The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-01-15
CIVIL SERVICE
.'REFORM" WISDOM
From the Chicago Inter Ocean.

From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
Washington, Jan. 12.-Mr Lands, in the
civil service debate in the house, made his
most telling point against the civil service
commission by producing the record book
of Mr.. Baker, who was the official heads-.
man of Public Printer Benedict in the
Cleveland transaction. He showed the
causes of removal as set down in that book.
Some of them were: mot wanted" IN.
c." ACTIVE in politics." Husband lawS
yer" mot grateful to the P. Pr" (publio
printer), I'm 1889 would not shake hands
with Mr.. Benedict" Gowns two houses"
Married and lives with her husband"
mot willing, e. A. B." Daughter teacher
in the public Schools" "a soldiers widow"
These reasons given by Baker for discharge
ing republicans from the printing office
raised a great laugh as Lands commented
upon them, and the point was made that
they were the acts of a man before the
office was put under the civil service, and
that the commission was not responsible.
But Mr. Lands replied that when Public
Printer Palmer had kicked this man Ba-
ker out of his office as unfit to be in the
public service the civil service commission
restored him, transferred him to the treas
work in the Office of the commission to
pass upon and rate examination papers.
The defenders of the commission were un-
horsed by this showing of favoritism to one
of the meanest spoilsmen in the Cleveland
administration.
In conclusion Mr. Lands paid a tribute
to party workers, saying. 81 believe in po-
litical parties. l believe they are the stand
ing armies of peace in a republican form
of government. l believe in party worker.
like the party worker. / am one of those
who believe In standing up for him away
from home when not a candidate for Of
flee. like the party worker because he
is generally keen, bright, active, and alert.
I like him because he represents the senti~
ment of the community in which he lives,
however small it may be; otherwise he
would not be selected to represent them.
He knows the peoples sympathies. He Is
acquainted with the peoples wants. You
can depend upon his judgment
"Take Indiana for instance. I am IA
mliar with her politics during the last
quarter of century, and l can tell you
that in the political organizations of our
Townships counties, districts, and state the
best blood, the best brain, the best enthu-
siasm, the best citizenship is represented
on the township, county district, and state
committees And what is true of Indiana
is true of the other states of this union.
These party workers are good men, bravo
men, courageous men. Parties being es-
Sent1al to a republican government, culIlcl~
dent with the birth of the republic, funda-
mental with the constitution, the party
worker is the country's best friend In time
of peace in time of war he would be the
man to organize a company in his town
ship a regiment in his county and brigade
in his congressional district. And that Is
| the reason that like him. He represents
| the best citizenship of the community In
which he lives.
continue to discredit him, continue re-
e., 30 l,ocn MOI VIII active n.
| terest in party politics as tpoilsmen,' give
| out the idea that they are dangerous men,
| bad men, men who cannot be trusted, ana
| the time is not far distant when congress
sional conventions will be rich mems re-
| unions and the senate of the United States
| and house of representatives little better
| than bankers clubs.
| 81 know, for I have been a party work.
| err in the trenches, in the counties, in the
| townships of my state since have been old
| enough to take part in politics. know
| well that the people then associated with
| in that connection were the best, very pest
| people in my county. The professional civil
service reformer. who is responsible Tor the
| peryersion of this system and the destruc-
| ton of this great principle, Is the child of
| the Pharisee. He would have us believe
| that public service is a reproach political
ambition an infamy political success the
| epitaph of self-respect and yet, Mr.. Chair
| man. these people are always holding Of
| flee themselves.
| "They are never supremelv happy unless
| thew are writing reform philippics on gov
| eminent stationary with one hand and
affixing their signature to the government
| payroll with the other. You know that Is
| true He IS the monopolist of wisdom ana
self-constituted guardian of the integrity
| and conscience of Chrlstendom, the gentle
| shepherd of hone and progress. His library
| is the rich and fertile garden wherein the
| fad blooms and blossoms. His best argu-
ment is sheer; to him history Is la
| mentation: with him public and private
virtue begin and end. He has sinking chills
when he thinks that possibly some time
| the world will have to get along without
| him. He Is unrea sonahle, unjust, bigotedi
| selfish, and malicious"