The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-17
BETTER CHANGE ITS NAME.
A Contributors Hint to the oliver II.
Morton Club.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Some of the Republican newspapers OF
this State ommen favora oily upon the re-
cent ciyil-service resolutions of the Oliver
p. Morton Club. Perhaps both the resolu-
tons and this outside Endorsement are in
tended to delude Republicans with a false
representation of the sentiment and policy
Of their party This ili-advised and worse
expressed declaration comes with a bad
grace from an organization that assumes
the honored name of Oliver p. Morton, who
is sometimes called the Great Partisan, be-
cause he gave to the profession of politics
a dignity that few of it's votaries have at
tanned. 1t is certainly unbecoming the
namesake Of a great partisan to resolve
not to support any candidate who honestly
adheres to the pledge of his party in it's
last national convention and the renewed
pledge of the President in his inaugural.
Less than six months after the Republican
party had achieved it's greatest triumph at
the polls, a triumph Of principle even more
than of ballots, comes this misnamed club,
ana after a preamble bad enough to spoil
the digestion Of anybody but an office
seeker, resolves: THAT our senators and
representatives in Congress be requested to
work increasingly for the repeal of what is
known as and called the civil-service law.
BE 1t further resolved, that we are not in
favor of any candidate for state, county or
city office who cannot subscribe to the
above resolution"
Oliver p. Morton blush for his namesake?
At its next meeting the club should read
with due solemnity the Republican national
platform and President McKinley's in
augural, and then either rescind its resolu-
tons or change its name to the William j.
Bryan Club. or better still, call itself after
the illustrious patriot who coined the
phrase Turn the raScals out For this is
the real animus of the movement, disguise
4 nc ~ will NTH. QExyn af1A1 fNrnAIIn. nhn1rf
life tenure, rotation in office and the like.
1t means a 0iSreputable attempt to make
party spoils of the government civil-service,
which has been rescued with such difficulty
mainly by Republican legislation and exec
utive orders.
In strong contrast to these puerile club
resolutions stands the manly and untinch-
ing declaration of the last Republican
national platform: THE eivil-service law
was placed upon the statute book by the
Republican party, which has always sass
tanned it, and we renew our repeated
declarations hat it should be honestly ana
thoroughly enforced and extended wherever
practicable" President Mckinley adds this
Endorsement in his inaugural: Reforms in
the civil service must go On. As a member
OF Congress / voted and spoke in favor of
the present law, and l shall attempt its
enforcement in the spirit in which 1t was
These emphatic declarations by the party
and it's chosen leader ought to put an end
to this foolish talk &bout the repeal or
modification of a reform measure to which
both the party and the administration are
irrevocably pledged. AS a mere question
Of party expediency. there Is but one course
open to the sel~f-respecting Republicans: TO
stand by the law they have placed upon the
statute books. to extend the reform where
ever practicable and cordially to uphold the
President in his promise TO enforce the law
in the spirit g;n which it was enacted. 1T
is the chief strength and glory of the Re-
publican party that 1t can be depended
upon not 20 turn its back upon an honor
able record or refuse the demand of the
Nation for a better and more efficient gov
rnment. REPUBLICAN.
Greensburg, Ind, May 16.