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Summary of the annual meeting of the Civil Service Reform Association. President Roosevelt was named a vice president of the organization but was also censured for several inconsistencies, particularly the appointment of James Sullivan Clarkson, an enemy of civil service reform, and a special order allowing the appointment of Joe Murray without examination.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902
Scrapbook of clippings from various periodicals related to Theodore Roosevelt’s time in the New York State Assembly, the Republican National Convention of 1884, and civil service reform.
1883-1894
Scrapbook of clippings from various periodicals related to the 1884 election, Republican politics, civil service reform, and reviews of Hunting Trips of a Ranchman.
1884-1891
Scrapbook of clippings from various periodicals related to the activities of Theodore Roosevelt Sr. and his son, Theodore Roosevelt. The clippings related to Roosevelt Sr. generally reference his work with the allotment system during the American Civil War and his charity work. The clippings related to Roosevelt are generally reviews of his books and articles regarding his work on civil service reform.
1862-1896
Several Republicans stand in a temple, with a sacrificial lamb labeled “Civil Service Reform” at the base of a statue labeled “Patronage” with a trident labeled “Spoils.” Among them are Chester Alan Arthur, James Gillespie Blaine, Whitelaw Reid, Ulysses S. Grant, John Logan, William Henry Robertson, J. D. Cameron, George William Curtis, Carl Schurz, George Frisbie Hoar, John Sherman, Roscoe Conkling, and William Mahone. At the far end of the temple gallery is a statue of George M. Robeson as “Neptune.” Caption: The members of the Roman House of Tarquin, having been driven from power by the people, called together their adherents, and swore an oath of harmony over the body of a victim sacrificed for the purpose. They then undertook to get back to Rome, and History records that they Got Left.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-04-11
Thomas F. Bayard carries a banner that shows a portrait of Thomas Jefferson and is labeled “Jeffersonian Principles,” with a streamer at top that states “A Government of the People, by the People, for the People.” Attached to the corners of the banner are ribbons that are being pulled in different directions, tearing the banner in the process. At the upper left, a ribbon labeled “Civil Service Reform” is pulled by George H. Pendleton, holding a notice that states “Civil Service Reform will Save the Country.” At bottom left, a ribbon labeled “High Tariff” is pulled by Samuel J. Randall, holding a notice that states “High Tariff benefits the Laborer.” At center is Bayard with a notice in his pocket that states “Let us dodge every question.” On the bottom right, a ribbon labeled “To the Victors belong the Spoils” is held by John Kelly, along with a notice that states “The Spoils Policy is the Safest Policy.” At top right, a ribbon labeled “Free Trade” is pulled by Abram S. Hewitt, holding a notice that states “Free Trade benefits the Laborer.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-04-25
Franklin Edson lies on a dirt path labeled “Road to Honest Government,” hanging onto the tails of two hogs going in the opposite direction, one with the face of John Kelly, labeled “Tammany,” and the other labeled “County Dem.” wearing pince-nez labeled “H.O.T.” In the background is a road sign labeled “To Tammany Bossism” and “To County Bossism,” with New York City in the distance. Caption: He had better let them both go.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-01-03
Puck, holding his lithographic pen, and the Independent Party figure, holding an axe labeled “November Election,” stand inside a cabin next to the head of Roscoe Conkling that has been cut off a large rattlesnake labeled “Stalwartism,” its rattle labeled “Stalwart Office Seeker.” In the background, a large fire labeled “Government Patronage” burns in a fireplace. Caption: Puck – What! Isn’t it dead? Independent New Party – Oh, yes! but it hasn’t got sense enough to know it!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-01-03
Benjamin F. Butler spreads ashes labeled “Censure, Exposure, Desire for Reform, [and] Criticism” on a slide in the snow labeled “Slide of Public Mismanagement” to the dismay of a group of children labeled “Factory Employee, Sup’t. of Charitable Institution, Prison Supt., Army Snob, Matron of Infant Asylum, Manager of Insane Asylum, [and] Superfluous Gov’t. Employee” on “Beacon Hill.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-01-17
Ulysses S. Grant is leading his “Grant Boom” band comprised of Samuel J. Tilden, Lucius Q. C. Lamar, Roscoe Conkling, William W. Phelps, David Davis, James D. Cameron, John Sherman, James G. Blaine, John Kelly, Winfield Scott Hancock, William Mahone, and John Logan. Most carry drums that are broken or in disrepair. Across the street, in front of the “Political Armory,” Puck is operating a makeshift stand, issuing “New Drums for Old Drums.” Benjamin F. Butler kicks away his old drum labeled “Butlers Old Policies” and is getting a new drum labeled “Civil Service Reform.” Brooklyn Mayor Seth Low and Grover Cleveland are trying out new drums labeled “Independence” and “Civil Service Reform.” Other new drums are labeled “Tariff Reform, Political Honesty, Anti-Monopoly, Honesty, [and] For the People.” Caption: The U.S. Army is to have new drums. In their day the old drums did good service. Now they must retire and give place to better drums. Phila. Record.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-02-14
In the “Grand National Congressional Theatre” the performance of “Fair Promise Combination No. 47 – Great Reform Bill – Act I Tariff Reform – Act II Civil Service Reform – Act III Internal Revenue Reform” is concluding. The audience is pelting the cast with cats, eggs, onions, turnips, and other vegetables and fruits. Among those on stage are David Davis, Thomas W. Ferry, George M. Robeson, Jay A. Hubbell, Frank Hiscock, Horace F. Page, and William Mahone.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-02-28
