The evening times., 1896-06-26
FAMOUS ORDER BROKEN
Federal Officeholders Permit
ted to Dabble in Politics.
WORD FROM CLEVELAND
The President Will Be Glad to Have
All His Subordinates Render AS
Silver-Leaves of Absence Granted
All Who Want to Go to Chicago.

To all intepts and purposes, the President
has rescinded his famous order requiring
Federal officeholders to refrain from what
has been yariously designated himself as
"pernicious activity and offensive par
tisanship," when applied TO political af-
fairs.
While no official announcement of this
action is TO be made the word has gone
forth that instead of objectng, as here
tofore, the President will be glad to have
all his subor1iDates, without regard to
the positions they hold, render all possible
assistance to those who will enga ge in com
batting the forces of free silver ut Chicago.
The way for participation will be made
smooth by granting leaves of absence to
those who desire TO attend the national
convention.
Upon their arrival in Chicago these mis-
sionaries will be expected to put themselves
in touch with the logic of the situation
and make personal appeals to those dele
gates with whom they are acquainted, with
the hope that some may be converted from
the error OF their way.
GETTING READY TO GO.
So far as is known none of the Cabinet
officials has as yet declared his intention
OF attending the convention, but large
and formidable array of minor political
and administration lights are making prep
arations to that end.
Thisforce OF skrfnishers willinclude nearly
alltheassistant tsecretariesscattered through
the various executive departments, and a
generous assortment of bureau chiefs.
Among those who have already signified
their intention of being in Chicago as spec
| tators but not delegates are Assistant Sec
retary Hamlin, OF the Treasury Depart
ment; Comptroller Eckels, Mr.. Pugh, First
| Assistant Postmaster General Jones, Sec
| ond Assistant Postmaster General Max
| well, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy
McAdoo.
Any work that these gentlemen and their
associates may perform of IA purely polit
| ical character, and while absent from
| their posts OF duty, will not be credited
| to their detriment or construed as a viola
| tion of the Civil Service law.
The adoption OF this course, which null
| lifies the Presidents previous action in
! such matters, is calculated to attract
| general attention and comment. He him
| self has set the example by writing hun
| dreds OF autograph letters to prominent
| business men in New York and to political
| friends throughout the South, and license
within all reasonable bounds will be given
| those who desire to take hand in Sc
| lecting the next Presidential nominee
| OF the Democratic party
| UPSETS GOOD WORK.
The chief feature OF comment in this con-
nection is that all the good accomplished
| by years of hard and conscientious effort
| III throwing the bulwark OF the civil ser
| vice around tue executive departments. in
| order that they may be completely taken
| out OF politics. will be stulufied a nd pre-
| cedeDt established which VIII hereafter
| arise to haunt the Democrats, and will give
| the Republicans. In the event of success
| this fall. an opportunity to make all their
appointees, without regard To the civil
| service. perpetual and active participants
| in all purely political movements.
| The general impression prevails that IL
| would have been better to have lie II the fight
| to outsiders and leave the Presidents
| declara tions concerning ..pernicious ac-
| tivty'' and Offensive partisanship' un-
| rescinded.
| The uphill nature Of the contest is so well
| realized here tha the game does not justify
the ammunition which it is proposed t.
| waste upon it.
| The temper of the silver men and the;T
| determination to rule or ruin the party are
| better understood in Washington than any
| other place in the country. The thorough
ness oftheir organization is also appreciated
| here, and il is known that in every State
where the silver men are in control par
| ticular care has been taken to select dele
| gates who will not be easily influenced by
| the arguments of the gold standard men