The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-08

positions" and Mr.. Wilson will not
have the privilege of filing them UNI
til the Republican incumbents' terms
expire. But from the great majority
of the entire catalogue of more than
10, 600 patronage Offices there win be.
during next spring. such an exodus as
has not been seen since Mckinley sue
ceeded Cleveland, sixteen years ago.
There being no change of party, thou.
sands of men in these positions held
over" from Mckinley 10 Roosevelt and
thousands more from Roosevelt to
Taft
AR Wilson now faces the harrassinG
ordeal under which every President has
smarted upon entering ONCE. Wash
ington described his correspondence
with Office seekers as IAN alnos. IN
suppOrtable burden" and added that
they neccssitated his hardening mis-
heart John QuinaS Adams compiained
of their "cormOraHt appetite Tor OF
flee, and uttered the Jercmisd that
one-half the members OF Congress
we're seeking such favors for friends.
Yet. curing the FIRST thirty nine years
OF the republic. the annual removals
Of presidential" Offices confirmed by
the senate averaged less than three
year. So when Jackson came IN and
turned out 1000 officeholders. 500 OF
whom had been confirmed by the SEN
ate there was great commotion
! throughout the capital
Tragic Terror OF Dfsnrissai.
4 War Department clerk "cut his
throat from ear TO ear. from the mere
terror of being dismissed. while
among the many other recorded "tragi-
! cal effects" of Old Hickorys axe
WELDING was that Detailing a State
| Department clerk who went 'raving
distracted" "Otheis are said to be
| threatened with the same calamity.
wrote the excited scribe who reported
this first application of the spells sys-
| TEN.
ONCE seeking now began with vim,
| for after jackson had set the example
| his successors were by no means shy
| about turning ont the appcintees or
/ their predecessors. Some say that the
| new $ stem caused the untimely END
I OF William Henry Uarrison-just af-
ter his nauguration-that he was real
| ~ harassel TO death by office seek
ers.
Il am like man so busy in let
! tins rooms in one end of his house
| that he cannot stop to put out the fire
that is burning in the other" COM
! planned Lincoln % the ravenous hords
which demanded the precious moments
which he wanted to devote 10 war
! preparations.
| These Presidents were deluSed with
requests for petty clcrkships. as we'll
IS responsible offices, and the first re-
/ lief did not come until Grants time
/ when was passed the first civil service
/ establishing permanent tenures Tor
| subordinates--s system which was
! strengthened under Arthur. Cleveland
I and later Presidents until now. when
/ about 80 per cent OF all government
/ employees enter the service through
! competitive examinations.
But during this process OF rounding
/ I'D division chiefs and their clerical
I subordinates in the civil Service fold
/ the presidential" Offices have grown
4 TO be greater in numbers than the
entire army OF officers and employees
I Of those early days. when the "spoiis
! 5, stem was at its height.
Thus President wilson's legitimate
patronage list of high officials con-
tains I'VE times many offices as
| those vacated by clerks and officers to-
| gether when Jackson turned the ras-
| Gals out"
| Copy right. 1912. by John Elfreith Wat
kins)