Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-02-13
THb WEAKNESS OF GAGE.

Henry LoOmis Nelson former editor
of Harper's Weekly writing for the
Boston Herald tells q story of SeCre-
tary Cages weakness which Is highly
interesting and throws a side light
upon the political character of this man
who has ever been put down as one OF
the leading opponents of good govern
ment.' 1t may also be accepted as one
of the reasons why President Roosevelt
found that he could dispense with the
services OF Mr.. Gage.
David A. Num-, revenue collector of
Nashville, Tenn, has been removed
from Office. Num- conducted his office
and appointed his deputies in defiance
OF the civil service law, and although
Gage knew of Nunns acts and has
posed as a high and mighty exponent
OF civil service and associated reforms
the Secretary showed himself to be
entirely in the hands of the politicians
who, as Nelson puts it. had only to
push him and he has tumbled down"
Num- Is a Republican who went into
office as the result of work done in
the first Mckinley campaign. His is a
civil service department but straight
way he was appointed he made a clean
sweep of his Office deputies, who were
Democrats, filling their places with
Republican friends. general wrangle
with the Civil Service Commission en-
sued but was of no effect so far as
,I -. IL. al
Afiidavits were produced during the
! investigation of the affair to show that
when Nunn's appOintees took the civil
service examination they were allowed
to see their papers and correct them
before transmission to Washington.
One of the candidates was NUNS son
credited with an average of 80 per
cent and whose general capacity would
not warrant his obtaining a rank OF
| over 80 per cent.
The details of the affair were brought
TO the attention of the Civil Service
charges and in turn brought the mat
! ter before Secretary Gage. The latter
made a peTfunCtory investigation and
supported Mum. This was done with
the knowledge that the Num- crowd
were bitter opponents Of civil service
and all 1t represents. Gage was sup
posed to be a civil service man but he
proved his lack of force of character
to carry out his theories. Num- held
the fort against the Commission and
against the courts which were called
upon to settle the affair but the judge
held that he had no jurisdiction. II
being purely a matter for the executive
action of the Secretary of the Treas
ury. The Commission then asked fol
a new examination of the appOintees
II they passed a second time the matter
would be dropped. This fair propose
J Gage refused to accept
Not until Theodore Roosevelt cam,
into Office was Num- made to feel tn
force of the civil service rule by the re
: quest TO make way for a man capable
Of recognizing civil service law.
Thus II appears that Gage, the eX
Ponent purportedly of good govern
ment, civil service, merit as agains
political pull and in fact general
rated as a good citizen did not have tn
force of character to make his theOrie
good in the public administration q
his high office. Ee has ever been deem
ed an honest man but has shown him
self palpably weak when 1t came t
fulfilling the every day obligations c
, public Office that call for the exhibitio
p Of back bone.
Gage in this light reminds one s
much os Governor Dole.