Arizona republican., 1906-11-15
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
 CONGRESSMAN COMING
The Effect ot the Civil Service Upon the Character Of the People and the Love of Their Institutions.

Washington, D. C. November s, Especial correspondence to The Repub- T licen).-Within another week congress men will be coming into Washington to make their preparations fer the Ntn- ter. and to gossip over the results Of the election, and the influence these re- suits will have on the action of cong ress at the coming session and m the choice of a President two years hence. Politicians have learned long aED that elections may go one way tn an on year and another way when the people come to the selection Of new admin. istration Of federal affairs Since 1888 the tide has been so strong in fay1P or republican policies. al all elections. that the leaders of that party appear to be. lieve that substantial reyerses are far in the future, but n America elections are very uncertain things. even when the sun shines brightest, Washington never has been a political barometer. and in the very nature of things. can not be. yet nowhere tn the country are elections watched with nure interest In the days before the civil service re- gime. everybody in thls city was pol. itician, because he secured hls place and retained or lost it as the party tide ebbed up and down.
 It is some what different now. for hundreds of those in government em- ploy are afraid to display much inter est for fear u Will act against them and they be accused Of ''peFntciOus acti-- vity:" and hundreds Sf others actually do not care how slectI1ns go. for they really have no. political preferences There was a time when It was aImos' universally held that a man could nor be a good and patriotic citizen unless he took a deep and abiding interest in the political affairs of The country. and there is danger that ss we get away from this idea we VII lnse in the strength of character of our people. and in love For our institutions. Be this as it may. the departmental att mosphere in Washington 0 not con. ducive to strenuous political activity
 It was Cleveland and hts fiFst post master general, Vilas. UhO made the term "pernicious activity not only famous but formidable CiVti servtcl. reform was then in It's infancy. just trying to throw of its sEaddiing cIoth- es. but 1t had not taken a very strong hold on the people. being looked upon as a sort of fad for the amusement 0f cranks who had been disappointed tn getting the places they desired IL was just strong enough. however. To keep Cleveland from going openly against the current, yet his party was very hungry: his party followers had long been kept at a distance from the gov ernment crib. and they Inbsed to par take once more of the fetlesA! liesb pots, so a way had tO be found by which, with some show of bowling to the civil service creed. tO get republic aans out and democrats tn. Under these circumstances some one dise1v- cred that happy phrase. ''psrHlcious activity" It served the purpose TeFy well. like the phrase discovered by Ben Butler. when the government vas anx- ious to find some way by which slaves could be freed. without appearing to do 50. Under this term, 'peFnicious aSt- witty" republicans were let out. be. cause of their activity, and demoeraIs put in on account of their aetfyity.
 "Pernicious activity has had tts in. fluence in closing the mouths of gov ernment employees. and aimest any kind of political activity has been c:aEsed as "pernicious" by those who have de. sired to make political nonentittes of every one in the government sarvtce. so. of late years. it has been hard t0 discover a government clerk tn Wash ington brave enough tS openly an. nounce his preference for any party.