The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-03-19
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POLITICS IN INDIAN SERVICE.

the Union lnulhn AktuCl hpWoNaf y
with an obi my. but It IS coming my
way sort OF look. as he gets more
promises Of supper, as Republican ma
tlonal committeeman for Indian Ter.
ritoy"
There is no doubt that Nj Ford sits
at his desk and dreams Of being the
national committeeman. To al this
position Is a laudabls want, but Mr.
Ford should be attending 90 his bus-
ness and quit dreaming lie has osten.
sible charge Of The lease division OF
the agency but the real work Is done
BY another clerk-one who does not
dream Of being national committee
man This division Of tbe once Is one
of the most important of sil and is
always congcsted. one Of The cries
against the Administration % affairs
In the Indian Territory is the slow
ness Of the dispatch OF government
business. Tho Indian agent should
broak up this day dreaming and soc
that his subordinates work at least
portion of tho day One of the great
objections urged by Inspector Wright,
who Is the Indian agents immediate
superior. agalls. io-mer Agent Shocn-
felt was that he put TOO many politi-
ciAns In offico When Mr. Kelsey. the
prosent incumbent. was selected as
Shoeufelts olccaror. RItey never
having Say politics. on II any. no was
a Democrat, II was understood that
politics wore not to be considered and
clerks were 10 be appointed and re-
tancd for merit. Not one OF Agent
shocnfelts political appointees have
been removed. but on the othcr hand
he once has been filled with mon like
Ford. not that Ford knows anything OF
tho Indian business. but because Ford
Is friend OF Congressman Curtis oi
Kansas. and Republican The civil
service regulations have been notori.
ously violated at the union agency.
PermaucG. positions have been abol.
ished and temporary positions created
and filled by Republicans. Take for
instance the position OF chief clerk
Formerly filled by Col. j. fortress Wis.
dom. This position Is and has been
classified civil service position for
years. When Mr. Wisdom was rcmov-
cd. the place was abolished. and Mr.
Mossman, who has no claims TO dis
tinction other than being related by
marriage 20 prominent Republican,
was given the salary and discharges
the duty OF chief clerk. but under the
name OF financial clerk. At each In
dian agency there "a one position OK
empted from the civil service regula.
tons. and the person filling that po.
sltion Is designated financial clerk.
This position had for many years been
filed az tho union agency, but IN or
der TO give Mr. Mossman n place the
clerk holding the position was reduced
In rank 10 temporary place and the
chief clerks position. which should
have been flled by ccrtlhcation from
the eligible list OF civil service en-.
ployes. was given him This was whip.
ping tho devil around tho stump with
vengeance. There are some 100
clerks at the agency, and according
To law and the presidents wishes and
direction all Those clerks should have
obtained their places through the civil
service commission As matter OF
fact. however. there are but Ave clvh
service clerks In the agency once
and this open violation OF law and
defiance OF the rules and regulations
leaves 95 Jobs for the agent and the
inspector 10 nll At every Indian agen-
cy In the United States the civil ser
vice rules are applicable and enforced
except al the union agency. THIS agen'
cy II now but the dumping ground for
''small fry" politicians OF the Fore"
brand They make poor clerks and
the agent Is afraid 10 exert his author.
ity over them on account Of their al.
legged and often overrated political
pull Tho present agent. previous 10
HIS appointment. was civil service
clerk, and warmly advocated the ciyil
service doctrine, claiming that civil
service clerks rendered the best ser.
vice. and in that respect he was right.
Since his appointment, however, prob
ably becausa no had TO. he has not
asked for civil service clerks as he
should have done. but instead has ap.
pointed 10 oflce embryo politicians or
Tho friends OF politicians Mr. Kelsey
has no political influence OF his own
and has mad 20 curry favor with the
politicians. For what ne and Inspector
Wright so bitterly condemned Sheen.
felt they are now guilty OF practicing
The presidents attention should ne