Evening star., 1896-10-06
Bryan's Success Might Mean It's
Restoration.
REWARDS FOR PARTISAN SERVICES
Effect on Business of the Clerks
Fear of Dismissal.
ALARMED BY THE PROSPECT


Sun of today says:
4 phase of tine campaign that is attract
ing more attention in Washington than al
most any other is the threat made by the
silverites to repeal the civil service law and
DISMISS all the present employees of the gov
ernment in order to make room for some of
the followers of Mr.. Bryan who desire re-
nunerative employment. This is what Mr..
Bryan calls giving the people their own. 1t
is however, the advocacy of the old spoIls
system. carried to a greater extreme than
was ever before known.
Being practically without a campaign
fund, Mr.. Bryan holds out the promise of
reward in the government service to those
who serve him and assist in his election
He boasts that he has not promised an Of
flee to any one. and that he will be abso-
lutcly free from embarrassment in the adj
ministratIon of the government, but of the
great horde of politicians who are endeavor-
ing after fashion of their own invention
to increase the silver sentiment, there is
probably not one who has not in mind the
ioaves and fishes which Mr.. Bryan will have
to distribute in the event of his election and
the repeal of the civil service law.
Employees Expect Dismissal.
Aside from the confusion which this would
cause in the work of the various depart
-nents and its demoraliZing influence on the
voter, the employees of the government,
many of whom have given the best years of
their lives to the service, foresee dismissal
as their share of Mr.. Bryan's triumph.
The fore, in spite OF all the reports con-
CernIng the number of government clerks
mo favor free silver, it is doubtful if there
is one who is really deSirous of Mr.. BryanS
election. When the campaign opened and
before the candidate had given his attention
to any other plank in his platform than
that declaring for free coinage. many OF the
democratic clerks here began to talk sill
YER 1t was Mr.. Bryan himself who first
alarmed them by the assurance that, If
elected. he should insist upon having their
places i'll order to reward his hungry fol-
lowers. In the speech he made in this city
little more than two weeks ago to a crowd
composed almost entirely of oflcehoiders
Mr.. Bryan dWelt at some length upon the
civil service law, and declared that its only
effect had been to create an officeholding
class. whose interests are opposed to the
interests of the great mass of citizens.
An Absurd Assertion.
Nothing could be more absurd than such
an assertion Government employees are, as
rule poor men. The same energy, fidelity
to duty and intelligence applied in other
pursuits would bring a greater recompense.
They are thoroughly familiar with the work
they called to perform, and do it well.
The government is not an easy taskmasIer,
and since the civil service law has been in
operation the service has been gradually
freed from the incumbrance of worthless
clerks who were given appointments under
the spoil5 system. 1t is. therefore with the
greatest apprehension that the clerks specu-
late upon the chances of MIR. BryanS cleo
zion.
Their fear of dismissal is having very
depressing effect upon the business OF
Washington Men who had supposed their
positions safe long they performed
their duty well, and who had made small
investments in building associations and
deavoring to get their money back and are
making no more investments. They are
ecCnomizng in every direction, and the
srocers, the clothing dealers. the owners
of houses and all forms of business have
been affected. Men who formerly rented
comfortable houses for themselves and
their families are giving them up and
Crowtiing into furnished rooms, where they
think they can live more cheaply. and
every man among thera who has family
to support is hoping that Bryan will be
defeated and Mckinley elected.
Matter of Public Concern.
Since the civil service law was passed
and the spoils system abolished the people
of the country generally have thought little
about the clerks who perform the routine
work of the government. But the opera
ton of the old spoils system is still well
remembered, and those who realize how
much corruption resulted. how the money
of the taxpayers was wasted in order that
members of Congress might reward their
political hceleTs and warl-workers, must
feel that the apprehension of the clerks
concerning their own welfare should not be
less than the apprehension of the public
concerning the future administration of the
government if the officers are once more to
be used as capital with which to pay the
expenses Of the campaign.
return to the spoilS system would be
ruinous to the business of Washington.
Credit would be absolutely destroyed. while
its effect upon the efficiency of the public
service in all its branches would be most
disastrous. Yet there is no doubt of the in
tenti0n of the silver to restore the
old condition of affairs if they get an op-
portunity. A prominent government Off
cIal. who is within the classified service,
as'.ed one of the democratic leaders If it
We're true that Mr.. Bryan contemplated
clean sweep of the departments in the
event of his election The official and the
silver leader are warm personal friends
and the latter replied somewhat regret
fully. Il am afraid that is MIR. Bryans
intention"
Could Not Resist the Pressure.
II do not know he continued. that he
ccntemplates the dismissal of all govern
ment employees, but 1 feel satisfied that if
he is elected and the civil service law is re-
pealed. the pressure for office will be so
great that neither the members of Con-
gress nor Mr.. Bryan himself will be able to
stand against it. / therefore anticipate an
entire change in the personnel of the gov
ernments force of clerks if Mr.. Bryan is
elected Frankly" concluded this gentle
man, Il should advise all government
clerks who wish to retain their positions
to squeeze for the success of the republi-
cans"
Ihere Is, or course, great deal of doubt
whether Mr.. Bryan could secure the repeal
or the civil service law even IL elected Pres
ident and with silver majority in the
House of Representatives.. IL the republi-
cans lose the House-a contingency tardly
considered by the campaign managers at
the present time-they would still be a very
considerable body. Then there are the
Older men among the democrats who have
seen and understood the benefits yhish the
country has derived from civil service re-
form, and who would doubtless oppose tie
repeal or the law The new men, who ex-
pect 10 ride into office on the wave of Mr.
Bryan popularity, would. of course, be
willing to follow him in any course no mat
Ter now extreme or fll-advised So far as
the senate IS concerned. 1t Is probable that
majority in that body would combine mn
der the leadership of Senator German to
restore the spoils system
Ran Ayyny With m R.pu up-