The times., 1898-10-04

have to make extraordinary exertions to
keep the attention of the public focused
on himself Col Roosevelts admirers
are very fond of calling attention to his
"hrmness" as displayed as a public OFF,
cial They claim from this that Col.
Roosevelt will be absolutely independent
of Platt and everybody II he should be
elected governor Having never truckled
10 any one from President of the United
States down, they do not believe that he
is likely to begin 10 do Il now
There are people in Washington and
elsewhere, however, who are disposed to
smile slightly when the subject of Col.
Roosevelt's perfect independence as a
public official is mentioned
Ihey recall certain incidents that hap
pened when Col. Roosevelt was at the
head of the Civil Service Commission
which do not bear out this assertion. Col.
RooseVelt, II seems, started out with a
great flourish to investigate the Balti-
more and Milwaukee postoffices. The re-
spective postmasters of these towns had
apparently violated both the spirit and
letter or the Civil Service law grossly in
making removals and appointments Col
Roosevelt announced in interviews that
ne was going to make an example of the
Offenders Both were beyond doubt guilty
ana they should be made to feel The
full weight of the Civil Service gaw.
not even the President of the United
States could shield them from punish
ment. One could not help feeling sorry
Tor these two postmasters after reading
Roosevelt'S vigorous manifesto: the least
punishment they could possibly hope to
receive apparently was ignominious dis
missal from office and public disgrace.
CT tran 70
Gals served out their terms and the
Civil Service Commission dropped the
matter abruptly.
The explanation is that President Har-
rison sent for Roosevelt and ordered him
10 let up on the cases or resign his Job.
Roosevelt concluded to hold his job, but
what come down 1t must have been for
man who would not permit anyone,
not even the President, TO interfere with
him in the discharge of his duties as a
public official.
Has the Roosevelt of $780, who cringed
before Harrison and swallowed his own
words in order 10 hold his position,
changed his makeup since then? Mr.
| Platt may have found out. Mr. Platt has
the reputation of being a shrewd man
Representative Vandiver, of the Four
teenth Missouri District, called at Demo-
cratic headquarters yesterday He re-
viewed the political situation In Missouri
! and said that the outlook for Democratic
success in that State at the Fall elections
was exceedingly bright. He predicts with
a certain degree of confidence that there
| Will be gain of at least one congress-
man, who will be elected from the St
Louis district A thorough organizat ton
| has been perfected, and campaign work
| is going on actively.
Judge Fleming. who has Just returned
! from an extended trip to Kentucky, SAYS
that the Democrats will not only hold
their own in that State at the coming
election, but will make decided gains.
The Louisville district has developed the
! most excitement thus far in the cam
| paign, and the present indications are
| that Young Turner the Democratic
| nominee for Congress, has the best of
! it. The Republicans have put up two
| candidates and the Courier-Journal will
| support neither of them, but is throwing
| its strength to help Turner Judge
| Fleming says that the tales of misuse
| that are being told by the troops is do
| ing the Republicans much damage. That
| their cry that men must expect to suffer
| in war is being met by the soldiers,
| who say they were perfectly willing to
| suffer in any way whenever it was nee
essary, but that they objected to being
! overworked and under fed and neglected
| when sick, when it was unnecessary and
only the result of incompetency, neglect
and even robbery, as some declare.
|
The nomination of Col Dick for Con-
gress is among the things expected to be
| accomplished by the Nineteenth District
| Republican convention and Senator
Hanna in Ohio today, as the successor of
the late Representative Northway.