The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-18
The Voice of
The People

MAJOR ABBOTT REPLIES.

Eultor tEOvluepce NEWS.
Those familiar with Washington life
can understand the spirit that moves
Republican" In one Of your issues of
last week to complain OF ths appointment
by Congressman Bull OF w. Tyler Page
as clerk OF the house committee on ac-
counts. IL is q spirit Of discomfort and
envy that IL not uncommon among those
who have failed on account OF lack OF
either ability or nerve to secure snug
berth In the public service. Perhaps
Republican" In one Of those disoontented.
but whether he ~ or not. he is certainly
either ignorant or maliciously untruthful.
IT, az no pretands. he halls from Wash
ington, there Is no excuse for his ignor-
ance OF the subject about which he writes,
Tor everyone connected with the capitol
knows w. Tyler Page. and knows that
he is not Democrat
Mr.. Page is not Democrat. has never
been one, ana has mover voted o Demo
cratic ticket. IT is also not true that Con-
gresham Bull appointed another Demo-
crat from Baltimore, a brother -in-law of
w. +. Page TO o position on the houss
foroe OF employees. suoh an appoin tment
wac made. but not by Congressman Bull.
and the appointee was not Democrat.
II is true that Mr.. Page 10 not q Rhode
Islander. But II does not follow that
there is no one in the frst congressional
district Of this state capable OF nlling
the position he holds or willing to accept
It. Had Republican said that there
was no one In the district cspable Of
filing the position es Mr.. Page nils II,
could have agreed with him. without
feeling that / was casting any reflection
upon the young men Of my own state.
think am quito AZ w9ll qualified to
discuss the subject as Is Republican" I
have been an employs Of thf sera5S Tor
ss Ssss ;s .vs ss, never rosa s ssS asSsns
9f s9' sbs NseSvn0 Givs war Who seIiesss somewSas
II shs PnoiiHi' tha. ,bs z sass se vtSsS,' .
gard tie selsction Of Mr. Page as clerk
81 The COMMITTEES on aocoynks and as pri.
yats sectetary to Congressman Bull az
not only for the congressional delegation
from trSm M STATE but s|sc for the people OF
to be one Of the most capable Gongyes-
sionol clerks. and his natural ability has
been developed by years Of experienoe
sressionai work ever sincs az lad hs
membeF OF etthsr branch or an ,SSfrleer q
the routine Of the public service. OF on
more agreeable footing with the beads of
the many departments. than this same
Mr.. Page, who seems to have incurred The
Jealous envy OF Republican"
Ills experience has bsep 70 the benaiit
Of hundreds of otussns Of this STATE who
DEPARTMENT. and particularly TO hun
drtds OF veterans. who but for his assist
ance would have had great deal more
Jo enjoy IN Theassnas fss "e Of Rhode fH islanders @
who have visited washington Will bear
testimony to the unfailing courtesy and
tireless attention they have always re-
do not wish to claim that there are
not young men In this state as bright and
capable as Mr.. Page. But do assert
that II would take years and years OF
hard work and faithful service for any
new appointee unfamiliar with Washing
ton ways 20 become as well acquainted
with the red tape OF the departments and
10 be az useful to Rhode Island and its
congressman. A congressman going 10
Washington for the FIRST time Is In some
respects like blind man. He must grope
his way. and for him to appoint as his
clerk a man OF like inexperfenco would
be like choosing a blind man to lead
the blind.
This has been recognized by Rhode
Island congressman. for within my recol-
lection | recall only one case In which
a congressman from this state chose as
his clerk n citizen OF Rhode Island. II
will. therefore, be seen that In appointing
Mr.. Page no new departure was taken
by CONGRESSMAN Bull. IL Is common
select as clerks old and experienced en-
ployes at the capitol In preference 10
inexperiencer men. The intimation that
Congressman Bull has I'm the matter OF
appointments neglected his constituents is
not supported by the facts. There are
today nine citizens OF Rhode Island EN-
ployed In the capitol through the appoint
ment OF the Rhode Island delegation, a
larger number than was ever known be-
fore.
would suggest 20 Republican that
before he ventures 10 rush into public
print again he would do well To reduce
his own ignorance. His suggestion that
some one from Baltimore should be Sc
iected as the next Republican candidate
for congress I'm the frst district Of this
state, Displays profound Ignorance Of
the constitution Of the United States. In
fact am sure his bosom friends Poloni-
Gus and Simon Cameron. would. n he
went 10 them for advice. tell him 20 go
way back and sit down and study.
J. A. Abbott
proxdd.nr$ Aua II 1914