The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-06
REPUBLICAN FEARS FOR OHIO.
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES CALLED
ON FOR CONTRIBUTIONS.

Treasures BurdeIl Has Sent Them IL
"Con1identiaI" Circular Letter,
Asking Them TO "Pay Up and Look
CheerfuI'-IIanRa Said TO Have Re-
Vived the jay HubbcIl' system.
The Appeal shows the Republicans
Fear the Result.
Washington, Oct. 5.-(SpeciaL)-S des-
perate has the Republican situation in
Ohio become, that Senator Mark Hanna
has revived the Jay Hubbel system of
.evying campaign assessments upon the
Federal officehoiders in Washington, re
gard!ess of the states TO which they are
accredited.
Within the past few days most every
emp3oye in the governments service, at
Washington, has received a long letter
from W. f. Burdell, treasurer of the
Finance Committee, of the Ohio Republi-
can State Executive Committee, calling for
contributions 10 the Republican campaign
fund in the Buckeye state
The letter goes on to slate that "a
Democratic victory in Ohio this fal would
carry with it almost the full control of
enabling the opposition to entrench Itself
for the presidential campaign of 1900.
"A special session of the Legislature
cahed by a Democratic Governor would
redistrict the state for congressional pur-
poses under the apportionment of 1900
thereby reducing the Republican represen-
tation from this state in the lower House
of Congress, and perhaps, endangering our
majority in that body. These facts, it
seems to us, win forcbly appeal to every
Republican.
"We hope you viii be willing to contrb-
ute to the legitimate expenses of the State
Committee, in its efforts to maintain Re
publican supremacy"
CiViI service Law Dodged.
So earnest is the appeal that II is ac-
compan.ed by printed extracts from the
act regulating the civil service, relative
to the collection of political assessments
from employees in the public service. In
addition Treasurer Burdelt states that 10
avoid any violation of the law en- the sub
ject, the committee in charge OF the finan-
cial branch of the campaign is made up
of persons in no wise connected with the
federal service. He adds:
In sending us a contribution, you will
in no way violate any provision of the civil
service law We are asking for voluntary
contributions 10 assist In defraying the
proper and lawful expenses of the cam
paign, and we will be responsible for the
proper distribution of any funds which
may be entrusted to U.S."
AS final appeal Treasurer Burden SAYS:
"On account of the important bearing
the result in Ohio this year will have UPON
the greater contest of 1850. and because of
the fact the defeat of his party In the
Presidents home state would be heralded
by the opposition as a rebul1e TO his ad-
ministration, we hope you will aid US in
this contest by sending us as liberal a
contribution as you can afford"
These circular letters are marked Con
fdential," aud sent to the resident ad-
dresses of the various employees.
McLean's Strong Fight.
A well-known Ohio Republican, who re-
ceived one of these letters confded 10
your correspondent the information, which
he said he had received as coming from
Senator Hanna, to the effect that Johnny
Mclean is putting up an unexpectedly
strong fight in all the big cities in the
state. and II viii require every dollar the
Republican Committee can raise 10 secure
a Republican victory"
Many of the recipients of these letters
are terrorized by the fear that they win
lose lHeit places II tiey Idl 10 CoHtIiD-
ute. although they do not understand why
they should be assessed to help out in
Ohio when they have demands from other
states made upon them at regular inter-
walls.
1t is said that a "black list will be
made up, showing all who fail to respond
TO the Hanna call for funds, and the vic
Tins will be dealt with accordingly.
The practice of soliciting campaign con-
tributions from government employees dur
ing a presidential contest has never been
abandoned, although the colec-
tions are made In quiet, inoffensive way.
1t is, however, unusual, and without a
precedent, to levy a general assessment
for a campaign in a single state, and es-
pecially as that state happens TO be the
home state of the President of the United
States.