Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-10-07
CHARGES Plan NOW TO
LOOT OFFICE HOLDERS
Republican National Com
mittee Asserts Democrats
Make Improper Levy
'STRONG-ARM SQUAD
TOLD HOW TO WORK

fSEW YORK, Oct. I'm a statement
given out last night at Republican ma
tional headquarters il is specifically
charged that carefully laid plans have
been made by the national Democratic
executive committee to extort a cam
paign fund OF several million dollars
from Federal oficeholders to assist in
the reelection of President Wilson.
The statement declares the plans
frankly contemplates violation OF
the spirit of the civil service act and
the criminal code. The statement
continues:
THE trainers OF the plan are per-
fectly aware Of the fact that they are
skating on thin ice and have striven
to direct the procedure OF their sub
Ordinates so as to enable them to ef-
feet substantial violation OF the law
without being caught The men who
arc endeavOTng to put the plans in
operation boldly confess TO the sub
ord.nates upon whom they rely for the
actual strong-arm work that they are
deliberately seeking to evade the
statutory provisions to which, in pub
lie and for the purposes OF campaign
argument only. they make such pro-
fuse profession of devotion.
The first drive OF the cash col
lectors for the Democratic committee
is aimed at postmasters, but it is spe-
officially set forth that all other Fed
eral appointees as well arc expected
10 cont ibutC to the Wilson campaign
fund. The amount Of the levy upon
a.. 20 30
salary.
Thousands Of Appointees Affected.
"rhc Postoiicc appropriation bill. app
proved by President Wilson on July 2s,
carries an item for compensation To
postmasters. So 100000 If the Demo
cratic bagnieu arc only reasonably sue
cessful in holding up postmasters. they
can expect to accumulate fund of
many hundreds of thousands at dollars,
If not millions. from postmasters alone.
And this takes no account of the many
thousands Of other Federal appointees
HON these plans OF the Democratic
Campaign Committee make specitically
subject 10 the visit of the bagman.
"Thc Democratic trainers Of these
plans for cNtorting Wilson campaign
funds from Federal ofiiceholders under
situation of their scheme. They are
careful 10 set forth in the instructions
TO the strong-arm squad the fact that
of course this is not compulsory OBJ
viously meaning that il is not legally
compulsory; but they proceed TO state
that they are informed that there lie
10 be a permanent organization of our
force throughout the country.
FTlds permanent organization Is to
keep tabs on the Federal officeholders. A
record is to be made of the loyalty of
those appOintces who contribute and Of
the 'disloyalty' of those Federal office
holders who decline TO contribute to the
Wilson campaign fund. OF course, there
is no compusion about procedure like
this. This merely notifies Federal
oniccholders, by the authority of the
National Democratic Executive Com
mittce. that if they do not contribute
ten per cent. Of a years salary to the
Wilson campaign fund they will he
marked down by the Wilson Permanent
Organization as disloyal
Instructions TO the "Bagmen."
"The instructions to the strong
arm squad point out that il is yio-
lation Of the civil service law TO
write a letter to a postmaster de-
handing money for campaign pur-
poses or TO call upon the postmasters
in the pOstofiice and ask for sub
scription to the campaign fund. The
strong arr squad is directed there
fore. to avoid writing to or calling
upon Federal appointees in their Of
ices. but are advised TO seek private
appointments with the Federal Office
holders, TO find them at their homes
Or TO catch them when they are tenn
1orarily off the Job.
with this explanation OF the legal
difficulties in their way the strong
lrm squad is admonished 10 proceed
ntelligently along these lines and to
eontrye i'm a legal way TO solicit
he Federal oficehOlders.
"Therc arc several sections Of the
Federal statutes the spirit of which
II not the letter, is clearly violated
by the procedure planned under the
auspices OF the National Democratic
Executive Committee.
Sought Technical LOOphOle."
Section 11S OF the United States
criminal code which embodies sec
ton II OF the civil service act, deals
WIN Ont phdoI VI Ahlo lldAtfis oNA
ton 119 of the United States crimi-
nal code. which embodies section -
OF the civil service act deals with
another phase OF il. II is this latter
section TO which the trainers of the
Democratic eXtortion scheme spcci-
ically refer in their instructions TO
the strong arm squad. Sections 100
and 12i OF the United States crimi-
and IA OF the civil service act. refer
10 other phases OF the matter.
at is obvious that the men who
develop the scheme for the National
Democratic executive committee and
who arc endeavoring TO operate it
had these provisions OF the law in
mind. and have sought deliberately
to find the technical loophole which