The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-05
EXCELSIOR LAU N ID R " 18O5-O7 End Ave.
OFFICE HOLDERS ARE
 MUCH TOO ACTIVE IN POLITICAL AFFAIRS
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 e>>~~~~~>~~~--~----~>~~ -~>~~~---~->-~~>~>~-->~>>~- fled service might be left vacant and the service would be as efficiently performed as now. The average United States mar shal, the average postmaster of the larger cities, the average collector of internal revenue, performs comparatively little service for the government. On its bust- ness side the employment of these officers is wastefulness and extravaganza. The head Of a considerable office should be the master mind of that office, thoroughly skilled. devoted to his duties, and his i'm pulse should be felt In every part of the business. As a rule. he knows little of the business. If 1t were not for the mem- bers of the classified service under him he would be helpless and useless hulk.
 Control of Party.
 The first object sought by all workers in politics, whether officeholders or not, is the control of the party organization. the precinct and ward men and the coun- ty, city and state committees. The work required is in such bad repute that most citizens will not engage in it, and the structure represents the efforts of about 15 per cent of the party, Primaries and conventions are held upon the call of these committees. With rare exceptions, wher- ever there is a contest, cut-throat law applies In any meeting the chairman may, and often does, decide that 20 is a majority over 40, although he is deaf ened by the vociferating 40. Repeaters, non-residents, insane men and dead men may be voted. The ballot box may be stuffed. A small minority may and do hold another meeting and elect delegates to a convention. At the convention the committee on credentials rarely decides upon the merits It lets in the set of dele gates the majority of the committee wants in the convention. These are well established rules in politics, and every worker in politics understands that he plays the game accordingly.
 This Is the kind of politics that the un- classified branch of federal officeholders engage in. This committee has obtained a great bulk of evidence of the applica- ton of the above rules in caucuses and conventions for the selection of delegates and the nomination of candidates through out the country during the past year It is not claimed that this evidence is in every particular above attack-from the nature of the case 1t Is largely ex parte in character-or that 1t complies with the strict rules of the courts of law; but the committee expressly disavows any inten- tion of making this investigation the ground for prosecutions. It's sole object is to place before the public the facts as they actually exist. The resources at the disposal of the committee have been too limited to make as thorough an investga- tion as the importance or the subject de- mands. Such of the evidence as is used in this report, however, Is in most cases supported by original documents, or by af- fidavits secured by a representative of the committee in the localities concerned, and confirmed by inquiries of reputable citizens. Moreover, these data have been submitted to the officeholders named in it, and their replies, where they have deigned to reply. have received most careful con sideration. Some of them deny the state ments in whole or in part, some offer no explanation some frankly admit the truth of the charges Weighing everything, this committee believes that the evidence used fairly represents tn conditions they exist Nor do the conditions differ ma terially from former years.
 West Virginia Conditions.
 Two affidavits from West Virginia show the condition of affairs in that state.
 We submit the following affidavit of John Bryan. John Sandon, Harry Feath- erstone, Lewis Herman, Thomas Ritson, John White and Jonathan Brabban, who say
 That they and each of them are wit nesses in certain peonage cases pending in the United States court for the South ern district of the state of West Virginia, and are now retained as witnesses to ap- pear before the next term of said court In the custody or the officers Of said court; that they and each of them are not residents and voters of Cabell county, West Virginia; that they and each of them took part In the republican conven- tion held at the skating rink In the city of Huntington, Cabell county, West Vir- ginia, on the 9th day of May, 1908, and voted therein for the side of c. w. Swish CT, candidate for governor; that they went into said convention and voted therein under the charge and at the instance of one Sam Davis a deputy United States marshal of said court; and each of said affiants were paid S1 therefor; that there were 12 of such witnesses 50 voting"
 We also submit the following aff- davit:
 William Goodlow being first duly sworn upon oath, says that he attended the republican mass convention held in the rink in the city of Huntington, county and state aforesaid, on the 9th day of May, 1908, and voted on the east side of said building, and for C.. w. ewisher; that the way he came to go to such convention was that one Sam Davis gathered up about 100 people, some voters and some not. at room on Third avenue in said city near the opera house, and that there were two kegs of beer on tap there for all who were present, and plenty of ham sand wiches for all to eat, and a band play ing there; that Sam Davis told the crowd there to go up to the rink and vote for Swisher and there would be something in it for each of them and