Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-08-12
Admits He Aided Demo
Gratis, But Not at Expense
of Civil Service.
NOMINEE ALWAYS
FOR "INTERESTS'
Former Secretary Of State Recalls
That Republican Nominee Vetoed
TWO-Cent Passenger Rate and
"Full Crew" Bills In New York.

Kansas City, Aug. 11.-William j
Bryan, former secretary IF state. in
statement issued here today replied
to attacks upon his attitude toward
the civil service made by Charles d.
Hughes. Republican presidential nomi-
nee. Mr.. Bryan maintained he had
reinforced the civil service law to the
letter." wiz
The former secretary challenged the
Republican nominee to state whether
ne had given appointments "to de-
serving Republicans" while governor
OF New York. The statement was
made in answer to recent speeches of
Mr. Hughes, which quoted letter
mr.. Bryan had written to Receiver of
Customs Wick in Santo Domingo in.
curing as to what positions could be
obtained to reward observing Demo-
Gratis"
Mr.. Bryan admitted the letter as it
had been quoted.
II 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 in regard to
offices which were not under the civil
service. There was nothing in the let
ter to indicate desire or intention
to select men who were incompetent.
On the contrary, inquiry is made as
| Sure, He, Aided Democrats.
| The statement, after declaring Mr..
Hughes to have "shown himself quite
prompt in discharging obligations"
declares:
GAS an official l enforced the civil
service law to the letter, and upon nv
resignation received from the en-
ployes in the state department, more
than 80 per cent of whom were under
the civil service, watch which | prize
as a priceless treasure. But, while /
observed the civil service law wher
ever it was in force, felt myself free
to aid In rewarding deserving Demo-
Gratis wherever it could be done with
out detrlment to the service. Nv re-
gret is that l was able to reward so
few Of the multitude who are deserv-
ing, measured by their political sery-
ice, by their capacity and fitness for
the work to be done.
1.-The deserving Democrat is not to
be despised-he is as much entitled to
recognition as deserving Republi-
cam"
Concerning the Republican nomi-
nee, the statement continues:
when he was candidate for gov
ernor ne received the support of the
railroads of New York and he gener-
ously repaid the debt by vetoing the
tWo-cent passenger rate bill. He did
not describe that as shameful When
candidate for governor, he received
the. support of the New York tax
dodgers, the owners of Swollen for
tunes and he paid his debt by send
ing a message to the legislature pro-
testing against the income tax amend
ment to the federal constitution, He
does not describe that as shameful.
Railroads Candidate.
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
find haven of security in exclusive
federal control over the railroads; he
is being. supported by the shipping
trust and expects to pay them back by
helping them to prevent government
competition. He is supported 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 sup
ported by Wall street, and expects to
pay them back by spending American
blood and squandering money raised
by taxation in order to guarantee
profits on speculative investments.
And yet, with the record which he
has made in paying his political obi
cations at the expense of the public
and with the pledges his speeches con-
tain to those who are now aiding his
ambitions, he has the impudence to
hold up for criticism a legitimate eff
fort to reward competent men for the
service which they have rendered to
the cause of reform.
Hughes Indebted to Grafters.
"For 20 years the people have been
engaged in a life-and-death struggle
to save the nation from the big ex-
ploiters, the big 'grafters' and the big
pork thunderstorm the plumber
bund, to which Mr.. Hughes is indebted
for all the political honors he has en-
joyed and which is now seeking to
put him in a position to safeguard
plutocracy from further attacks. Mr..
Hughes is perfectly familiar with the
contest because he has been conspicu-
Gus among the champions of the
plunder-bund.
"In the campaign of 1908 he was
put forth as the chief representative
~ the trusts and his element ad