The times., 1897-08-20
OPPOSE THE MERIT SYSTEM
Republican Anii-riyiI Service Re-
formers Adopt a Constitution.
DEFER CHOICE OF OFFICERS
Considerable Friction Manifested
ht Last Nights Meeting Nom
Members Interfere With the Pro-
gram by DeDouncing President
AIcKinley-T The Leagues Objects.

The National Republican Anti-CiviI
Service League held another of its prelim-
mary meetings at the hallof EInrich's Hotel,
on the Avenue, last night. The object of
this league is TIE repealof the civil seivice
reform law and the league Is an anti-civli
service reform league, though the name OF
the organization woald perhaps lead some
people who hear of IL TO an ambiguity OF
thought on the subject.
At preliminary meeting held week ago
forty or fifty people enrolled their names
as intending members and temporary Off
GERS wereelected. A committee waselected
oncOnstitrtionandby by avs. Thisct MN tee
net during the week and last night sub
nitued a constitution, VII ch Ar adopted.
The other business ON hand was the election
of permanent officers, but this was not
reached last night.
The Anti-oivil Service League is having
considerable trouble / n getting under
way. There We're 100 or more people
in the han Last night, some of Them mem
berS and some not. The people who were
not members, great many of them, did
not like the constitution in some parts, and
Insisted on being heard contrary 20 all
polite lsages of parliamentary practice.
These peiPle were a disturbing element,
and there was considerable commotion
and friction during the whole evening and
very little business.
TAe matter which is troubling a large
number OF the people not yet members
Of the league, but who wish TO become
members OF such league, is the fact that
the constitution as now adopted uses the
words repeal or modify the civil service
law A great many ardent objectors
10 this law would, ii is said, become rneni-
beTs ot the league in a minute If the
constitution was changed so that the
words "or modify were left out These
ohjectoTs think that the law should be
repealed absolutely and Immediately.
Several rather heated discussions took
place during the evening, and one non
member insisted on being heard several
times IN denanciation of President aic-
kinley and the blanket additions 10 Mr.
Cieveland's already pernicious and un-
American law" Two or three other
nOn-members had remarks TO make about
the general obnoxiousness of civil service
reform, and insisted on making them.
1t seemed to be the general sentiment
OF the people already in the ergauiza tion,
and OF some Others, that the organization
should be well started and under way as
soon as possible 1t seemed to these
members also that the word modify"
should certainly be Incorporated in the
constitution.
One gentleman, Mr.. Scott, said: at is
unbecouing OF this organization. which
Is Republican organization wholly, ard
loyal Republican organization, too. TO
delounoe The Republican party and Presi-
dent Mckinley II should be our idea rot
10 cast slur on Mr. Mckinley and call
niin names, but simply TO work in a diplo-
matte ana thorough way toward the at
taihment OF our object ! am as thor
oughly desirous OF the absolute repeal OF
the civil service law as any one else in this
meeting, hut il cannot be repealed irnne
ciaieiy 10 petition sent 10 Congress by
small organization here in Washington
would secure the repeal OF the law. what
we want is thorough organization and dis
sanitation Of our views, ana the establish
nent OF other leagues similar 10 ours IN
every Congressional dis rict in the United
states Then we can work with force
Tie lrtle matter or the use Of the word
'nocify' IN our constitution should keep
na one Jut OF the organization
The announcement was made that the
Hon. a NJ Ciapp had been waited on
by a committee and that he had con
sented TO have his name voted On for
president 1t was stated also that Hon
Henry n. Boxer would not object to
being the first vice president An at
tempt was made 70 vote for Officers, bot
this was frUstreted, and they viii not be
elected untG the next meeting, next
Wednesday.
The purpose OF the organization is
81 ated ia the preamble OF the cunstitu-
ti0n: The purpose of this league is to
oppose the further extension of the law
known as the civil service act OF Janu-
airy 6, sSS, and 10 influence by all hon
orable means Congress at tn G coming session
TO repeal or modify the same: and ia order
10 bring about some system OF co-opera-
tion on the part OF all Republicans, we
pledge ourselves to try to encourage the
organization of such leagues in every Con-
gressional district in the United States
To this end we viii use all honora BILE
means for the promotion of the said
league and its purposes. We indorse the
speech of the Hon. Charles NJ. Gros venor,
delivered August IL, 1897
The committee which drew UP this docu-
nent consisted OF Messrs. Mccormick,
Scott, Page, Lester and Ellis The tempo
rary officer. who had char &c of the niee.
ing last night were Capt. John Frederick
of Pennsylv ania. as chairman. Mr.. W II.
Lester, OF Tennessee, as secretary, and
Mr.. J Il. Coenbs, of Minnesota, as ser
geant-at- arms.
Tire application for membership in the
Anti-ciyil Service League contains the
following, which must be signed:
] hereby make application for member
ship in the National Republican Anti-Ciyil
Service League. / am an uncompromising
Republican, and voter in State Of =.
l hereby pledge rayself, if elected to menl-
bership in the League, to use every effort
in my power TO advance the object for
which this League is formed, /. e., the
modification or repeal of the present civil
service law.
INDIANA LEAVES HALIFAX.