The National tribune., 1908-08-27
yETf;RASs FOR OFFICE.

ADAs<AENSf y OAs "a - ASs
The Post,standard, of Syracuse, N. z,
says editortaily: sd
Veterans Of the civil war are deserv-
ing of honor and of support in their
days Of infirmity. They are not entitled,
as veterans, to any public office. The
more important and responsible the Of
flee the greater the demand that ap-
pointment TO it shall depend solely on
fitness" III
The veterans have never contended
for the appointment Of any of their
number to Offices (which they were not
competent to fl,,l They have simply.
consistently, and persistently asked that
where the qualifications were equal the
veterans should be given the preference.
In this country no man has any right to
public Office. 1t Is something that
rests entirely with the people. who have
the most absolute freedom in choosing
those who shall serve them. But in the
very nature Of things and from the
highest considerations Of public policy
there should always be favoritism ex-
tended in selecting the public servants
to those who have served the public in
the most dangerous and self-sacrificing
duty that can be presented to a citizen.
If a man in his youth has listened to
the call of his country, giving up prof
table and agreeable occupation to serve
the country in one that is full Of perils
and hardships and paid the poorest so
far as money goes, he should have the
utmost consideration now in giving
places that are desirable and profitable
No other man can present as strong
recommendations for employment as
one who shows an honorable discharge
from the Army or Navy during war
time. Every civilized country on earth
recognizes the justice, the rightfulness
and the good public policy of preferring
discharged soldiers and sailors for pub
lie employment over mere civilians who
have done nothing for their country but
seek its pleasant gifts. In many of the
most advanced countries man cannot
get into the civil service of the Govern
ment without showing an honorable dis
charge from the army or navy. This
favor is extended, as 1t should be, to the
widows and dependent ones Of such
men. The fact Of such preference Is
one of the strongest inducements to
bring the best class Of young men into
the military and naval service. AS a
matter of justice. gratitude and also of
the highest public policy. it is an out
rage that veterans capable of filling
Government positions are showed aside
in favor of young men who have no
claim whatever on the office. and whose
greed for place leads them to disre-
gard of the men who preserved this
Government. and made all these attrac-
tive positions possible.
1t is worth while mentioning in this
connection that, the Post-Standard is
strongly anti-Hughes, while the Syra-
cuse Journal, which has been a consis-
tent friend Of the veterans, is as strongly
in favor of the denomination and re-
election of the Governor. The struggle
has become acute in Onondaga County
over the nomination of County Treas
fine record, IS candidate for renomina-
ton. while the antf-Hughes organiza-
ton has planned to give the office to
William S. Landon, civilian. Ever since
the war Onondaga County has elected
a veteran County Treasurer, and the
office has been admirably administered
The bosses. however, want change and
to give the plum to one of their own
kind.