The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-04-25
The Club of Federal Patronage.


Probably of the most dangerous obstructionf
to civic rights and the most disgusting to the socia
fabric in republican form of government is the
club of federal patronage, all of which has tenden
cy toward monarchis or even an absolute mo-
rarchisl form of government.
1t is drifting along in these lines and in American
presidential powers, closer every year toward abso
Lutte monarchy. One cannot conceive how a citizen
of the United States could tolerate such potentate
power vested in person as now exists In the
person of King Edward or Gear Nicholas, and
not far removed from such absolute vested CONTROL
s the power of the President of the United States
under our present recognition and federation. How
much more power Russia has Gear Nicholas
than has President Roosevelt over America? Nicho-
las dictates and the subjects dare not refuse his bid
ding lesc they lose their heads materially; ,osevet
dictates and his subjects dare not refuse his whms
lest they lose their heade, politically. This ia the
''absoute monarchal" condition that confronts us
In this government. The distribution of federal
patronage is deporable ''ump Of sugar for the
children, and it of yore, distributed at the
dictates of the several congressman in tue state the
powers would be more largely assmilated and more
closely adherent to the best interests of the commun
ity served. But such congressional powers in the
distribution of patronage does not now maintain
and all the more are we drifting toward monarch
lal form OF government. There time in Ohio
when the recommendation of the congressman of
district the senator's of the state final to the
president and he at once signed the recommendation
ana the name went TO the senate for continuation
and the commission was forthcoming Such is not
the case now. Every appointment to federal office
from cabinet portfolio to postmaster is under the
personal observation of the president and the recon
mendaton of the congressman the senator has
very little to do with the ultimate success of the D.
pcant unless perchance the congressman or senator
is "close" to the President. Thus to be "close to
the president, the representative must do the bid
ding of the executive, and the applicant must bow
down to Haman'' lest he shall not belong to the
''rnYal family and feed at the political trough
So it has become that when an appointment is to
be made away ont here in Ohio it is not now as
formerly, "who will the senator the congressman
recommend hut it is who will the President ap-
point. The senators of Ohio, or the congressman
1T they have any manhood independence In their
make up and insist upon mind of their own in
contravention perchance to that of the President,
have thereafter forever far this executive wills
it, no needed word of counsel as'to who would make
the best man for the federal place in this state
This surely is not Americanism. The zone man
power is upon us as never before and it remains for
the people to love the yoke throw it off, No
president heretofore interfered in states rights as
has Mr. Roosevelt, and the club of federal patronage
the lust for soft snaps good pay, is largely re-
sponsibe for such vested power. The American peo.
pie run away with their admiration for man, and
ruin the man. There few men that can stand
praise and not assume the quality of admiration
greater than extended. Remove the club of federal
patronage from the president and place it in the
hands of the people, to weld by the ballot and the
president will not be so dictatorial and this
government will get closer to the spirit of the consti
tuition, as a government by the people.