The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-07

strong desire for reelection. But he
mas surrounded himself with strong
men, and the influences back Of his
administration are those which tend to
mas been personally more popular than
ne, or more arproachable by the masses
OF the people, He makes few enemies.
Most people awho talk with
him come s'away believing that
he Is on their side Of what
ever question: has been discussed,
and this characteristic in part accounts
Tor the startling and contradictory re-
ports continually cited as ION good
authority:" Take the case. for In
stance, of the civil service. But, when
1t came to taking stand, the presi-
dent decided to abide with the reform
ers, In accordance with platform
pledges and shis inaugural address.
1t Is quite likely that he may make
some further exceptions from the clas-
sihed service as time goes on, but this
will not worry the public, so long as
the foundations remain secure.
On the currency question, President
Mckinley took a strong stand In
practical way in the appointment Of
Mr.. Gage as secretary OF the treasury.
The recommendations in his annual
message were good, although not going
SO far as advanced currency reformers
would have liked, but he doubtless rec
commended fully. as much as 1t would
be possible to get through the Fifty
fifth congress. If as much administra-
ton energy had been expended In
working up sentiment for currency re-
form as has been devoted to the an
nexatton of Hawaii, 1t would have
pleased currency reformers better.
In other matters, like the tariff, the
navy, ETC., the president has done about
what was expected, and hence, as top
les, they furnish little material for
comment. Conservatism In Cuban af-
fairs, along the lines of the Cleveland
administration, revival Of the move,
ment for Hawaii annexation, ,adher-
ence to civil service reform, and not
very high standard Of official appoint
ments, have been the leading features
of Mr.. McKinley's first year at the
White house.
The phenomenon Of the year, all
things considered, has been the sub
sidence Of the agitation for the over
throw of civil service reform. When
Mr.. Mckinley was inaugurated, four
Republicans out of five who were act
lively engaged in politics would de-
clare, when asked as to the chief duty
of the incoming administration, that
it should be the undoing Of Mr.. Cleve-
lands extensions Of the civil service
system. When the legislative appro-
priation bill was under consideration, it
was almost impossible to find Repub-
licans who dared to defend the merit
system on the floor. Outside of the
Massachusetts men and Mr.. Johnson,
of Indiana, few were willing to risk
a certain popular disapproval by
speaking for the present system, and
most Of the members who had been
obliged to disappoint hungry office
seekers at home FASTENED to apologize
to them by getting into print in oppo-
sition to civil service reform. How
different is all this now! Mr.. Brosius,
chairman Of the house civil service
committee, to which the subject nat
urally goes, now that the attempt to
kill the merit system through the ap-
preparations has failed, told me today
that 1t was almost impossible to get
quorum of his committee together, and
that members of congress were appar-
emily taking no interest in the Evans,
or so-called caucus" bill, which aims
to exempt $4,000 employees from the
classified service.
1t looks very much as if the storm
had entirely blown over. The Repub-
lican anti-civil service reform league
has given evidence Of fatal deteriora-
ton; It's dues have been reduced from
81 to so cents; it's meetings have been
SifoIS IL Jill WSChiy 10 .ulOnLHly, anu
Mr. Clapp has been succeeded in the
leadership by Henry M. Baker. Even
Gen. Grosvenor, who has always been
faithful advocate Of the Tammany
theory Of politics in every shape, when
asked, a few days ago, to account for
the sudden cooling-of of the agitation
for the spoils system, replied: eve
are waiting for certain things to hap
pen, and 1 can't tell you at present
what those things are.'' The chances
are the cause Of civil service reform.
on its mechanical side. is safe for this
administration- That is one of the
great developments Of the first year of
William Mckinley, and certainly no
question is more closely related to hon
est and decent government than this
Some improvements would be made in
the present classified service by weed
ing out the poorer material. But, If
this process can be undertaken by
friends OF the system, the cause will
not suffer thereby.