Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-17
pARENrAeE oF gPo1Ls sYsTEM.

PAREETAGE OF sPoILs SYSTEM.
Editor Every Evening. 1 read with
interest your editorial in your issue OF
the 18th inst, entitled Truths Of Politi-
cal History"
You are correct in saying that Andrew
Jackson was not the father OF the spoils
system; that very questionable honor
belongs to De Witt Clinton OF New York,
nephew of the renowned George Clinton,
for Is years governor OF that state. In
1907 young Clinton was elected TO the
Legislature and, four years later, became
a member Of the Council of Appoint
ment.
Now" says Mr. Samuel P. Orth in
his recent book entitled Five American
Politicians begins the reign Of pro-
scription. Young Clinton is the hrst
politician to use the concentrated power
of the Council for purely political pur-
poses. He reorganized the State Senate
and managed the election Of the mem
bers Of the Council, and made himself
dictator Of all its actions. The head OF
every anti-Clintonian ofhceholder fell in
that campaign for power, sheritfs, sur
rogates, county clerks and recorders,
mayors and judges, secretary OF state
and controller, justices by the score and
auctioneers by the hundred we're ruth
lessly swept from office and the friends
of De Witt Clinton installed.
Martin Van Buren was the nationalizer
of this system When he went to Wash
ington, in 1921, to take his seat in the
Senate, he carried with him TO the nation s
capital the political practices which Cin-
ton had inaugurated in New York.
When jackson became President, in
1928, he made Van Buren, to whom he
owed his election principally, his Secre-
tary Of State and political manager The
first year of his administration saw 500
officers removed 10 make way for Demo
Gratis of the reigning school; a greater
number by three times than oil the Presl-
dents preceding jackson had dismissed.
In 1881 Van Buren, for political reasons,
resigned from the cabinet to accept the
appointment of Minister to the Court OF
St. James. The Senate refused to affirm
his appointment During the debate on
the rejection Webster and Clay made
brilliant speeches.
"sir," said Webster, "however inn
portant may be the opinion Of so humble
an individual as myself, / now only wish
that l might be heard by every indie
pendent freeman in the United States
by the British minister and the British
King by every minister and every crowned
head of Europe, while, standing here in
my place, l pronounce my rebube as
solemnly and decisively as l can, upon
this first instance, in which an American
minister has been sent abroad as the
representative of his party and not as the
representative of his country"
Il believe, upon circumstances which
satisfy my mind, said Clay, "that
to this gentleman (Van Buren, is to be
principally ascribed the introduction oi
the odious system Of prescription for the
exercise OF the elective franchise in the
government of the United States. Ks
was among the FIRST of the secretaries 4
apply that system to the dismission o.
clerks Of his departments, known tC
me to be highly meritorious and one o.
them is now a representative in the othel
house"
William L. Marcy Of New York, whom
you quote in your editorial, replied tc
Clay. You correctly quote, but wrongly
interpret his words. Permit me to give
the entire paragraph;
''It may be, sir, that the politicians of
the United States are not so fastidious as
some gentlemen are as to disclosing the
principles on which they act, They boldly
preach what they practice; when they are
contending for victory, they claim the
intention Of enjoying the fruits of it. i
they are defeated, they expect to retir,
from Office. If they are successful, they
claim as a matter of right the advantages
of success. They see nothing wrong il
the rule that to victors belong the spoils
1t must be clear that the subject OF thii
paragraph is not "some gentlemen" but
"the politicians" Jackson, Van Buren
ct al. Marcys speech was really a de
fence of the spoils system.
Andrew Jackson was not, therefore, tn,
father of the system, but he was its foster
father. H. Clay Turner.
Wilmington, Del, May l6, 1906,