Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-09-25
SECRETARY GAGE
ON CIVIL SERVICE.

In another column IS report OF an
interview with Hon. Lyman ]. Gage,
Secretary of the Treasury, in which
the distinguished financier does many
good Republicans great injustice. We
have no doubt Mr.. Gage has been an
noyed by office-seekers, almost all
those holding high positions are, but
he should remember that it is by and
through the efforts of those same
parties that he is Secretary of the
Treasury.
The imputation that those who
seek government positions are shift
less in business is positively unfair.
In most cases environment rather
than lack OF energy or business tact
brought disaster during the panic.
Men who held good positions in man
ufacturiug Establishments, banks,
business houses, or on railroads, and
who were fully competent to perform
any duty required, were thrown out
Of employment because Of the failure
of their employers. Those failures
may have been induced by remote
causes, over which the victim had not
the slightest control For example,
the panic forced the r. & O. Railroad
into the hands of receivers. Prior to
the collapse of the road, business had
been dull and employees we're on short
time They and their families had to
live. They had no money but they
were known to be honest. The grocer
gave them credit. Times grew worse.
They were unable to pay. The groc-
GERS creditors were pressed and were
forced to and did crowd him to the
wall Who was to blame? Can Mr..
Gage, with all of his financial acu-
ruen name the individual who was
shiftless? We think not.
He says "the Government, as well
as well-managed business enterprises,
needs successful men to enter its de-
partments, and that civil service turns
away these poor uniortunates.
1t is astonishing that any sane man
should utter such a sentiment, know
ing as he does, how the Treasury De-
partment was looted by the worst
spokesman who ever held a position
under the Government-Logan Car
Isle. Were those put in position by
Carlisle more competent than those
whom he dismissed They passed
no examination. There was no test
of their fitness. The open sesame
was, us he a Democrat" Answered
in the affirmative, Cleveland threw
his civil service blanket over him and
forthwith he was successful man. -
Successful in securing a job and sue
cessful in holding it. That is all.
Put them on examination today and
half would fail
If there is one class of men above
another in this country, who merit
recognition by the Administration, it
is those who, during the past four
years, bore aloft the banner of Repub-
licanism and at the sacrifice of bust
Message, wealth itselt-beat back
the free trade, free silver, free riot
hordes- the Goths and Vandals-
who vulture-like, preyed upon the
industries of the people and in three
years imposed on the nation a fnan-
cial burden greater than the Civil
War. Cali such men calamity
howlers"! Calamity has overtaken
many of them, but with heroic cour-
age they will die before they Twill
talk for free silver, for greenbacks
and for all the other remedies which
can breed panic and destroy industry.
Mr.. Gage would do we'll to revise
his opinion OF the rank and file of the
ReDubliCau marty