The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-18
THE POLITICAL PIE-COUNTER.
A PIain-Spoken Protest Against the
Scramble for ONCE.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal
To the thousands of Republican laymen
throughout the country who have no other
ambition than to see the principles of the
Republican party triumph the eternal
scramble of the professional politician for
office and spoils is as un-American as ii
is un-Republican. There are two classes
of workers belonging TO every political par
ty-those who work for the good of the
party asking and expecting reward.
and those who work solely for their own
good. Every move these professionals
make is intended to advance their own
personal interests and bring them to where
they can pluck a plum. They are always
trying to get the side that has a pull,
not for the purpose of helping their party,
but that their party might help them. They
are willing to work hard for the success of
their party provided they to be
warded. They seem 10 have tacit under
standing with themselves that If their par
ty wins they are to get something" Dur
ing a campaign they buster around and
push themselves to the front and attend all
the district and state conventions, minsie
with the politicians and try to get in WITH
those next the throne" while the rank and
file of Republicans and the real interests
of their party at home may go to wrack
so far as they are concerned They are
not working for the success of their party;
they are working their party for all there is
IN ii for their own success. No sooner Is
the campaign over and their party ticket
elected than they begin to lombard sem
ators. representatives and others in author
ity for jobs. They chase senators like a
bloodhound after a culprit. They keep
tab on their goings and comings; they
know what day they will be here or there,
and they run them down or tree them, or
chase them into their holes. They meet
them and urge their claims. United
States senator who can Outrun one of these
hungry, long-legged oficeseekers and keep
him from catching him ought to have a
crown and harp before he crosses the swell
ing Jordan Much of the time of congress
men is taken from the duties they are
elected and paid TO perform and given 20
the dispensing OF patronage, or. rather, TO
talking to and being bored by officeseekers.
No sooner is a President elected than po-
ltical spectators and newspapers begin TO
talk about what this party leader and that
political worker Will get il the whole
campaign had been waged that some party
leaders might get something, or as IL 4
would be taken for granted that party
workers would be rewarded for their serv-
ices.
If IT could be that the office would seek
the man. instead OF the man seeking the OF
fee, we would certainly have much better
service, and our congressman would be
spared much time and fully much an
noyance from the pesky seekers after
plums. Such a condition of affairs might
be brought about by the appointing power
respecting the man who Is constantly run
ming after a ioo and who is known in his
community as a professional and going
after and looking for the real party worker
and asking him 10 serve the government
The writer believes in the merit system,
especially in the ranks of the party I'm
power. but the best merit Is not always
running after an office. It Is found. rather.
In those earnest workers who DESIRE above
all the success Of the party ana whose