St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-26

when vacancy occurs my choice is limited
| to the three highest on that list. 1 must
| choose one of the three, and it is penal
! ofense for me to inquire into their political
! bias. Thus all of you who have been appointed
| since the civil service law went into effect
| have been chosen. Once in Office, your tenure
| depends efficiency and good conduct. You
| can only be removed, for cause and after full
! opportunity for Defense by order of the first
assistant postmaster general. The temptation
| to arbitrary unjust removals is abolished
! by the manner Of selecting successor. There
| is no object in making an unjust dismissal
when the vacancy cannot be filled with
personal or political favorite. Thus your
| entrance TO and your exit from the official
! ranks are protected by this admirable law.
You can securely adopt this as vocation for
life. and prepare yourself accordingly. You
are not Obliged to cringe and fawn for the
FAVOR OF your superior officers. You are not
called on to help pack caucuses and manage
conventions, or to turn ward heller" for
a month or two preceding every election. You
can give your time to the duties of your posi-
ton, and take such part your inclinations
dictate in political affairs on ether side WITH
out let or hindrance You preserve your man
hood, dignity your citizenship, exalt your Of
nee, and serve as conspicuous example of
the splendid results which this law can ac-
complish.
Here, again, let your light shine How
ever disinclined any of you may be to mix
in ordinary political controversies, this
point you should be strenuously and restless
ly active. You know thoroughly the benefits
OF civil service reform in your department
how 1t has improved the service, purified
pOllllcS ennODleQ MANHOOD ana advanced the
standard of official integrity. AS citizens
you should agitate constantly and aggres-
sively for its extension to all branches of
the public service national. state and munic-
( ipal. 1t is just as necessary that the clerks
at the state house and the city hall be sub
ject to civil service law the clerks in the
school teachers can be as readily made
amenabie to its protective provisions, can
the letter carriers. Only when this is accom-
plished will we have pure local politics and
ing classes can be abundantly trusted to take
care Of the politics of the day. The office
holding class should be relieved from the
obligation to follow the dictates of bosses
thus giving time, skill and independence for
the proper performance of their official work.
Don't be afraid to preach civil service re-
FORM 1t has come to stay. 1t has come to
spread. 1t is bound to prevail. No national
administration that we are ever likely to
have in this country, henceforth and for
ever, will reprimand you for doing that much
political work. If any blear-eyed polti-
clan rebukes you. tell him that one OF your
leading motives is to take the blear eye out
of politics and put the clear eye in. Teach
the people that they can be civil service re-
formers. and still be as good Republicans
and as good Democrats as they were before.
1t is no more necessary to turn mugwump in
order to support this doctrine than 1t is to
turn Hardshell Baptist.
The letter carriers and clerks of Mime
sofas free delivery cities can, If they will,
create a public sentiment that will compel
our next legislature to enact a civil service
law which will complete the emancipation of
our politics from the despotism of the boss,
the touch of the heller and the odor of the
slum.
The civil service law is your armor and
| your shield. 1t has opened to you, it
opens to the humblest American citizen
duly qualified, the opportunity for official
career. 1t creates aristocracy of office
holders-it broadens the gate so that all
classes may enter. It stimulates honest
pride, true self-respect and manly independ-
ence 1t does not encourage tolerate
arrogance lnSOlence iDSDireS a
popular demand for business methods in
political office-and then it responds to that
demand by creating the most elaborate, COM
plicated, prompt accurate and satisfactory
business institutions yet known in the his
tory of the world-the United States post
office department of the last decade of the
nineteenth century,
close by repeating that yours is hard,
practical, exacting work, but there is some
romance in it, after all. There is poetry and
music in it, the perfume of flowers, the
ripple OF crystal streams, the GOODNESS of
shady groves, the song of the lark and the
hummng of the busy bee. In your prosaic,
commonplace satchels nestle together such
threnod1eS and harmOnies and contrasts and
d1scords, such dramas and epics and TRACE
dies, as similar space contains nowhere in
the broad world beside If each missiye
could voice It's message audibly as you go
your patient round, what medIeys of disson-
ance would we hear? The voice from the
farm, with Its suggestions of rural arenas
ana peaceful reflections. The voice from the
lngs and COMMISSIONS. Voices from flaming
battlefelds, and the tides of the soundless
sea- The voice of love, tunefuI as silver
n ma touched by seraph fingers on the banks
of the beautiful river Harsh cries of hat
req, or revenge, of reproaching of despair
Inc heart-ache and heart-break of unutter
ADJ, aple sorrow. me shrek of pain and the
meanings wrung by the slow torture of re-
morse: The voice of reproof and warning.
the p!eadings Of morality; the counseJs If
reHglon indebted. The voice of hope; the
no
voice OF patriotism. Above all, to YOU. serv-
anu oil the nation. wearing the proud livery
Oh the republie-the voice of duty, bidding
you ~ forward with zeal, with industry,
Win Intelligence. with unbIemished intee.
rlty, 10 your honorable task conscious nf
your dignity and sure of your reward. y.
"A. the conclusion of Capt. Castles
aooIess, L: r.. Hughes, assistant post
lnaster OF minneapolis, was called upon
Tor speech, in the absence of Post
master Holbrook, who was to be pres
ent. Mr.. Hughes spoke very briefly
euiogizing Capt Castle for his words
of wisdom. The Minneapolis postoffice
Mandolin club then played selection.
which was followed by a vocal selec-
ton by the st. Paul Postoffice quar-
tette
Frank Campbell, one Of the Mime
apolis carriers, was next introduced.
and made speech that was full of
humor and praise of the work that is
being done by the Letter Carriers Ma
t1onal association. He paid a splendid
tribute to Postmasters Castle and HoI--
brook for the manner In which they
have conducted their offices, both as
regards the service to the public and
their subordinates. He argued that
the demand of the carriers for 81 200 a
year was just, but 1t would never be
granted by congress until the demand
Of the clerks for classification Of their
branch of the service was gotten out of
the way.
After hearing some more music and
a few words from Mr.. Mohler, a Still
water carrier, those present adjourned
to the dining room, where a palatable
luncheon was served The cigars were
then passed around, and the session
was continued informally with music
singing and impromptu speeches until