The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-20
The Civil Service Steal.


tional Democratic machine and supported by
Finly Gray, who claims to believe in progressive
principles, has aroused the opposition of intelli-
gent and wideawake citizens the country over.
And with good reasons A blow at the civil SER
vice is a direct attack the efficiency Of our
state and federal systems and move backwards.
The "spoils system" to which this unexpected
and inexcusable move threatens to return US,
born in the Andrew Jackson days when citi-
zens of frontier states began to clamor for a
share in the emoluments of office so long monop-
olized by the New England politicians. Although
q great debate was held in congress in 1885 in
which Webster, Clay and Calhoun, the three
great leaders of that time, bitterly condemned
the slogan expressed by Senator Marcy, of New
York. Ito the victor belongs the spoils, that slo-
gan was adopted by the Democratic party of that
time and subsequently by the Republican party
in 1860.
The spOils system, originally intended a
blow at the politicians trust, functioned in act,
ual operation to intrench that same political
trust more firmly than ever. Instead of scatter
ing political offices among the rank and file of
voters as the intent, the move placed politi-
cal offices and appointments more completely in
the hands of political bosses than before.
Under the spoils system all federal and state
Offices with few exceptions and such as are filled
by the people direct, are appointed by the presi-
dent with the advice and consent of congress
and, in some cases, by the courts. Since there
are so many thousands of them it is manifesty
impossible for the president personally to see
that every appointment is a proper one so it has
fallen out that the offices are usually divided
up among representatives and senators in con-
gress. These latter appoint their favorite bench
men to the remunerative and responsible posi-
lions as pay for good work done in harvesting
votes.
Thus it comes about that man is appointed
to office not because he is fitted for it but be-
cause he is a politician. And in order to have
enough plums to go around it was long the, Gus
tom to create new offices and place the dear po
litical friends therein. To secure such easy
berths and feed at the breasts of the federal
treasury came to be almost the highest ambi
ton with thousands of politicians. And in or.
der to cash in their patriotism at about the rate
of dollar the nickel, they became very ex
pert in packing conventions, buying votes brb
ing officials, and in forming little persona
ciques and schisms within their party.
Once in office as the pensioner of some state
or department grandee the latter worthy would
exact tax as tribute to his power and also as
good pay for giving the job. Beyond that the
subordinate official was compelled to go out anC
rustic for the reelection of his superior because
lie we'll knew his own soft berth would be rude
ly snatched away if his own patron were to be
sent back to the undistinguished masses
Thus in the fulness of time politics. state anc
national, became a commercial enterprise ir
which votes rather than dollars functioned as
the medium of exchange and offices were farm
ed out to the highest bidder. The entire patron
age system became powerful weapon by means
of which inefficient and faithess nationa
party could maintain itself in office.
Gradually the entire federal machine became
a vast pension system growing by what it fec
upon and becoming less efficient and more costl,
every year. Congressman were compelled to de
vote one-third of their time to taking care OF
their pensioners and dependents If Senator
Jones could spare a moment between conferences
with his appointees, present and prospective he
would listen in bewderment to what his con
gressional colleagues were endeavoring to sa,
about important questions of legislation Other
wise he felt he must devote himself to the gooc
fellows who had won him his election and wer,
now demanding compensation. Of course, i
didn't occur to him that he was the agent of thu
people selected and paid to do their will. he fell
himself the agent of a political machine which
must protect. at all hazards and risks from tn,
foolish and impairment public the rich reser
voirs of patronage
BY the time of Lincoln's election this vicious
system had grown to such proportions that i
sat like monstrous incubus on the neck of TIL
country. In 1861, with characteristic brevit,