New-York tribune., 1902-11-26
OUR PRETORIAN GUARD.

The members of the Letter Carriers Union
are said to believe that the defeat of Repre-
sentative Loud, of California, which they were
instrumental in securing will serve as a warn
ing to other Congressman against daring to re-
sist their demands. 1t ought to have exactly the
opposite effect 1t ought to arouse Congress
and the people TO a realization of the dangers
which threaten the government at the hands
of the Pr2torian Guard of it's own civil ser
wants. There is a traditional fear Of a standing
army among the people. II had reason In
former days, but we a long ways past the
time when force the principal instrument
for swaying government. Men have discovered
how to hold up the taxpayers without guns, and
it is time 10 face the real danger. The organ
lied army of civil servants who apply trade
union boycotting methods to their employer are
much more oppressive and threatening than the
armed and uniformed military forces
Mr.. Loud opposed the demand of the Letter
Carriers Union for increased salaries on the
ground that those salaries were already high as
compared with the compensation of other public
employees. AS chairman Of the Postoffice Com
mittee Of the House he was able to prevent the
increase. Accordingly, when he came up for
reelection this union Of public servants made
organized effort from all parts of the coun-
try TO defeat him. The president Of the union,
a postoflice employe, left his work aud went To
San Francisco. where he was not citizen to
conduct campaign against Mr.. Loud, because
Mr.. Loud as a representative of the taxpayers,
had failed to act under the insolent dictation Of
this band. Was not that act just as much an
attack upon the integrity and independence Of
the government as would be a parade OF
regiment in front Of the Capitol, intimidating
Congress into passing its pet bills?
Persons in the military service are rightly for
hidden to attempt TO influence legislation, ex.
cept through regular Official channels The
same rule shoul1 be strictly enforced with re
gard to civil servants. President Roosevelt
some time ago made such an order but mem
bers of Congress were not inclined to support
him They should now be able 10 see its neces-
sity and present united front 10 the strikers,
instead Of encouraging them 10 intrigue with
Congress. All Civil Service reforners should in,
terest themselves to support the governments
independence Of IFS own employees, for one OF
the not entirely unreasonable objections 10 the
merit system and its permanent tenures is the
fact that 1t makes possible close organization,
with facilities for shaping public action In ac-
cordance with its selfish aims. The government
Of Victoria, Australia, where, with state rail
roads, the Civil Service is OF vast proportions
has felt obliged TO propose dsfranchisement OF
civil servants in order to free the state from
slavery 10 Its own employees. The Premier has
proposed and announced as ministerial meas
ure which he would stand or fall q bill de
priving the government employees OF ordinary
suffrage, but allowing them TO choose two mem
bers of Parliament to represent them as a class
apart
We do not want in this country TO be forced
to any such measure of self protection We
might better keep ourselves free and put down
our political blackmailers before they get the
upper hand. II is ntOlerable that any body of
public employees should De in position to over
come the representatives Of the whole people
Congress is commonly extremely sensitive TO
suspected invasion Of its prerogatve by the
executive. This is time TO show ii, and teach
executive employees that they cannot dictate TO
the lawmakers how the government is to be
carried on.