The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-11-14
Congressman and Senator'S are
Gathering In Washington
for Doth Session.
EMPLOYEES RETlCENT
AND NON-COMMITAL
Administration Circles Are Greatly
Elased Over tho Recent Election,
Although Not Allowed TO Take
an Active interest.
AsToRIAN BUREAU. WASHING.

ASTORiAS BUREAU. WASHING.
TON. u, G., November i2, Especially
within another week congressmen
viii be coming into Washington to
mako their preparations for the win
ter and to gossip over the results OF
tho election, and the influence these
results viii have on tho action OF Com
RreAs ~ the coming session and on
the choice OF President two years
hence, Politicians have learned long
ago that elections may 40 one way In
mn or year and another wny when the
people come 20 the selection OF a new
administration of federal affairs
Since 1894 the tide has been NO strong
In favor n Republican politics, nj NIL
elections that tho leaders OF that par
~ appear 10 believe that substantial
rcvrrnen nrc IN the future. but in Am
erica elections are vcryt uncertain
things even when the sun shines
brightest, Washington never has been
political barometer and. In the very
nnture Of things. cnn not be, yet no.
where IN the country are elections
watched with more interest. In the
days before the ciyll service regime.
everybody IN this city was poliu-
clan bccause he secured his place and
retained or lost II m the party tide
cbbcd up or down.
II In somewhat different now. for
hundreds OF those IN government EN-.
ploy are afraid TO display much Inter
cHt for fear Il viii act against them
and they be accused OF pernicious
activity" and hundreds OF others nc-
tunlly do not care how elections go
for they really have no political pref
erenccs There was time when Il
was nlmost universally held that n
man could not be n good and patriotic
citizen unlcsa he took deep and abb
ding interest Of the political affairs
OF tho country. and there II danger
that ns We get away from this Idea
we will lose In the strength Of char
octer Of our people and In love for
our institutions BE this az II may, |
the departmental atmosphere In Wash
ington In not conducive TO strenuous
political activity
II was Cleveland and his first Post
master General. Villas who made the
tcrni "pernicious activity" not only
famous but formidable. ClvIl Service
Reform was then In its infancy, Just
trying to throw off It's swaddllng
clothes. but II Ind not taken very
strong hold on the people being looked
upon as sort OF n fad for the nmuse-
ment OF eranks who had been dlssa-
pointed In getting the places they de-
sired. II was Just strong enough,
however. to keep Cleveland from going
openly against the current yet his
party was very hungry; his party fol
lowers had long been kept at dis
tancc from the Government crib, and
they longed once more to partake OF
the federal flesh pots, so way had
to be found by which, with some show
OF bowling to the civil service creed,
to get Republicans out and Democrats
In. Under these circumstances some
one discovered that happy phrase.
"perncIous activity" II served the
purpose very we'll. like the phrase dis -,
covered by Ben Butler, when the gov
ernment was anxious to find some way ,
out appearing to do So Under this
term "perniclous activity" Republicans :
were let out, because OF their activity,
and Democrats put In on account OF
their activity.
"Pernicious activity" has had its
influences In closing the mouths of !.
government employees. and almost any =,
Hind Of political activity has been
classed as "pernIcious" by those who :,
have desired to make political nonen- !.
titles of everyone In the government !,
service, so, Of late years It has been !.
hard to discover a government clerk = =
In Washington brave enough to open o.
ly announce his preference for any "
party It is true that a large number 4,
go home to vote, but they .,
10 1t without announcing beforehand ~
their party preferences. While the
clamp has been put upon the employees J..
and the under officers, there has never "
been an election where the cabinet
1as displayed so much activity. Eve
~ cabinet officer who can make
speech has been In the service, and at
east one speech was dictated by the o.
President. 1t is not everyone who Ia
,olds cabinet position that can make p'
political speech but they can do ar
Effective political work In other d. c.
and 1t is quietly claimed that at
recent visit to New York Of Post st