The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-11-11
Offensive Political Activity
May Be the Means of Los
ing Him His Place in the
Service of Uncle Sam.
WILLIAM DUDLEY F0ULkE
REFERS TO CIRCUMSTANCE
Mr.. Foulke Spoke at Cincinnati
Sunday Night and the Past
Week Attended Civil Service
League at Buffalo.

William Dudley Foulke has returned
from Cincinnati, where he Sunday
night, surprised his audience at the
Peoples Institute, by declaring that
there was one federal officer in Cincin-
natl. who is now being investigated for
his participation in recent elections.
Mr.. Foulke was speaking on the gen
eral merit system and it's need in laws
governing present Office holders, anent
their political activity.
He mentioned no names there, but
said to the Palladium that Royal Me
iendy, q prominent Cincinnatian. had
brought the case to his attention, and
he intended to take it before the civil
service bureau for investigation. A
negro was arrested on election day for
repeating. A federal employe In the
postoffice. who seemed to fear the ar
rest of the colored man. cried, Run,
jackson, run" Mr. Foulke says that
he does not know the federal employees
name. but it is quite evident that he
was taking an undue interest in the
political game for reasons probably
best known to himself.
According to Cincinnati papers, Mr..
Foulke declared the merit system
practically farce there. He is firm
believer that no man should seek polit-
ical favors Of an Office holder for ser
vices rendered. neither should an Of
flee holder place himself in position
where he could be required to render
later services. The merit system
should rule, he said.
While on his most recent trip, Mr..
Foulke presided at the sessions of the
National Civil Service Reform league,
held in Buffalo. n. Y. Attorney
General Bonaparte and Governor
Hughes of New York. made most note
dorthy addresses said Mr.. Foulke.
Governor Hughes spoke for better laws
governing ths office holder and his po-
litical activity. Copies of the address
will soon be distributed broadcast by
the National Civil Service Reform
league.
Mr.. Foulke's Address.
The Enquirer gives the following %
count of Mr.. Foulke's address:
At a meeting held in the Peoples In
stitute on Vine street Sunday night,
Hon. William Dudley F'oulke. oe Rich
mond, Ind, delivered lengthy speech
Holders Mr.. Foulke, who has for
years led the fight In several states
for civil service reform and the merit
system. is one of the three members
of the Civil Service Reform associa-
tion appointed by the president.
Beginning with the instructions is
sued by Grover Cleveland in 1856
against the display of obtrusive parti.
san ship by Office holders and that the
be felt in the manipulation of prima-
ries and nominating conventions, des-
ignating such action as unfair, Mr..
F'oulke said that at the time he shared
the Indignation of many who protested
against the president interfering with
= mans expression or exercise of his
citizenship. whether he was in office
or not. He found afterward that the
man whose offensiveness III the matter
of partisanship caused him TO be dis
missed from Office usually belonged to
the party not in power. He said. how
ever. that the part of President Cleve-
lands edict which converted him was
that which set forth the unfairness of
ONCE holders debating political action
within party lines by methods which
pervert useful and justifiable purposes
of arty organization.
The speaker found among the uttetr-
ances of Thomas Jefferson the follow
ing: The exercise OF official influence
to control the suffrage of citizens or
subordinate officials is destructive Of
the fundamental principles of republi.
"a constitution. and interferences
with elections by officials should be
deemed sufficient cause for their re-
moval."
He said the civil service law was
good as far as it went. but that it did
hot go far enough in regard to political
contributions.
Continuing. Mr.. Foulke said: ''The
remedy is in new law prohibiting not
only the solicitations OF Office holders
by all persons whomsoever. This has
been recommended repeatedly by the
Civil Service commission. Let il be a
penal offense for any one 10 ask a po-
litical contribution of any office holder
or employe; also let it be n penal Of
tense for any Office holder or employe
20 ask political contribution from
any one else. When these two pro-
additions are Incorporated into a law
o y-ill f,.,
The speaker said that political activ-
iv which had for its object the getting