The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-25
LET POLITICS ALONE
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT GIVES
FEDERAL OFFICE HOLDERS A
SIGNIFICANT TIP
MUST ATTEND TO BUSINESS
Government Does Not Pay Them to
Run the Political Campaigns of
the Men to Whom They Owe
Appointments.
FROM THE GLOBE BUREAU,
Washington. d. G..
Special to The Globe.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 2l-Trouble is
ahead fer federal office holders caught
devoting too much attention to politics.
If reports that reach the capital may be
relied upon, men in the government en-
ploy in several states that are close
politically are treading near the danger
line No one believes the president is
taking special pains to learn what federal
officers are doing, but it is well UNDER
stood that he will consider promptly and
take action on any case of ''pernicious
activity" that is properly brought before
him. He had made it clear several times
within the last six weeks that he wishes
the representatives of the government
in the numerous branches of the service
to devote themselves to their official du-
ties and not to politics.
The subject of ''pernicouS activity"
has been revived by the fact that in many
of the states political parties are to be
reorganiZed next month and the general
ground work laid for the state campaigns
to be conducted next fall. Since Grover
Cleveland left the White house federal
office holders-even those in the classified
service-have not felt that there was any
embargo against taking an active part
in political affairs. Year by year the bars
have been let down lower and lower
until the employees Of the government
have become bold enough to be political
managers and servants of the government
in important capacities at the same time.
The result of this has been, it is ayerred,
that in looking for persons to recommend
for office, public men have sought for
good politicians rather than capable pub
lie servants. However this may be, it is
a notorious fact that with few exceptions
senators and representatives have come
to trust their political affairs largely to
their appointeeS to federal office.
In some of the states, it is said, mem
bers of congress are in the habit of COM
manding their postmasters with as much
freedom as the head of a commercial con-
Germ would command the clerks in his
employ Indiana is not the only state in
which postmasters met in convention this
year at the request of men who get them
their jobs and decided to do certain things
in politics. Political organizations among
postmasters have sprung UP in at least
half dozen states, and until the word
went cut that the president would not
tolerate this sort of thing the organiZa-
lions were busy with political manipula-
tons. In most of the states the United
States district attorneys, United States
marshals, revenue collectors, and Gus
toms and pension agents, have, it is as
serted, engaged in active politics with
out the least thought OF BENG called
down.
In one of the States west of the Missis-
sippi, it is related federal oficeholders
were in the habit of making their offices
political headquarters. Time that be-
longed to the government was taken up
| in laying political plans and issuing or
ders to lieutenants, who not infrequentIy
were postmasters and minor federal Of
| ficeholderS. 1t was not uncommon, it is
related, for postmasters to receive in
structions as a county or precinct COM
mitteeman would be instructed at state
headquarters during political campaign
| This is the sort of. conduct, it is under
Stood the president would stop. With
| knowledge of how positive he is in his
views public men predict that if well
| substantiated case of undue activity
should be reported to him he would take
! it up and make horrible example" of
the offender. AT any rate, the suggestion
is being made here by persons closely