The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-10-22
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELTS RECORD.

While in Congress the late President
Mcklnley favored Civil Service Re-
form. He was, however, bitterly CEN
sured by the reformers during the last
two years for refusing to enforce it's
principles. The merits of the con-
troversy are not here discussed. If the
late President failed to reach the ideals
of the reformers, II was because he had
substantial reasons for doing so. The
new President also, during the last four
years, has not altogether followed his
ideals closely, though more closely than
any statesman of modern times. He
has occasionally and unwiiiingly put
square pegs into round holes. He found,
as all statesmen find, that successful
government is compromise with
things one doesn't quite approve,
whether II be n monarchy or democ-
racy But he has refused entire ale
! glance to his party, and II was through
his INSTRUMENTATION that he was for
hidden another term of Office as gov
ernor OF the State OF New York, and
was promoted downwards" to the
neutral office of Vice-President in or
der to get him out of the way. An
awful calamity has made him the head
of the Federal State.
Under these circumstances what will
he do? He has put himself fully on
record In many writings. We will quote
few Of his words.
As president of the Federal Civil
Service Commission for six years. he
said: Under the spoils system hun
dred men would have been turned out,
but under the Civil Service Law, as adj
mnistered under our supervision, nine
ty-nine men were kept In"
In all our dealings there was no
single instance wherein the politics of
any person or the political significance
of any action Was SO much as taken
into account in any case that arose"
From the beginning of the present
system each President of the United
States has been its friend, but no Pres
/ ident has been radical Civil Service
reformer." Each has been sincere
party man, and each has been obliged
to conform more or less closely to the
/ wishes Of his party associates and fell
| low party leaders" (The use OF the
word Obliged" is a text on which the
President might have made some edi-
flying remarks) He says: Appoint
ments and removals for political rea-
, sons in places where the duties are
wholly non-political cannot be defended
by any man who looks at public affairs
] from the proper standpoint
/ THE friends of the Civil Service Law,
/ like the friends of all other laws, would
be in bad way If they had to rely
solely on the backing of the timid
good"
President Harrison had been in
augurated on March 4th GSs9) and
Postmaster General Wanamaker per-
mitted the spoilsmen to take advantage
of the necessary delay and turn out
half of the employees who were Demo-
Gratis. and replace them by Rerubli-
cans. This was an outrageous act, de-
serving the severe censure 1t received;
but it was perfectly legal"
The appointing officers should be
watched. ITO an even greater extent
of course. this applies TO the Presi-
dent" he says.
Every year has taken us measurably
nearer that ideal Of pure and decent
government which Is dear to the heart
of every honest American"
These extracts taken at random from
President Roosevelt's recent writings,
indicate the character Of the man. He
has committed himself loyalty to the
general policy OF the late President.
Men of all parties will now watch him
In his attempts TO carry his ideals into
the administration of the laws; esp.
cially will they look for symptoms of
the Presidential disease known as the
Second term mania" which may mani
fest itself in moderating his zeal for
reform. Those who know him believe
that he Is an immune" from this dis
temper.