The times., 1899-10-06
Squaring the Circle.

President Mckinley, attended by his
Cabinet, has started on a political stump
ing tour through Ohio and the West Such
a movement on the part of an American
Chief Magistrate has but one and that a
rather mortifying. precedent Andrew
Johnson who entered the Executive Man
sion as a result OF the crime OF John Wilkes
Booth, INDUCED IN a like impropriety, and,
in order to advocate his personal policy
before the masses-a policy bitterly OPP
posed by a two-thirds majority of his own
party in both houses OF Congress effected
his pyrotechnic and ridiculous swing
around the circle
The indignity Of the performance was so
palpable that no President from johnson
down to Mckinley would or could have
been guilty OF repeating it. Knowing as
we do the excellence of our Chief Magis-
trate's impulses, we are compelled TO con-
clude that the situation in Ohio. from an
Administration and Republican viewpoint,
must be desperate indeed TO cause him TO
throw convention and decorum TO the
winds, in order TO press the weight of his
personality and high Office into the scales
OF the campaign in his home State.
1t is not upon the basis Of mere sur
mise that we are convinced OF the serious
ness of the situation in. Ohio. as it is un-
doubtedly viewed by The President and
Mr.. Hanna. Their intimates and managers
in the Buckeye Commonwealth have sound
ed wild note Of alarm in circular letter
addressed &c postmasters and other Federal
oficeholders throughout the Union. II is
in the form Of an appeal for contributions
TO q corruption fund, issued by the finance
committee OF the Ohio Republican State
Committee the following local statesmen
being the members: J. B. Zerbe. Chair
man; w F. Burdell, Treasurer; Julius
Whiting. jr., Charles P. Taft, and Noah
T. Swayne. The letter reads:
Dear Sir: Democratic victory in Ohio this
fal would carry with il almost fun control Of the
political machinery Of the State, thus enabling
the opposition TO entrench itself for the Presi-
dental campaign Of 1900.
special session Of the Legislature, called by
q Democratic Governor. would redistrict the State
for Congressional purposes under the spportion-
merit Of Ia0o thereby reducing the Republican
representation from this State in the lower house
Of Congress and, perhaps, endangering our ma
joritv in that body. These facts. it 10 US,
viii forcibly appeal 10 every Republican.
We hope you will be willing 10 contribute to
the legitimate expenses Of the State committee,
sn its efforts 10 maintain Republican supremacy.
In this connection desire 10 call your attention
TO '-sn act regulate and improve the civil
seETice Of the United States" approved January
16. 1sSS as well as the rules promulgated by
the President Hereunder. For the benft Of those
who have not the law at hand we enclose here
with an extract Therefrom, embodying paragraphs
and Ct section 2; and sections II TO Is in
einsVei also sections !, 2, and 3 of rule Of the
Civil Service Commission. which bear specifically
on the question q political assessments
You viii observe that the law while not pro-
hibiting officers and employees from making vol
untsry contributions Tor political purposes, pro
yides that such contributions shall not be made
70 any Federal officer or employe, or 70 anyone
within Federal building or establishment For
this reason. and 20 avoid violating any Of
the provisions Of the law the committee in charge
Of the financial branch Of the campaign work
Is mace up Of persons in no wise connected
With the Federal service. The members Of this
committee are acting on their own responsibility
and no one connected with the Federal service
is In any way concerned. directly or indirectly.
in sending this circular to Federal officers and
employees. In sending us a contribution. YOU win
In no way violate any provision Of the civil
service law. We asking for voluntary confri-
buttons TO assis, in detraying the proper and
lawful expenses OF the campaign, and we will be
responsible for the proper distribution Of any
funds which may be entrusted 10 us
On account. therefore. Of the important bearing
the result in Ohio this year will have upon
the greater contest OF 1900. and because of the
Tact that the defeat Of his party in the Presi-
dents home State would be berslded bY the on.
position rebuke to his Administration. We
hope sou viii aid US in this contest by sending
As liberal contribution as you can afford
Please send remittances or make checks pavshle
% the undersigned, who will acknowledge the
same. Very respectfully
". r. BURDELL, Treasurer
MIR. Mckinley might readily disavow all
responsibility for this direct demand upop
Government oficeholders all over the
United States, that they violate the Law
which they are sworn to obey and 20
down In their pockets for money with
which 10 buy the yenai floating vote of
Ohio; but, az the Presidents political con-
science lis the property Of Mark A. Hanna.
and the circular in question could have been
issued without that gentleman's consent
and endorsement, the country at large per-
force viii accept IL as only another Ex-
ecutiye step IN the direction Of a return
10 the old corrupt political spoiIs system
With all the money Hanna or his friends