Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-06
IN DESPERATE STRAITS.

Signs of Republican alarm as 10 the
result in Ohio next month, and proofs
OF Republican recognition that Rcpubli-
can defeat in that State would not only
seal the doom of Mckinley politically,
but in all probability mean disaster for
the party in November 1900. under any
leadership. accumulate daily. The latest
and one of the most significant evidences
in support of than contention is found in
a circular which has been issued by tho
Finance Committee Of the Ohio Republi-
can State Executive Committee, and
which opens as follows:
"A Democratic victory in Ohio this fan
would carry with IT almost fun control
of the political machinery of the state,
thus enabling the opposition to entrench
itself for the presidential campaign of
1900"
Segregated from the rest of the circular,
this would be sufficient alone to show
that the Republican leaders are pain
fully conscious Of what is stakcd on the
Ohio outcome. But the rest of the paper,
the specific object Of its issuance, and
the moral effect" save the mark, e IS
designed 10 have, strikngly accentuate
the fact Of the existence of this con-
seriousness. The circular has been sent
TO postmasters all over the country. and
presumably will be sent TO other Federal
officials having employees under them
Its specific object IS to squeeze out Of
government servants contributions to
Hanna's Ohio campaign barrel, and the
moral effect" I'm view is that Of soaring
the oflice-holders While virtuously 60
calling attention to the civil-service law
prohibiting tho blackmailing for CAM
paign purposes Of those in the govern
ment's employ, it points a way to whip
the devil around the stump" 1t pre-
sents a plan for Matchmaking, and for
violating the law, the adoption of which
the intended offce-holding victims Of the
administrations necessities are assured
will not subject them to the penalties
prescribed. 1t says:
"You will observe that the law, while
not prohibiting officers and employees
from making voluntary contributions for
political purposes, provides that such con-
raj officer or employee, or 10 any one
within a Federal building or establish
ment. For this reason, and to avoid vio-
lating any of the provisions Of the law,
the Committee in charge OF the financial
branch OF the campaign work is made ue
of persons i'm no wise connected with the
Federal service. The members OF this
committee are acting on their own re-
sponsiblity, and no one connected with
the Federal service is in any way con-
cerned. directly or indirectly, in sending
this circular 10 Federal officers and en-
pioyees. In sending US a contribution,
you will I'm no way violate any provision
OF the civil-service law. We are asking
for voluntary contributions 10 assist in
defraying the proper ana lawful expenses
OF the campaign. and we will be respon-
sible for the proper distribution of any
funds which may be entrusted to us"
Then the circular further emphasizes
Republican recognition Of the intimate
relations OF the Ohio struggle 10 McKin-
ley's prospects for denomination and to
the outcome in November a year hence,
and makes a nnal appeal for the putting
into operation Of the blackmailng ma
chinery. In conclusion. it says:
ION account. therefore, Of the impOr-
tant bearing the result i'm Ohio this year
will have upon the greater contest of 1900
and because Of the fact that the defeat
OF his party IN the Presidents home State
would be heralded by the opposition as
rcbuke TO his administration, We hope
you will aid US IN this contest by send
INK as liberal contribution as you can
afford"
We say "blackmailing," for that is the
plain English OF the euphemism "volun-
tary contributions" Recently, as we
know. Mr.. Mckinley grossly violated GER
tain provisions OF the civil service laws
by opening the doors for ousting thou
sands who We're under civil service and
nlhng their places with reliable "hench-
men" The appeal in this instance for
voluntary contributions" simply means
tho mulcting of tho oficehOlders by
holding over them the threat that II they
do not get into a voluntary humor the
doors will be opened wider and for the
admission OF such as will prove "spon-
taneously liberal"
But the main thing Is that, considering