The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-15
By THE EX-SENATOR.

lie patronage. In his day no one ques-
toned the moral proprjety OF the rule
which he firmly believed in and carried
out-that ito the victors belong the
spoils.'
He would find out now that where once
he could reward some needy partisan
with government billet, 1t would be
necessary for the hungry and thirsty
gentleman to take an examination under
civil service law; the applicant would
be obliged to know something more than
the rudiments OF party politics and his
A. B. C's and the multiplication table:
he would have to possess some knowledge
OF a great many things pertaining to
public service educational branch that
the hero Of Pensacola and New Orleans
himself would have some difficulty in
comprehending. Jackson would not ap-
prove Of the Civil Service Commission.
And were this immortal old Democrat
to look in upon the typewriters in the
government departments now, instead Of
the quill pens OF his day. he would find
Q system OF red tape entirely out of
keeping with the simplicity for which he
was 50 great a stickler.
Always after a President al election
there is a great deal Of anxiety and
speculation in regard to the distribution
OF patronage. This is peculiarly so after
the Democrats have won. on the theory
| that the members of that party believe
in the persuasive doctrine of turning
the rsscals out"
1t will be observed that the Republi-
cans have never been the least bit back
ward about claiming their share Of the
political plums; nor have they neglected
to be present long before the time came
| to shake the tree.
The only difference between the two
parties is that the Republicans. by rea-
| son of their long lease OF power. have
come to look upon the offices as being
theirs, a rightful inheritance, while the
Democrats. through long privation incl
dent to the attitude Of their party dur
ing the civil war. have always stepped
softly when they came to claim the
prizes. as II they were in some doubt in
regard to their complete rights in the
premises.
Upon the election Of Mr.. Cleveland. in
1854. the faithful found il difficult to be-
| lieve in the accuracy OF the returns II
did not seem possible. Still they found
their way TO Washington. thousands OF
| them and a pathetic sight they pre-
scented for the most part. Stories of the
deprivatiOns they endured while waiting
to be appointed are still current. and
| writer's who have told OF humorous in
stances and pictured the actual scenes
have found II impossible to eTaggerate
the facts.
But in that day the merit system had
been extended to only a few minor po-
sitions; the heads of bureaus and dlvi-
sions and many clerkships were still
open TO the spO!lsmen- BY the time MI
Cleveland came to the Presidency again
the number Of places subject to De
filed from the political ranks had great
~ diminished. This was sore disap-
pointment TO many eNpectant Democrats
who by this time had come to realize
that their title to office was as good as
that of their Republican opponents.
But the classified list has been still
further enlarged, until to-day the official
berths in Washington which are open
TO be filled at the hands of the President
are decidedly few in number, consisting
of a handful of experts. special agents
and student assistants.
OF course. there are few assistant
secretaries and commissioners to appoint
| These are usually selected by the men,
bers of the Cabinet. who recommend 10
the President. and il naturally follows
| that the selections are made from among
the faithful. This is necessarily so. Tor
the reason that they are supposed to he
in accord with the policy OF the party IN
power. as are also the ambassadors ana
ministers abroad. For the most part the
men in the consular service are on what
amounts to a classified list. and are sup
| posed to hold Office during good behavior.
IT, however. II should turn out that
our consular officers have been devotinS
| themselves to dollar diplomacy as Is
charged by the Democrats, way Will
| be found to create many desirable
! place in this extensive service. We may
expect an early order from the new Sec
| rotary OF State to the effect that our
consul generals and the Ike shall cease
| to act as agents abroad for big business;
whereupon many removals will follow.
This will give rise to new perplexities
and no little Republican rancor. 1t will
be claimed by those in Congress who
believe that our consular service should
not be disturbed on account OF a change
| in administration that the spirit OF the
| law is being violated in order that party
workers may be rewarded
On the other hand. Democrats will IN
dertake to show that those Consuls who
are removed for cause, have been guilty
of the unique offense Of dollar diplo-
macy" In view of all this, the eXecu-
tive sessions of the Senate will be lively
indeed.
With the return of the Republicans TO
power in 1897 the scenes enacted under
| Mr. Cleveland during his first term, in
regard to the distribution of patronage,
were re-cnacted to a degree that deeply
! touched Mr.. MCEinley's compassionate
nature The Republicans had been out
four years, and many OF them were eN-
! ccedinGIy threadbare. They came in
droves from every quarter. and could not
be made to understand the situation.
That Mr. Cleveland should have given
| Jobs to thousands OF his followers and
near the close OF his term extended over
them the civil service blanket was be
yond belief. II was true, nevertheless,
and the hungry partisans who had car
ried torches, organized clubs. and re
deemed the country" left Washington
reluctantly, swearing that they were
done with politics.
Mark Hanna's task was an unenviable
one. He was a most thorough spokesman
in the partisan sense OF the term, and
to secure results in the campaign had
permitted his immediate lieutenants to
make a multiplicity OF promises. Indeed,
in many instances, they had not asked
his permission: they had acted on their
own volition. II was this that disturbed
Hanna. and he pleaded with the Presi-
dent to ISSUE an executive order that
would relieve him from the pressure of
importantly. to some extent at least
IF you don't" said he, I'll go crazy. "
But the President shook his head regret
fully.
1T won't do. Mark; it won't do. II I
should comply with your request and
put our friends in near the close Of my
term l would probably do what Mr.
Cleveland did-put them on the perma-
nent classified roll. Thus would the
whole civil service institution be de-
graded and the country scandalized." Mr..