Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-07
CLEVELAND MAKES CHARGE.
Cortelyou's Campaign Service Blow to
Civil Service.

Ex-President Cleveland declared to
representative of the press at his home in
Princeton, N. j., Saturday night. when
asked for his views about the letter of
President Roosevelt and the previous re-
marks of Judge Parker in regard to Chair
man Cortelyous connection with the trusts.
that he refused to enter into any contro-
versy which seemed to intervene between
Judge Parker and President Roosevelt in re-
lation to Mr.. Cortelyous conduct as the
chairman of the republican national COM
mittee.
He said. however. that there was point
in regard to Mr.. Cortelyou bearing on the
civil service which had not been called to
the attention of the public by the press. and
that for this reason he took the opportunity
to make the following statement, which Ire
wrote out in his own hand:
Il see that Mr.. Roosevelt in his state
ment published this morning in defense OF
himself and Mr.. Cortelyou, speaks of the
latter having been my executive clerk
in the White House He might have gone
further and spoken of my high opinion of
Mr.. Cortelyou, amounting to personal at
tachment.
From this arises my condemnation of the
action of Mr.. Roosevelt in putting him at
the head of the republican national commit
tee; and this has nothing to do with the
question as to whether not Mr. CorteIyou
has or has not improperly or otherwise eX-
torted or obtained contributions from trusts
and combinations for campaign purposes
With this contention | have nothing to do
My complaint is of different sort.
Mr. Cortelyou before his selection the
head of a partisan national committee. with
all it implies -eminently the best IL
lustration the country afforded of the use
full and beneficent operation of civil service
reform. Without influence or powerful
friends he earned a humble place in the
public service through civil service exami-
nation. He rose step by step through his
own merits to positions of the most delicate
and confidential character; and when he
was put at the head of an important and
new department of the government and
took place among members of the Presi-
dents cabinet, l believe there was not a
right thinking man in the United States
who did not rejoice at his advancement so
well earned. and / am sure every sincere
civil service reformer was gratitied by the
opportunity afforded TO point to so convinc-
ing a justification of the reform.
1.-THE last place his friends the friends
of civil service reform would have thought
: of as one he could appropriately occupy was
chairman OF the republican national COM
mittee, and the last thing they could have
expected him to do to resign his we'll
earned and BETTING cabinet position to take
such a place.
Il have regarded it a distinct loss TO the
cause of civil service reform that he should
have gravitated to duties and work so far
and distinctly removed from any rela-
tionship to this reform. even TO the best
things in politics
1T is in my belief most unfortunate that
when Mr.. Cortelyou assumes again cabinet
duties, as it seems to be conceded he will
after the election, he will be given the place
not in illustration of civil service reform,
but in payment of the work performed and,
to say the worst of it, the most suspicious
partisan service.
GROVER CLEVELAND"