The herald., 1896-03-01
GOVERNOR ON PATRONAGE

Governor Budd delivered a speech
recently at banquet given by the
State League Of Iroquois Clubs in San
Francisco that was full of Significance.
Il amounted to a declaration of inde-
Ioendence of the spoils hunting politi-
CLANS. After intimsting that he was
aware that his course had been disap-
proved by some members Of his party,
the governor remarked:
~ was elected on platform the pledges
Of which have endeavored to keep and
have kept. The keeping of those pledges
has cost me some friends, but everything
works by evolution as my learned friend
who has preceded me (referring to James
v. Coleman. who had responded to the
toast, 'Washington) has said. Time was
when this state was the land of gold and
could afford to be even profligate in the
payment of it's officers and in the cost of
the conduct of its government. The age
of gold has been followed by that of cattle
and wheat and fruit, and now, in all the
little towns as we'll as in the cities, we
have reached the manufacturing stage.
As we have grown, however, we have not
been able to keep pace with the fierce APP
petite for office. We have five insane asy-
tums, and from my investigations. gentle
men, l don't think that's sufficient.
Laughter.
and then after referring to the need of
consolidating certain public institu-
tions, he let drop these pertinent
truths:
Every one who applies for an Office
thinks he is entitled to it, Laughter. ]
And he always applies for the best in
sight, and no man can tell him that per-
haps he is not competent to fill the place
to which he aspires. 1t has been my un-
happy fortune to have to select men for
office who. thought, were qualified for
It. In so doing | have been compelled to
turn down some of my best friends when
II grieved me to do SO; but had made up
my mind to reduce the taxation of this
state by giving its affairs the benefit of
good business management. | shall con-
tinue in the future as have in the past to
use my best judgment in appointments 10
office. | believe it is the misfortune of
any party desiring to carry out reforms 10
have the patronage of the state at Its dis
posal. Patronage has been the damnation
of the party and of good government. 1t is
the cause of all our troubles and our high
taxes"
As the governor says, he was elected
on platform of pledges. 1t is appar-
ent that he is endeavoring to keep
those pledges. In the keeping of them
he, Of course, is bound to offend those
of his ,party WHO are strong il
the conviction that the state gov
ernment owes them living, anc
possibly more than living. le
none of these people have any sub
otantial reason for the resentment tina
seems to possess them. Governor
Budd, while candidate for the guber
material office, was most emphatic in
the announcement of his belief tina,
extravagance and incompetency char
acterized the management of the at.
fairs and institutions Of the state. He
was most explicit in his promises thai
II favored with the confidence of the
people he would introduce, as far ss i
lay in his power to do so, reform ant
economy-that he would treat "publi
office as public trust"
Governor Budd has certainly enjoye
the reputation of keeping his covenant
with the people and has never bee
note ss one believing that politica
platforms and pledges are as molAsse
tor the catching OF flies. The people
including those with aunet;tes for put
1ic porrldge YET unsatlsneo, mad rIgh
20 expect that he would do after hi
election just what he promised before
And the men with appetites yet hu
appeased must hsve known that tn
execution Of those promises would re
cult in the curtalilus.- nf expense.