The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-06

party worker is the Republics best friend
in time Of peace. and should war come ne
pany in his township. regiment in his
county and a brigade in mis- district loud
applause) Continue to dscredit party poll
tics. continue to sheer at men who take an
interest in party organization, and the time
will soon come when congressional elections
will be little more than rich mems reunions.
and both branches of our national Congress
nothing less than bankers clubs.
MIR LANDIS'S REMEDY.
In response to persistent demands from
Mr. johnson that the speaker state what he
would suggest as a remedy for what he was
pleased to call abuses of the civil-service
system Mr.. Lands said: First of all. /
would undo the work of the Logan Carlisle
and Albert Baker crowd. l would then have
the appointments Of chiefs of divisions. pri-
vate secretaries. chief clerks and those
whose relations are Of a confidential nature
entirely free from legislative restrictions.
would fix limited tenure CT office If, say
six or seven years, for employees in the va
rious departments. placing in the hands OF
the heads of departments the power 10 reap
point such employees as are essential to the
efficiency of the service. / would apportion
the officers in fact and in truth TO each con-
gressiOnal district Territory and the District
OF Columbia, and / would not have the law
by implication or otherwise disc-Sdit 2ctiVe
interest in party politics. would make an
appointments probationary. If at the end or
the probationary period the appointee proved
efficient and demonstrated the same before
an examining board in the department in
which he was employed, he would then be
appointed for the full term, at the explra-
ton of which he would leave the govern
ment service. AS an evidence Of good faith
and TO retain his residence, would make IL
obligatory upon every male Offlceholder out
side of the district of Columbia to return
to his home at every congressional election
cfsz ffapr
accredited resident of a State who does not
take enough interest in politics and in his
country To vote Is not Qualified to hold Offlce. -
cloud and prolonged applause.J
Mr.. Lands concluded thus: The profess
stonal civil-service reformer, who is respon-
sible for the perverson of the great prin-
ciple he would so Zealously champion, is the
child of the Pharisee. He would have us be-
lieve the public service is a reproach, poll
tcal ambition an infamy, political success
the epitaph of self-respect. Yet he is al
ways holding office himself and Is never
supremacy happy unless writing reform
philippicS on government stationery with
one hand and affixing his signature to the
permanent pay roll with the other. He as
sumes that he is the monopoist of wisdom.
the guardian of the conscience and integ-
rity of Chrstendom. the gentle shepherd of
peace and hope and progress. His only ar
gunent is a sheer. His library Is the rich
and fertile garden in which fads bloom and
blossom. To him history is a lamentation.
With him public virtue begins and ends.
He is supremacy sorrowful when he thinks
along without him. He is unreasonable
and malicious. If you would save this pr1n-
ciple, civil service reform, from absolute
extinction, you must rescue 1T from the
hands of this zealOt; you must wrest it
from his clutch and the consequences of his
rapacious folly; you must bring it in har-
mony with the faith of the fathers and
close to the hearts of the people. This is
the way to make patriots. We are asked to
define a patriot: l would say that twas he
who carried a gun in time of war and took
an active interest in party politics in time
of peace" Gong applause.)