The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-12-12
ONE PLANK BROKEN
be Civil Servlc, Reformers Get Just
a Little Bit lco Gay.
BRYAN'S DEFEAT APPLAUDED
They We're Not Allowed to Say So
In the Resolutions. Yet They
Even Up by Congratulate
ing the Country.

Philadelphia. Dec, lin the con-
Vcntion OF the National Civil Service
Reform league. there was a heated
discussion this afternoon over one
plank in the resolutions. when they
were offered by Chairman Bonaparte.
The plank which caused the trouble
was as follows: THE Ignominous and
wcll-merited defeat OF the democratic
party at the polls al the recent elec-
tion IL source OF gratlfcatton."
There We're half dozen delegates
on their feet scrambling for recogni-
ton before the last word was out OF
the speakers mouth. Colonel Ella of
Chicago asked that the paragraph be
stricken out. as he knew several per-
sons who voted for W. J. Bryan for
president who are In hearty accord
with civil service. y. II. Davis of Gin
clnnat also opposed the objectiona BILE
plank. The resolutions were finally re-
ferred back tn the committee and when
they came before the convention again
the obnoxious paragraph had been
stricken out. The resolutions adopted
are as follows
"Flrst-The National Civil Service
Reform league. assembled in this, its
sixteenth annual meeting. Is compelled
To- notice the fact that during the past
year, for the first time since its organ
ization, It's principles were openly re-
pudiated and a revival OF discarded
abuses threatened In the platform put
forth hy a national convention and In
The public declarations OF n candidate
for the presidency. The league cordial
ly endorsed the protests published
during the contest by its executive
committee against these mischieyous
and misleading utterances. IL congrat-
ulntcs the country that the purpose
thus foreshadowed to undo the good
accomplished by persistent effort dur
ing generation have failed OF con-
summation and records its hope that IL
may he called upon to meet no SINH
lar assault In the future.
"Second-The league heartily con-
graduates the country on the truly re-
markable progress OF reform under the
second administration of President
cleveland, and especially during the
past year, For this great achievement.
advancing as II does the Fundamental
principles OF free government, Presl-
dent Cleveland deserves the sincere
and heartfelt thanks OF all good citi-
gems. The league recognizes in the
president-elect fri,nd OF civil service
reform who has rendered eminent SER
vices in the past in our cause. His
4 record assures all friends of the re-
form that II will be his desire as well
as MS duty to end what remains OF the
practice OF using federal offices to re-
| ward personal or party service.
| fourth-The league congratulates 90
the state OF New York upon the recent
classification OF Its state and depart
| mental service.
Fffth-The league observes with pe-
cuiiar satisfaction the remarkable in
crease In number and activity OF the
/ wnrtinU f.a.s L.tt
ment throughout the United States.
Sixth-The league renews its rec
concentrations that the legislation
requisite to place the municipal gov
erhinent ana other local Offices OF the
District OF Columbia within the opera :
tion of the civil law be enacted.
Scventh-At Its last annual meeting
the league heard with pleasure OF the
commendahle attempt of the postmas-
ter general to extend the benefits of
the classified service to many postmas-
t.rs of smaller postoflices by consoli-
dating their Offices with those OF the
larger cities I'm the vicinity. This
measure held out the promise Of con-
siderable saving OF public money and
marked Increase In mail facilities be-
sides applying the merit system to "A
portion OF the public service wherein
It's Introduction IL at once most desira-
hle and attended with serious difficult
ties. The league has since seen with
regret and Indignation the practical
Illustration of this pudicious measure
through the selfish and INSCRIPTIONS
hostility of certain senators and rep
resentatiyes. a hostility cIoaked under
various frivolous pretexts. but which
could be inspired only by a desire to
use the public patronage as reward
Tor personal adherents or party work
ers. and II urges upon congress that
rms eminently practical reform be no
longer delayed"