Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-20
QUAY AND DICK
ARE REBUKED
BY CHIEF
ROOSEVELT WARNS OFFICIALS
NOT TO SOLICIT VOTES ON
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FED
ERAL OFFICERS.

WASHINGTON. oct. IS-President
Roosevelt I'm an official statement issued
this morning dishes out few left handed
ones TO Senator Quay. OF Pennsylvania,
and Congressman Dick. OF Ohio. The
executive order in its important points
is as follows;
ION request OF the civil service COM
mission the attorney general has sub
mitted 70 me the following opinion:
:. Your note OF the 18th inst. requests
me 20 advise you relative 20 the subject
OF political contributions as shown by
the respective correspondence which YOU
enclose between the civil service COM
mission and officers OF the Republican
state committee OF Pennsylvania and
Ohio
e In the Pennsylvania case II appears
that recently a circular letter was issued
BY the Republican state committee sign
ed BY NJ. s Quay. chairman. stating that
financial assistance IS needed in the COM
ing congressional and state election. and
that the committee viii be greatly oblig-
cd II the addresses win aid TO the eN-
tent OF his ability and inclination This
circular letter bore In its caption as well
the name Of Senator Quay as chairman
and OF W r. Andrews. clerk 20 the SEN
ate committee on immigration. as secre-
tary. and was sent by mail to various
federal officers and employees at their
home addresses. Upon advice from the
committee that because OF their official
relations neither Senator Quay nor Mr..
Andrews could properly serve upon a
committee concerned in soliciting and re-
ceIving political contributions from fed
eraI officers. OF permit their names 10 be
held for the letters making such solicit
tati0n. the circular letter. 50 far as ad-
dressed to federal officials. was with
drawn. Immediately thereafter another
circular letter was issued I'm identically
the same form except that II bore the sig
nature OF the treasurer OF the commit
tee who Is not a federal ONCE holder.
The commission pointed out the iilegality
OF this circular. because Il carried on its
heading the names OF Senator Quay and
Mr. Andrews. and directed its recall; and
this ruling IS now contested by Mr. An
drews.
In the Ohio case a circular was IS
sued BY the Republican state executive
committee. bearing the names OF Hon.
Charles Dick Cmember OF cOngress) and
o. various federal officials and stating that
any assistance which the addressee can
give as one Of those directly interested
in party success in Ohio viii be grateful
~ acknowied ged.'' II seems thai this cir
cular was sent to certain federal officials.
that the commission demands its with
drawal. and that the executive commit
AcG 0N@AAAAEc W AAC@AGNA1 ~ @@@EAE " AAAcoG
demands.
The question presented is covered
BY section II OF the civil service act.
. Whatever the particular form OF
words adopted in such circulars in order
70 show q request rather than a demand,
and 70 give TO responses quasi vOlun-
tnry character. the explicit and cOmpre-
hensive words OF statute forbidding those
barred BY their public relations TO solicit
from federal uofficials. directly or Indirect
~ or 20 be IN any manner concerned
In soliciting or receiving any assessment.
subscription OF contribution for any pOlit-
ical purpose whatevar" unuuestiOnably
condemn all such circulars. They should
not be sent to federal officials. or else
they should rot bear the names OF the
public officials OF employees designated in
the act Your power to direct by appro-
Pirate order under the mandates Of these
sections all persons in the executive ser
vice OF the United States is clear "
To this Tire president addressed:
7 hereby call the attention OF all off,
GERS and employees in the federal service
70 the foregoing opinion and warn them
that the provisions OF the law as therein
construed are 70 be by them Obeyed and
enforced.
ANY Official in the federal service may
without jeopardy 10 his official standing
contribute or not. exactly as he pleases
provided he obeys the sections OF the
civil service act above referred to.
GSigned)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"