The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-03-10
Civil Service Under Mckinley

Civil Service Under Mckinley
Cincinnati Enquirer
On the 4th inst. gloating McKin-
ley organ in Cleveland boasted that
in one year many Democratic office
holders in Washington and in the
postoftiesSand custom houses would
suffer from a terrible feeling OF
'goneness." 1t gives the patroniz-
ing assurance, however, that the of.
fice-holders will be fairly treated. 1t
says that civilian Mckinley is too
big and broad n man to fall below
the highest standards which have
been established in the national
Government regarding the retention
of faithful officials during their full
term of service"
We do not believe that Major Nc
Kinley, If he attains the President
ial chair, will be a milksop about the
offices. He will quickly take the
patronage that belongs to his party,
and he ought to. This is Govern
ment by party, and it is the duty of
the party placed in poverty the peo-
pie to take possession of the whole
machinery of the Government.
Glass officeholdiiig and long tenures
are repugnant to system of govern
ment depending on frequent express
sions at the polls. We shall be much
disappointed in Mckinley, always
provided he "reaches," if he does
not radically reform, the wretched,
frobbing Civil Service conditions pre-
vailing under the present Admins
tration, and which existed to some
extent under Harrison, though he
was more stalwart party man than
the present executive is. Under the
present class system, which contin-
ues without any weeding-out pro-
cess in sight, the departments in
Washington are crowded with male
and female barancles. In some of
the public offices circulating librar-
les have been organized, so that the
clerks can put in their abundant
spare time in reading.
There was never day, under the
most extreme ''spoils" system when
there was such great need for giant
In the Government departments with
a besOm as there is now. If we are
to have Mckinley for President we
shall expect an army of useless Re-
Democrats and political
nondescripts and towards to be in
fired" from the Govern
ment service, and their places taken
by competent Republicans who have
been OF service to their party, and by
virtue of their party being indorsed
by the people, of service to the coun-
try.
The elimination of these barnacle |
classes, though, will be less of trag-
edythan that which will occur I'm the |
Foraker faction in Ohio. The Ohio
nen who will stand high In the favor
If the Administration, and who will
eceive first class appointments, will
'e such as M. A. Hanna, Major Dick,
NJ. Hahn, Joseph p. Smith,
Iudge A. Q. Thompson, Thomas Nc
)ougall, and so on. John Sherman
will have u regular saturnalia of
'atronage. John is faithful to his
riends, and never forgets those who
ave done him service. He will be
BILE to bestow some hundreds, or
ven thousands, Of the dependents
hat have accumulated about him
uring more than generation in
ublic life In office. All those famiI-
'r politicians who are merely scamp
ig out" when the Sage of Mansfield
without "pull'' will leave their
olation and wear diamonds in pub.
c.
There will be nothing for Foraker,
atiator though he be. Charley