The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-27


political pull Of this or that man VINO
stood in with the appointve power.
II is not strange that some OF the
American newspapers arc using this IN
cldont 20 point moral and attention IS
drawn TO the superior work Of our navy.
because the officers in command and the
men behind the guns got their positions
moi by favor but by merit. IN order tnat
any man become an adept it Is neces-
sary that he have training and practice
and in order to encourage him 20 perse-
we're. il Is necessary that he have reason
able assurance that promotion will come
when nc deserves H.
But the spolls-men do not work along
that line. Under the spells system II is
the poltical pull that tells and with a
change OF administration there must be
q general shaking up in the various de-
partments Of the civil service and the
most faithful and efficient servants OF
govtrnment must get out 20 make room
for the favorites Of the new regime.
There is no doubt that many appoint
ments in the army during our war with
Spain were appointments Of favor Tather
than Of merit and much Of the misman-
agement complained Of was due TO that
fact IL has also been the custom 10 make
diplomats and consular appointments In
accordance with the rules Of the spells
system. We are wofuily lacking in train
ed men in this department OF our service
and 1t was shown just before the war be-
gan that IN diplomatic negotiations we
were no match for sagasta. We are now
extending our foreign trade and it is a
matter Of the greatest moment that we
have astute business mea ~ the consular
service. But the custom has been 10
dunn into these POSITIONS troublesome
politicians. who were party workers
and who must be rewarded for their SER
vices to the party.
we have recently had some valuable
obiect-lessons and the merit system has
been helped thereby.
==[--=--
The Abingdon citizen. edited by Mr.. G.
G. PorterneId has gone over TO the Re
oubl.cans and will support General Walk
er for Congress over Judge Rhea. Mr.
Portoraelc prints in the current issue Of
his paper q card over his own sisnat1re
IL, which he gives his reasons for the
change. First Of all he raises objection
TO the Virginia election law. declaring
that the Democratic party which made 10
for n purpose has undertaken by means
~ i,s provisions to defeat General walk
er Moreover, he says that he Is IN IA
vor Of a protective tariff. in favor Of the
gold standard and opposed 10 State Banks
of issue. In all these great measures
he SAYS that Judge Rhea is opposed TO
his views and so he cannot in sincerity
support him.
==-----=
The Maria Theresa has been raised and
will be added to our navy. Now the
question IS can she become welded 10
our interests and keep her maiden name.
Teddy might console himself with Pro-
fessor Tattens prediction that the world
will come TO an end anyhow next March.
Editor Hearst might vote those behead-
ed spaniards he saw az Santiago and thus
secure his gubernatorial nomina ton.
car Reed is going on the stump in sew
era1 western States. tt is suspected that
Mr. Reed is anxious not 90 sec the House
put to the trouble Of having new
speaker.
Roosevelt was not init by Mausor bull
let's but lodging political brickbais IS
quite "a different warfare.
United States Minister Angel has re-
turned from Turkey on a vacation and
the Ann Harbor students received him
with yels that must have made him think
the Mussusmans were still on the war
path.
Aguinaldo weighs Jos pounds but his
wait seems to stand good show for an
increase as time goes on.
Now the papers graveiy anpounced the
death of the mother Of Maud $, and
Maud S was a fastest young thing that
freouentod race tracks, and whose record
has now been beaten By better horses.
The manufacturer Of artificial eggs says
they will not hatch chickens. Nobody
ever found fault with eggs that hatched
chickens. it was those that started and
didn't do Il that bothered the actors.
Vesuvius is in eruption and Joe Bailey
is on the stump, now Tor fair field and
no favorites.
There is reported a big shortage IN the
apple crop. but the army corps are as
numerous as ever
The very people who are worrying over
the spuling of a bottle of wine on the
Illinois would not drink it If they had IL.
The Manila cigarmakers demand that
four days shall constitute weeks work.
There seems TO be nothing the matter
with that civilization.
New York is to have a theatre for ZEN
tertainment Of negro patrons exclusive
~" The papers will. Of course. have