Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-02
CLERKS WITHOUT FEAR
NOT CONTRIBUTING GENERALLY
FOR POLITICAL WORK.
Rely on the Civil Service Reform
Principles Of the President and
Chairman Cortelyou.

H. A. TAYLOR, acting secretary OF the
treasury has promulgated the warning of
the civil service commission against polti-
cal assessments and partisan activity among
government employees and has directed that
the circular be conspicuously posted for the
benefit of all officers, clerks and employees
Custodians of public buildings are also d.
rected to sign and post copies OF the clrcu-
lars where they may be seen.
1t Is regarded as certain that the govern
ment clerk in Washington will have an
easier time from political pressure for cam
paign contributions this year than ever be-
fore and few of them are bothering them
selves as to what they will do should they
be approached for money. The fact is that
the majority of them have no idea they
will be approached from any direction, and
they are not making preparations to make
any payments
The lack of fear in this election is due to
two things The first is that the Presi-
dents record a civil service man is too
consistent and emphatic to be doubted. and
it is firmly believed that he would quickly
and severely punish any effort to seek cam
paign contributions from employees even
with the knowledge that the contribution
was supposed to be in his behalf and to as
sist in the campaign for his election. The
next is that Chairman COrtelyOu of the re-
publican national committee is likewise
civil service man of the most pronounced
sort, with a kindly feeling for the govern
ment employees, and he will not counte-
nance any effort to collect money from
them.
To begin with. he will not need funds
that badly. as it is generally conceded the
republicans will have all the money they
want in this campaign. This will be col
lected from persons and concerns that will
not miss the contributions they make, and
will desire to be recorded among the
prompt and faithful of the G. o. P.
In former elections the government en-
ployes did not escape so easily. They have
been frequently plucked by politicians, rep
resentng themselves from this that
man committee, and many of them have
'shelled OUT against their wishes. The re-
publican ational committee has not been SO
much to blame as state and congressional
committees and other organiZa tions which
have considered the government employe
easy and legitimate prey when funds were
needed Both democrats and republicans in
government service have suffered. but in
the last few years the chief sufferers have
been republicans, inasmuch as they did not
care to take chances on being succeeded
by democrats. Adherents of the party in
power are naturally the main victims, but
this year they do not have the fear of past
years. The republicans firmly con-
WINGED that the democrats have no chance
of winning. and the democrats feel that
they will keep their places no matter who
is elected.
ing back their annual leaves to go to their
homes in November for the election. They
feel that if they spend money to do this
and to support the party nominees they are
doing all that can be expected of them
That is about as far the average gov
expenditures this year, judging from the
feeling manifest