West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-08-17
Bryan Replies 10 Hughes.

Bryan Replies 10 Hughes.
KANSAS CITY. Mo-. Aug. Twill
lam J. Bryan, former secretary OF
state. replied here today to criticism
OF his attitude toward civil service
made by Charles f. Hughes, the Re-
publican presidential nominee. In a
statement in which he said he had
enforced the civil service law TO the
letter.. Mr.. Bryan challenged the Re-
publican nominee to state whether he
had given appointments to deserving
Republicans" while governor OF New
York.
The statement was made I'm answer
to recent speeches OF Mr.. Hughes
which quoted letter Mr.. Bryan had
written TO receiver of customs Wick
In Santo Domingo. inquiring as to
what positions could be obtained to
reward deserving Democrats" Mr..
Bryan admitted the letter as Il had
been quoted.
Il am not ashamed OF It," the state
ment read. "The letter was written
to an appointive officer whose office
was not under the civil service and
the inquiry was made I'm regard to ON
GERS which were not under the civil
service"
The statement. after declaring Mr..
Hughes to have shown himself quite
prompt in discharging obligations"
declares:
AS an official, 1 enforced the civil
service law to the letter, and upon my
resignation, received from the employ
ees In the state department, more than
80 per cent OF whom were under the
'Sivil service, a watch which 1 prize as
"a priceless treasure. But, while I OBJ
served the civil service law wherever
1t was In force, felt myself free to
aid in rewarding deserving Democrats
wherever it could be done without
detriment to the service.
THE deserving Democrat is not TO
be despised-he is as much entitled
to recognition as deserving Repub-
lean
when he was candidate for gov
ernor, Mr.. Hughes received the sup
port OF the railroads of New York and
he generously repaid the debt by Veto
Ing the two-cent passenger rate bill.
He did not describe that as shame
full When q candidate for governor,
he received the support OF the New
york tax dodgers, the owners OF 'swol-
len fortunes and he paid his debt by
sending message to the legislature
protesting against the income tax
amendment to the federal copstitu-
ton. He does not describe that as
shameful.
He Is now being supported by the
railroads OF the United States and he
expects to pay them back by aiding
them to escape state legislation and
md a haven OF security. In 'exclu-
sive federal control over the rail
roads; he is being supported by the
shipping trust and expects to pay it
back by helping it to prevent gov
eminent competition. He is support
ed by the trust magnates and expects
TO pay them back by shielding them
from punishment for the extortion
which they desire to practice; he is
supported by Wall street and expects
to pay it back by spending American
blood and squandering money raised
by taxation in order to guarantee pro-
fits on speculative investments. And
yet, with the record which he has
made paying his political obligations
at the expense OF the public and with
the pledges his speeches contain to
those who are now aiding his ambi-
tions, he has the impudence to hold
up for criticism legitimate effort to
reward competent men for the SER
vice which they have rendered to the
cause of reform"