The Spoils System 



This point of view brought out some sharp criticism 

 from my Republican associates, although eight years 

 later, under Mr. Harrison, the Republican party 

 adopted, even if somewhat grudgingly, the principles 

 I had advocated. 



The operation of the spoils system may be il- 

 lustrated by a typical incident in which I was 

 personally concerned. In 1882 Baird conceived the st onTp a rk 

 idea that a naturalist might well be attached to the 

 staff of the commandant of Yellowstone Park for 

 the purpose of scientifically observing the elk, bear, 

 beaver, and other wild animals. He therefore asked 

 me to suggest a good man, and I proposed Meek, 

 then one of my advanced students in Zoology. But 

 this stirred up our representative in Congress, 

 Columbus C. Matson, who insisted on the right to 

 nominate if any one from his district were to be put 

 in office. Matson's first candidate, however, was a 

 man who could not possibly accept, being confined 

 at the time in the Monroe County Jail to expiate 

 the social error of larceny. His second choice re- 

 ceived the telegram announcing his appointment 

 one Sunday morning when he was trying to ride 

 a serious, remonstrant horse through the door of a 

 Martinsville saloon! This fellow sobered up suf- 

 ficiently to reach the Park, but soon died of alcoholism 

 at Mammoth Hot Springs, and Baird's excellent plan 

 came to nothing. 



For the great improvement in our national Civil 

 Service we are largely indebted to Cleveland, Harri- 

 son, and Roosevelt, though not one of them was able 

 to live up to his ideals. The McKinley adminis- 

 tration marked a distinct lapse, and no considerable 

 advance has taken place under either Taft or Wilson. 



C 315 3 



