The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-08-27
Grover Cleveland's Position.
Washington. July Il, /

Washington, July II, 1886.
To the Heads of Departments in the
Service of the General Government:
| deem this a proper time to especi
ally warn all subordinates in the sew
eral departments and all office holders
under the general government against the
use of their official position in attempts
to control political movements in their
localities.
Office holders are the agents of the
people, not the masteres. Not only is
their time and labor due to the gov
eminent, but they should scrupulously
avoid in their political actions as well
as in the discharge of their official
duty, offending by Il display of OBJ
trusive partisanship, their nighbors who
have relations with them as public
officials.
They should also constantly remember
that their party friends from whom
the yhave received preferment have not
invested them with the power of arbi-
trarily managing their political affairs.
They have no right as office holders to
dictate the political action of their party
associates. or to throttle freedom of ac-
ton within party lines by methods and
practices which prevents every useful
and justifiable purpose of party or
ganization.
The influence of federal office hold
ers should not be felt in the manipula-
ton of political primary meetings and
nominating conventions. The use by
these officials of their position to COM
pass their selection as delegates to po-
litical conventions is indecent and I'M
fair and proper regard for the pro-
prieties and requirements of official
place will also prevent their assuming
the active conduct of political cam
paigns.
Individual interest and activity in po-
litical affairs are by no means con
demned Office holders are neither dis,
franchised nor forbidden the exercise oil
political privileges; but their privilege,
are not enlarged nor is their duty to
party increased to pernicious activit!
by office holding.
A just discrimination in this regard
between the things citizen may prop
erly do, and the purpose for which
public office may not be used is easy
in the light of correct appreciation of
the relation between the people and
those intrusted with official place, and
a consideration of the necessity under
our form of government of political
action free from official coercion.
You are required to communicate the
substance of these views to those for
whose guidance they are intended.
GROVER CLEVELAND
There are two things about this let
ter to which we want to call your at
tention. ~ Every word of this let
ter indicates that it was intended for
those officials holding appointive offices
by political favor, in other words the
unclassified service. Not that classified
employees ought to overstep any of the
bonds here set, but that the nature Of
their duties, and their lack of political
prestige, make such restrictions unneces-
sary. Yet Mr.. Roosevelt's commission
saws of this letter, The order applied
generally to all classes of officials,
whether in the classified or unclassified
service" Read the letter again and see
who is right
(2) Even if the commission is right
and this order was intended for us,
there is in il no hint of restriction on
political activity 1t is a plea for clean
,,ol;4;as Iu1oa1 nv this letter Grover