President Cleveland, as Ferdinand V sitting on a throne, observes as civil service office seekers are baptized at the font of “Civil Service Reform.” Among those depicted are Thomas Hendricks, Charles A. Dana, Thomas F. Grady, “Barnum,” George H. Sterling(?), John Kelly, L. Q. C. Lamar, Thomas F. Bayard, “Pendleton,” “Carlisle,” George W. Curtis, Carl Schurz, and Grover Cleveland. Caption: In 1500, after the conquest of Granada, Ferdinand V. compelled the vanquished Moors to submit to the rite of Baptism.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-03-11
Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, and Grover Cleveland are pilgrims on a journey through a rugged Middle Eastern landscape. Leading the way is Hayes, holding a paper that states “Patronage to Reward – The Returning Board” and carrying a canteen of “Cold Water.” Behind Hayes is Arthur who is looking back at Cleveland, with a donkey, who has stopped to help a man labeled “Civil Service” who has fainted from lack of water.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-03-18
John Kelly holds a shillelagh in one hand and a rope tied to an injured tiger labeled “Tammany” with bandages labeled “1880, 1882, [and] 1884” in the other, standing outside the “White House” gate. Grover Cleveland stands on the other side of the wall, holding a rifle. A sign posted on the wall states, “Resolved that – Tammany Hall recommends to the attention of the Presidents the prominent members of this organization as worthy of recognition in selection for public service. March 13th.” Caption: John Kelly – “What say you – Peace or War?” / Cleveland – “War, Johnny, war!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-03-25
A group of Tammany “Ward” workers and men identified as “J. R. McLean, Grady, H. O. Thompson, Spinola, [Alexander V.] Davidson, H. McLaughlin, [and a] Chicago Boss,” along with Charles A. Dana and John Kelly stand on a mountain overlooking the United States Capitol. All are wearing top hats that emit rays of light (Kelly is stomping on his hat with his left foot) as if all are Moses. They are disappointed office seekers who feel they should have been rewarded by the Cleveland administration. A large broken tablet on the ground is labeled “Old Commandments – Thou shalt divide up the spoils.” Banners atop the Capitol, “Interior Depart[ment], Treasury U.S., [and the] White House,” state “A Government for the People not for Politicians, Reform Administration, Civil Service Reform, No Removals except for Cause.” This last banner is probably in reference to the recent removal of Capt. George B. Bacon in favor of George H. Sterling for government weigher at the New York Custom House, an action that was reversed pending investigation. Caption: Disappointed Democratic Moses – “Was it worth going through so much to get so little?”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-04-01
President Cleveland hands a paper that states “Re-appointment for Honesty and Efficiency” to Henry G. Pearson for his appointment as Postmaster in New York. Pearson carries a box labeled “The People’s Trust.” In the background are Whitelaw Reid with dagger labeled “N. Y. Tribune” and Charles A. Dana with dagger labeled “N. Y. Sun.” Both appear angry that an efficient and honest citizen has been appointed to a civil service position. Caption: Bravos in Background – “Ha! Foiled again!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-04-08
Whitelaw Reid, on the roof top of a building, looks through a telescope at the sun labeled “Civil Service Reform,” and Charles A. Dana, on the neighboring roof top, checks a “Sun Barometer.” Signs on their respective buildings state “Tribune Political Weather Bulletin – Terrible Traitor Earthquakes, Rebel Cyclones, ‘Dude-and-Pharisee’ Simoons, Hurricanes of Plunder and Tornadoes of Spoils!” and “The Sun’s Political Weather Predictions – Very Doubtful. Probable Cold Mugwump Wave Approaching. Cautionary Signals along the entire Political Coast.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-04-15
Inside “Cleveland’s Clothing Establishment,” President Cleveland and Thomas F. Bayard are fitting a man labeled “Reform Democracy” with the “Thos. Jefferson Pattern,” while cabinet members Lucius Q. C. Lamar, William C. Whitney, Daniel Manning, [and] Augustus H. Garland measure, cut, and sew fabric labeled “Justice, Anti-Silver Swindle, New Navy, [and] Honest Administration, Interior Department” on the left side of the shop. A sign on the wall states “No Over-Charging nor Double-Dealing” and a poster shows the “Spring 1885 Styles.” Just outside the door is an old man reaching in to grab discarded rags labeled “Spoils System, Old Record, Fraud” and a shillelagh labeled “Rowdy Influence” to place in his cart labeled “G. O. Rep. Party. Highest Price Paid for Castoff Clo’s.” Caption: The new suit (on the Jeffersonian Pattern) doesn’t quite fit yet; but we hope he will grow up to it.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-04-15
President Cleveland, as Cardinal Richelieu, embraces a young woman labeled “Civil Service” as he is confronted by a group of courtiers labeled “Manning, Barnum, C. S. Blackburn, [and] Hendricks”, also John Kelly and a man identified as “Party Boss.” Manning holds a paper that states “Bad Appointments – Higgins, Pillsbury, Troup, [and] Chase.” Includes text by “Manning-Baradas” and “Cleveland-Richelieu.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-05-06
A man labeled “Hayseed Legislator” waits next to obstacles labeled “Corruption, Spite against N. Y. City, Backwoods Bullheadedness, [and] Petty Jealousy” that he has placed on railroad tracks ahead of an oncoming train labeled “N. Y. City Reforms.” He is hoping to cause the train to derail.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-05-13