSMAN would be glad to
have removed from his shoulders. The
scheme Is pronounced, however, by high
postal officials at Washington, to be I'm
practicable for several reasons. They
argue, for instance, that 1t would not
improve the service and would not meet
with popular approval. The only advan-
tage, they say, would be to the congress-
man, who would be relieved from the
embarrassment mentioned, and q re-
sponsiblllty which deprives him from
giving his whole attention to his legisla-
tive duties, which Is OF greater Import
ance to the masses Of his constituents.
] once heard Il member OF Congress say,
soon after the Inauguration OF new ad-
inlnistration. that nearly one-half OF his
time was taken up In hunting offices for
aspiring constituents, and this. too. dur
ing an important session OF the house,
In which he held places on important
committees demanding his close attend
ance to duty. / have seen enough OF this
sort of thing to convince me that the life
of a member of Congress Is not the most
envlable Of all lives.
The long vacation the Republican
party has had from the complete con-
troll of West Virginia Is doubtless the
reason that Governor-elect Atkinson rs
just now the victim of the importunlt-
les OF about hundred men for every
appointment he will have to make. The
popular idea that he will have personal
control of every appointment TO be
made under his administration. from
secretary of state down to janitor or the
humblest state institution. has caused
an overwhelming food of correspond
encc and personal applications for
position. Mr.. Atkinson's recent expla-
nation that he has but nine salaried
positions at his disposal, and that all
other places will be filed by the var
ious boards that he will appoint, has
served TO check the flood somewhat, but
applications are still coming In. Mr..
Atkinson made one OF the hardest cam
paigns ever made by a candidate In
this state and came out OF 1t In perfect
physical condition, and yet, within the
month that has elapsed since the cleo
ton, he has become almost completely
Frustrated by the work that mas defol-
we'd upon him in answering his cores
pondence and in receiving applicants
for position. While this Is hard on the
Eovernor-elect 1t Is not discredittole to
the ambitious Republicans OF the state.
It Is not to their diScredit that they
want employment under the state gov
eminent; II Is worthy ambition and.
any citizen has as good a right as any
other citizen to desire Office. but 1t Is re-
gretable that all do not understand that
the governor is not the sole appointing
power.
I have It from Governor Atkinson
himself that he has not yet decided up
on single one OF the nine important
appointments he is to make he made
no ante-clection promises. and IS en-
tirely free to make the selections after
due elaboration and carefully weigh
ing the merits and claims of all appli-
cants Without exception, almost, he
says. the men who have been presented
for the various positions are good and
deserving citizens from every stand
point. This makes 1t hard to make the
selections and he is taking his time. He
has set out with the intention OF giving
the people a safe, business-like admin
istration OF state affairs and will not
act hastily. II is his desire to make
choice OF such staff as will insure an
administration that viii be endorsed by
the public, and strengthen the Republic
can party In West Virginia. Those who
know him best will not doubt this state
ment.
Some of the Democratic editors in the
state are trying to create trouble IN the
Republican ranks by circulating false
reports. but they will miserably fall.
There are no factions in the Republican
party of West Virginia and there are
not likely to be any. There are no rings
nor syndicates, malicious intimations to
the contrary notwithstanding. west
Virginia Republicans will profit by the
fate of the state Democracy. which was
the result of that sort of thing. They
are quite capable Of attending to their
own affairs without the assistance or
the enemy and re gardless OF ralselroods
told for purpose.
There continues to be much gossip in
Guiding the name OF Judge Golf In the
list OF cabinet possibilities, and that he
may be chosen by Major Mckinley TO
be his attorney general is not improb-
able. Speculations are based on the
belief that II the President-el has
determined TO recognize In this way one
of the so-called southern states that
have cut loose from the once. but no
longer solid south, West Virginia would
be his natural selection. West Virginia
made the first break in 1855. even If the
Republicans were deprived of the fruits
of their victory, and Is to-day regarded
n n ,,ynr thn pnuntfy as Dprmunpntly IN