The times., 1897-09-02
Republican Private Talk in Pub
lie Meeting.
AGAINST THE MERIT SYSTEM
The Antl-civiI Service Association
Gaining in Membership Cab.nei
officer Declared to Favor It-AE-
pointment of Standing Committees
Some Off-HaBd Speeches.


anoes against the merit system. No new
argument was advanced, but there has
been no decrease in the severity Of terms
In which the Administration forsaking
4 the faithful was denounced.
Theleague has attracted considerable at
tentIon out Of town, because, perhaps.
there aTe 80 many capable Republicans
cut Of town who would like TO live here
If living here Were coupled with a sine
cure office. Secretary Lester read letters
from West Virginia, in which the Re-
pnbica8s are said TO desire TO Join the
league, or to form branches thereof. A
private letter was also exhibited, in which
the saure statements are made about places
in Virginia.
Secretary Lester said last night that
as soon as the association has prepared
the blank forms they would be sent
out to all localities on demand.
feature OF the proceedings was the
enthusiasm with which Hon A. NJ. Clapp
was greeted by the meeting. Pc had
previously declined by letter TO accept
the presidency of the league BE ap-
peared in the han last night and was
gwen d warm reception, as Were meny
Of the sentiments of brief address he
made. He accepted the cnairmanship OF
the meeting for the purpose, as he said,
of having the organization promptly ef-
fected u believe" he said, that nos
pnlv washington, but the whole country
is ready for this movement. tApplause.)
There are many symptoms that the coun
lry 1 s anxious TO get rid OF its foreign
element he would counsel the formation
Of committees at once aud prompt
ganizGUiOn
Thus civil service is only the entering
wedge which viii deprive the people
Ultimately OF the right OF electing Their
rulers Mr.. Clapp argued that the Presi-
Gent might just as wen be chos en- by
comndssi on as the other officers and
clerks OF the Government. (Applause.)
Sax new members We're reporcedf0r men,-
bersiip. There was sonie discussion as 10
Whether members should be elected with
out the paymentO Of aninitiation Zee. Those
presenting themselves last night We're
elected under a suspension of the rules.
The chairman made d few remarks on
the necessity OF equipping the organization
with funds. d" You can { run anything.
he said. without money
Amendments 20 the constitution We're
adopted that fifteen members should con
stitute a quorum. and that a permanent
committee be constituted of one member
from each State and Territory.
The following committees were appointed
Executive committee Edmund Burke, G.
r. Page, w. p Scott, C. Il. Ellis and Sidney
e. Mudd.
Finance-I. NJ Blood, Charles Emory and
James G. Bae.
Pnnuug-John H. Frederick, John Nc
Cormick and William Ii. McKenna.
Resolutions-s. Z. L. buchanan, N T.
West, c. H Rouse. George c. Randall and
T. F.. Spencer.
Membcrship-R. p. Blake, Frank Nc
Masters and l. NJ Coml,s
Shcrt addresses were made by Col. w. s.
odell, j J. Yerser. Major Blood, Mr.
Sargent and others. Congressman Brown
low was expected he viii, it is said,
speak to the meeting next Wednesda y night.
Col. W S. Odell said that he was not
member, but was ia sympathy with its
object and aims tApplausel He would
address the league at length On some
other occasion
MT. Sargent, Of New Hampshire, said
be was in sympathy with anything in aid
Of Republicans. He did not favor civil
tervice reform, nor did he think any honest
Republican or Democrat did.
lie regarded the civil service commission
y
not even regarded as a lawful body. He
thought that there was no such thing a. an
indispensable Republican in Washington.
1t was Democrats who were indis spensa BILE.
This was largely due TO the fact that
washington was settled 10y Marylander.
and Virginisns, all Democrats, who asked
for and generally got everything in sight,
he speaker attacked tile methods of rat
ing, examine tions, etc, 10 show that the
present law had no features which would
commend themselves to thinking men
Treasurer Ellis said that he was radica
in TINS work. He was pleased with tn,
stand taEeh by the presiding officer. HI
thought that if the Republican party haC
taken care OF its friends there would have
been nc break in the Presidency from
Lincoln to Mckinley. George Washington
himself said that It was bad politics {,
appoint one's enemies TO office. If tn.
Republican party had started out as 1t /,
acting now, it never would have sue
cecded as it had done. He maintained
however, that President Mckinley was az
honest usan, but he had to learn that Tho
people were in favor OF the abolition O
the present appointment methods.
A member asked If Congress repealed
the present Law, how could Mckinley z
back on his present record?
'oh," said Major Blood. .he can chang,
his mind"
Major Blood made a few remarks, it
which he elaborated the idea that Mr. Nc
Kinley could change his mind. He said tha
Cabinet officer told him that he hat
no Objection 10 Republicans forming thi
league. Nor did the President object 4,
any Republicans belonging to such al
organization as this and the free ex
precision OF opinion. Major Blood intimat
ed that money must be had; the figh
might take all summer, but 1T was no
right 10 permit Democrats to sit in of
ficial places and sneer at Republicans ou
In the cold We want the offices. That
what we want, and Wen have them, too
He objected to Democrats drawing pa
for offices which ought TO be filled b,
Republicans who are how walking tn,
streets.
After some further speeches the meeting
adjourned.
COINAGE DURING AUGUST.
A Total of Over Nina tfiIJsonS Most