Evening star., 1934-07-22
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

With unmlstakahle disaffection pre-
vailing in the Republican party SO
Patronage in 5y decided ouposi-
the Campaign. os GiOn s,.ins % inc t'cEss snS
Logan, the prospects Of Democratic
success at the polls were brighter than
for a long time past. Consequently
the question Of patronage incident to
a turnover In the Federal administra-
ton was one of acute interest. The
Star OF July 20, 1884, says:
Democrats say that an important
question in the coming campaign will
be whether or not the civil service
laws may be so manipulated as to
affect political ends. The Republicans
are already making a point upon the
claim that the Democratic party is
opposed TO civil service reform ana
coupled with this claim the Democrats
say that the work of the Civil Service
Commission may be so directed as TO
prove most powerful weapon in the
hands Of shrewd politicians. Patronage
may be distributed through the South,
they say, much more effectively under
the disguise Of civil service reform
than 1t ever was under the old prac-
tees.
Patronage given in this way Is an
innocent offering and, being appar-
emily gratuitous, it will be ten times
more potent as factor In the
campaign. The way this Is to be
effected is thus explained by a Demo-
crat who thinks he sees before him a
danger threatening the loss OF one or
more Of the Southern States to the
Republicans:
Just at this critical moment, when
Blaine is looking towards the South to
make up for any losses sustained
through the action Of the independent
voters, the Civil Service Commission
announces that much Of the patronage
created by the past session Of Congress
must go to the Southern States, 1t
being now their turn for recognition
under the law. Mind, do not mean
that the commissioners Intentionally
arranged so as to have the appoint
ments 60 to the South at this particu-
lar time; 1t is rather the result Of cir.
cumstances, but II will have an effect
upon the election all the same The
Democrats acted unwisely in creating
so much patronage when they know
that its use would effect political ends.
They knew that the Civil Service
Commission would have 10 distribute
the appointments through the South
If they complied with the law, and 1t
would have some effect upon the elec-
tion, yet they created more new Gov
r1aI1t FanatftCT9z fhar, hpu
gress since 1860, except in the extraor-
dinary case of the establishment Of
the new Pension Office.
"'Of course, the examinations will
be fairly conducted, and as the Demo-
Gratis in the South are, as a rule, better
educated than the Republicans in the
same section, the appointments will
go largely to our party. This renders
the situation still more dangerous,
for as soon as the appointments are
all made the stump speakers vii go
TO North Carolina, Tennessee. Florida
and Louisiana and argue the fairness
Of the Republican party, calling upon
their civil service experience 10 bear
them out, and then say, Gentlemen,
to vote the Democratic party in is to
vote this noble reform out" Ly this
means they have a chance 10 carry
two or three Southern States. They
are now laying the foundation for this
work by creating the impression and
making it widespread that the Demo-
Gratis and particularly Hendricks, are
openly declaring that the civil service
law will not be regarded II they are
successful. This WIN be great issue
in the campaign. Wait and see.'"