The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-18
Away with Civil service, says VIZ
johnson.


IN osio has become tEsgracefui chapter
ia che history % American politics IL =
dssgrscsfai in shis that men dse11se
worthy by their fellow CITIZENS 20 re57Fe-
Gent them IN a state legislature sho1ia
exist 80 America 20 io% and conts naSi1Da1
as 20 accept . nogntnafior on a PLATFORM
pfessgsuz mem 70 vote for a certain man
for sn Office gnA when the time for action
GENES, repudSsts their promises ard 1o+za
Win the common enemy 10 tnwaFt TIE
VII Of the people. Only Gre tntas II the
Democratic party ever commended ifseif
10 me- ard thai j. the strict alSc'F1Ge
which eenspsts q Democrat 10 vote tiae
ticket regularly nominated, or leave TIE
party have always believed and aefei
on the declaration that regularly nom
mated Republican Is tire man for me- 70
woe for, no matter how much superior
ais Democratic opponent might tSe.
Look back over ten years Of history
and see what changes were wrought N
the coTnpi. zion es the senate by the III
difference. to use mild term. OF Repuo-
Iiean legislatures 20 the will OF the pee-
pie Fer years Washington. with R'e-
publican legislature WAS only half repre-
serted In the senate. Delaware elected
Republican legislature, bat WAS unable 20
eject "a Republican senator. oregon elect
81 = Republican legislature and failed TO
elect "A sefssfgr. Kentucky chose Re-
publican legislature. and thanks 10 an ae-
sfdAaf . Republican came 30 the senate
from the blue Grass state. But IL was
eiose shave. Ohio chose "a Republican
legislature ard through the treachery OF
men who had been high In the councils
of the party II came SO close 10 defeat
INK the will OF the Republicans Of the
state that there has been no fun IN the
situation for weeks. Maryland elected a
Republican legislature. and the prospect
tifsan
in the seat Of the most astute Democrat
III the nation, Senator German, and the
fat seems. at fe,is writing. to be almost
Kicked In the fire..
Can any one agine the Democratic
party doing such things as are here
enuuerated7 IF he can do 30 he has an
Imagination which. IL directed 10 litera-
tnrs would produce book which would
rival Munehsusen and the Arabian Nights
combined.
At least one moral can he deduced from
the situation; II Republicans hope 10 con-
troll the desfinies Of the nation they must
improve their opportunities. Every one
uanst admit that. Another moral that all
practical politicians will subscribe 20 H.
the offices must he given 10 those who
win the battle. When the only probable
reward for Labor performed before cleo
ton IL the conscentjousuess OF labor well
performed Republican success in future
elections Is very pro blematical. Who be-
lgvEs that II Bryan and a Democratic
house bad been elected that the existing
civil service laws ard rules would be on
the statute books today? The Democratic
party always has. and always will follow
the rule that the offices belong to the
party that wins at the polls. while the
Republican party. preaching God and
morality has been feeding the boys who
do the work on the fragments left by the
mug~umps. Great is humbug. and the
civil service Teformer IL it's prophet, yea
mare. its profit,
1t IL claimed by the holy priests of civil
service that their scheme of government
by the few was Endorsed by the people last
year. because IT was one of the planks in
the Republican platform Until they pro-
duce Democrat who voted for McKin-
ley because he Endorsed civil service or
q Republican who voted for Bryan be-
cause the Chicago platform denounced
civil service. II Is reasonable to declare
that the people no more Endorsed civil ser
vice In 1886 than they Endorsed the Con-
fedsrate debt. if the civil service plank
had been left out OF the ST. Louis plat
form Ii would not have been any less Of
an issue than Il was
But why 30 back 10 1895 to find the
Views Of the people on civil service? In
Maryland. right within sight and hear
people voted down a proposal to put a
civil service amendment I'm their state
constitution, and they did II by over 80 00o
majority. Last fall the only question he
fore the people OF Greater New York was
civii service. The votes OF 500 go peo-
pie decided by e0ao majority 10 put the
city in charge Of Tammany. and the man
who gave the war cry, ITO hell with re-
form. received more votes than any other
candidate. And be Il remembered IN this
connection that New York gave ma
jorIty for Mckinley In iSs5. Does that
look as though the people indorSe civil
service reform,
Some considerable stress Is laid on the
fact that there was recently held a meet
ms Of ''the National Civil Service Reform
Association. which WAS attended by less
than enc delegate for every million and
a half people In the United States and
was presided over by Carl SchurZ Whom
did these delegates represent When and
whore were the conventions and mass
meetings held that elected them and au-
thortxed them to make de nansis'' on the
Republican partyf Did YOU print a report
of the proceedings 81 such a convention
~ mass meeting Carl SchurZ claimed
10 represent New York city that h III
JUST given a big ma iority. in spite OF his
many speeches TO Asa Bird Gardiner
the man who gave out the raliying cry
ITO he'll with reform"
The house has debated the civil service
question couple OF weeks and II the
wish af the people ts indicated by their
applause u is against the civil service
law. rs every point made against the law
brought rounds Of applause from the
crowded galleries \ proposal 10 close the
debate MS carried by the casting vote
Of Speaker Reed and the change az the
votes Of shree men who had been assured
1faf obi will - s-sx
heal changes ia the law az The present
session. This may hr done before this
reaches your readers
Could have my w8v would wipe the
civil service law oF the books and put
CT simple provision that an appoint
fnents In IN" civii service A the United
States shall bc made upnfy tho rc,,or,,-
meadsiiaus of senators and congressman
Ter probationary p-rini 90 SIX months.
at the snd Of which time II found corn-
pstouf. shay shall he appoi0tsd fag four
year, witN thH privilege of re-8ppoint-
meat. IT found incompetent at thc end
~ SiV months they shah bs DISCHARGED
ana the senator or member maklre me
recommendation called on fer another
candidate. 90 courSn the offices Should
be aproy'ioncd, "a They ave said "a he
now according fo popuia tteH.
Whrn she civil service commission IS
called or f0r reports queer f',ioe~ are d.
Np}oF-a Recently Senator Wilson c2ffatt
on thf c,rnmis~ioa gar list ~ tsyapit IN
the departments FROM Washington. Re
as sent a Hist 81 eleven u8mn~ 81 clerks
Investigation -hAA~ shat afgt of tha~e IS,
WHUa1 whN Dct oHiN never i{vtt in
. WasEinEto1 hlst NhA #a~ bvcn dead
three NrHrS Nuothev ie that - q man
Nha hs~ at+u ta the p7H!feu;|sry SIX
/ rtoa5hs soF stealing money oy7grs The
Frames - tWs others So uat sppes~ i. che.
Re-