Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-12
DOWN ON CIVIL SERVICE
Shibboleth of New Organization of Repub-
lican Workers in This City.
Stanch Support of Mckinley Admins
tration-OppOsitiOn to SO-Callcd
Mugwumps-Omcers Elected.


permanent republican working associa-
ton to assist in the election of republican
President in 1900 The idea was conceived
some time ago and a number of prominent
republican workers have become interested
in the scheme. Several meetings have been
held this spring 1t which matters incident
to the organization were thoroughly dis
cussed, and last Thursday sixty prominent
republicans met at 90 Pennsylvania avenue
and elected officers for the new association
and adopted constitution and bylaws.
1t is pointed out by the promoters of the
association that nearly every northern
state has in the national capital a state re-
publican association, which generally meets
a few weeks before a national election,
holds a meeting or two, makes an effort to
get the voters home, and then resolves it
self into a state of innocuous desuetude
for the next four years. The gentlemen in
terested in the permanent republican ma
tional association believe there is great
need for such an organization, composed
of veteran workers from the different
states, with sufficient means behind it to
help mold public opinion by press publica-
lions and otherwise, both before and after
the national convention.
The members OF the association are
stanch supporters Of the administration
of President Mckinley, but are opposed to
civil service as at present administered,
and do not believe in the policy which has
resulted in filling, as they allege, the best
places in the various departments of the
government with open and avowed enemies
or the republican party. Nor do they be-
lieve it necessary to make the least effort
to conciliate what they designate the mug
wump civil service reformers, who are now
attacking the President on account of his
recent civil service order.
Declaration in Constitution.
The constitution of the organization sets
forth the opposition of the association to
,i,;et
vides for the formation of auxiliary leagues
throughout the country. The association
is to be known the National League of
Republican Workers. The officers elected
are as follows: President, Henry NJ. Baker
OF New Hampshire; first vice president,
president, ]. c. CLANCY of Indiana; third
vice president, James s. Browning of Vir-
g1nia; secretary, Z. w. Sargent of New
Hampshire; treasurer, John W. Parrish of
West Virginia; chairman of the executive
committee, A. V. Bacon of West Virginia;
chairman of the press committee, William
E. Rogers of New Jersey. None of these
gentlemen, it is declared, is an office seeker
or spoils hunter. and the league will under
no circumstances recommend any candidate
for office
The Leaders.
Mr.. Baker Is a lawyer and served two
terms in Congress as representative from
New Hampshire. Judge Wilson has long
and prominently been identified with the
home politics of his own state of Iowa and
Is now assistant attorney in the law divis-
ion of the Interior Department and presi-
dent OF the Iowa Republican Association of
this city.
Mr.. CLANCY was assistant attorney gen
eral under the Harrison administration and
row practicing lawyer in Washington.
Mr.. Browning is the president of the Poca-
hontas Coal Company and is one of the
most prominent factors in republican poll
tics in Virginia.
1t has been predicted by some of the lead
ers in the rev movement that before the
next campaign is fairly on their organiza-
ton will have on its rolls mere than 1000
carefully selected members of the hest
working element in the republican party in
this city-rnen who are not strikers or heel
ers, but who are Disguised with what they
Ice
Among the reports submitted at the last
meeting was one showing that in one i'm
portant bureau of the government 80 per
cent of promotions during the present ad-
ministration were of democrats. A report
from another department showed an almost
equal disproportion, and it was argued that
either republican clerks were not the equals
of their democratic associates in point of
ability, or promotions came by favoritism
Or sympathy on the part of chiefs OF divis-
ions and chiefs of sections holding ever
from the last administration, and on whose
recommendations heads of departments
must necessarily rely. The administration
comes in for criticism for excessive tender
and non-recognition of its devoted, lifelong
friends.
The next meeting of the association will
be held June %.