The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-07
M'KINLEY's FIRST YEAR
GOOD AND BAD POINTS IN THE
PRESIDENTS RECORD
His Handling of the Attempt to XIII
Civil Service Reform Worth Men,
tiOn-Lukewarmne In Cur
rency RefOrm-POOr Southern
AppOintments-Cu Affair.
Washington Bureau st. Paul Globe, !
Corcordn Building.
Special to Tho st. Paul Globe.
GuTNJCTnNy

Special to Tho st. Paul Globe.
WASHINGTON, March GA year
and two days ago William Mckinley
was 1naugurated president Of the Unit
ed States. In less than two years the
primary steps for nominating candi-
dates to succeed him will be in order.
The twelve months that have just
passed will doubtless remain the most
important Of this administration, SO
far as forming an estimate of the pres
ident Is concerned, for 1t Is the first
year that counts. 1t Is at the opening
of the administration that the spoils-
men regularly make their fiercest as
sault. In fact, all conflicting interests
put forth their greatest energies to
gain 1.-The first move" of a new presi-
dent, and hence commit him to a GER
tain extent to the policy they advocate.
The pressure from the Cuban sympath-
izers has doubtless been greater than
1t will be again unless events lend
stronger arguments for belligerent ac-
ton. Currency reformers, too, have
put In their best work with the new
president; in his later years they will
either have had what they want, or be
so discouraged as to cease to persuade
him. So with the advocates respective
ly of pension economy and of pension
prodigality, and Of every other policy
upon which presidents stand
diilOuIlIS W SOItetHluS. 80
1t Is, moreover, to the congress elect
ed concurrently with the president that
the public look for the carrying out of
the distinctive administration policies.
In It's four-year term the administra-
ton rarely controls the second house
OF representatives, the only exception
since 1871 being the second half of
President Cleveland's first term; but, as
the senate at that time was and had
been against the administration, the ex
ception hardly counts.
A prominent Western Republican.
VINO now holds no public office, but re-
sides In Washington and keeps an in
telligent watch upon public events, thus
spoke to your correspondent today of
the first year of Mr.. Mckinley as pres
ident: He has made a good president
very much better than I expected
and particularly so in the last two or
three months. He has resisted the as
saults upon the civil service rules and
the designs of the ultra jingoes with
unexpected f1rmness. For these two
things he deserves great credit. The
conspicuous defect of his administra-
ton has been the character Of many
of his appointments to office. To an
extent 1 expected that, for I had seen
men he appointed while governor of
their selection. But I was hardly pre-
pared to see a politician appointed to
the head Of great scientific bureau in
direct defiance Of the law governing
its creation, and with no other apology
than that the man would doubtless
catch on The Southern appointments
nave been especially bad, but perhaps
this is the inevitable result of the way
we nominate and elect presidents. We
must have Southern delegates at a
nominating convention, and custom
dictates that they shall be rewarded
each according to his works; and this,
especially among the negroes, brings
some very poor material to the top.
In the great Northern states, where
ordinarily Republican president has
much better material from which to
select his appointees, such bosses as
Platt and Quay have been given almost
full swing. In states which are not
boss-ridden, like most of New England,
! should judge that the appointments
have been reasonably good. But in
Louisiana and Pennsylvania the Re
publican party would have been so per
cent stronger today had there been no
such thing as federal patronage at the
disposal of the president, and with the
advice and consent of Hanna in Louis
lana and Quay In Pennsylvania"
This Is a typical estimate from an
Independent point Of view. Ultra-par.
tisanship would not agree that any
mistake had been made. 1t is perhaps
doing Mr.. Mckinley no injustice to
say that he has, to a considera BILE ex-
tent, the training and instincts of prac-