The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-12
INJUSTICE TO A DAK0TAN

The News learns with regret that IS.
B. Mercier. a resident of this state and
who holds a position in the classified
service at Washington, in the office of the
commissioner Of internal revenue has
been reduced from a salary of $2,,250 to
that of $500. The News knows Mr.. Mer-s
cier well. He was one of the pioneers of
this county, coming here in the spring
of 1882 and locating some seven miles
west of this city on a large body of land
and farming largely for several years.
Owing to adverse and unavoidable cir
cuInstances he was obliged to abandon
his investment here and go to Washing
ton, where he entered the classified
service by competitive examination from
this state in 1891. ,...~: I
In this connection 1t will not be out
of place to note that Mr.. Mercier's ap-
pointment upon entering the civil service
was made by President Roosevelt, then
civil service commissioner, who took a
personal interest and made a personal ex-
animation Of his case. He ordered Mr..
Mercier's appointment over that Of a
carpetbagger who stood above him on the
eligible list. t.s.
Mr.. Mercier has risen since then
through the various grades of civil service
to the top. He was promoted since 1897
from 81, 400 to $2,250 through the several
grades by one of the most thorough, eff
cient and accomplished bureau heads that
ever filled the office of commissioner OF
internal revenue, G. w. Wilson of Ohio.
1t Is now proposed by the present COM
missioner, ]. w. Yerkes OF Kentucky, to
undo@he work of his predecessor, who re-
Gently died, and to reduce Mr.. Mercier
upon the pretext that he wants more
capable man. A better excuse than this
will be required by the people Of this
state for striking down one of its worthy
citizens at Washington.
The News in looking into the personnel
Of this bureau, as conduct ed by this man
from the democratic state of Kentucky,
finds that there Is a democratic head
there at $4,000 and republican head at
81, 500. There are also a number OF high
grade clerks from that democratic state.
All are competent, without doubt.
Mr.. Mercier is a republican. His adopted
state is republican, as well as his native
state. Both cast republican electoral
votes at the last election and will do
It again. Both states have protested
vigorously against this apparent injus-
tice through their senators and prominent
citizens.
Mr.. Mercier was one of the most popu-
lar men who ever lived in this county.
He did business as large farmer and
held financial positions of trust with the
editor Of this paper, also with H. S.
Williams, collecting and disbursings tens
of thousands Of dollars without bonds,
ana ne ola his WOThE Will uuellty anu
competency The News knows Mr.. Mer-
cier is competent and worthy of the
place he fills, Mr.. Yerkes to the contrary
notwithstanding
The News appeals to Secretary Shaw
Of the treasury, who Is from Iowa, our
next door neighbor, and to President
Roosevelt, who has lived in the Dakotas,
to right this wrong, and confidently be-
lieves it will be speedily done.
The above is from the Daily News,
Aberdeen. South Dakota, and in this con-
nection e. G. Torrey. on the staff OF
The Journ al, has this to say: sMer-
cier have known for the last fifteen
years. He was one Of thefnos popular
and clever OF the fellows that pioneered
Dakota. He had a ranch west OF Aber-
deem and farmed largely and the town
ship where he was located was named In
his honor. am not surprised that the
people Of Aberdeen and Dakota are up in
arms about this matter. It calls for
searching and rigid Investigation. The
reason for Mercier's reduction will not be
accepted by his numerous friends and by
the people Of the northwest who are
for fair play.