Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1886 — THE CASE OF STONE. [ARTICLE]

THE CASE OF STONE.

Ihe Suspended District Attorney of Western Pennsylvania Will Not Be Reinstated. President Cleveland’s Reasons There-for—-The Correspondence in the Case. [Washington telegram.] The President makes public the following correspondence: Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 18. The Hon. A. H. Garland. Attorney General: Km--I have rend the correspondence between the President and the Hon. M. E. Benton, United Stat s Attorney, connected with his restoration to office, in which it appears t! at ha was suspended from offi e for his apparent neglect of official duties in making campaign speeches. Presumably my bus; e avion was ordered for the same reason. I desire, therefore, to state the facts in my case. I made but two speeches prior to the receipfaof tne order of suspension—one at Butler in an adjoining county the evening of Oc . 1, and one at Kittanning, a town near Pittsburgh, the evening of Oct. 2. I did not leave Pittsburg for lsutler nntil nearly 4 o’clock, Cct. l, and returned the morning of the 2d about 9 o’clock. I left Pittsburg for Kitifinning, Saturday, Oct. 2, about 5 o’clock p. in., and returned the same night. Bo hos the above dates the United States Courts hero were not in session, except a short time in tho morning of each day for ord.narv motions. I was in attendance upon the courts during their sittings and did not leave the city upon either occasion nntil long after the courts had adjourned. Oct. 18 tho United States District Court began its session at Pittsburg for the trial of jury causes, a Petit and Grand Jury being in attendance. From Oct. 2 until Oct. 18 I was engaged in tho preparation of causes for trial, and from Oct. 18 until Oct. 27, the date of the receipt of the order of suspension, I was engaged in the trial of these causes. Neither during this period from Oct. 2 to Oct. 27 nor at any other time did I in any particular neglect tho duties of my office These statements may be verified by inquiry of any officer of our courts. I feel it my duty aft r re ading the coriespondence between iho President and Mr. Feu ton to state thi so facts in justice tu myself, and respo ctfully request that this communication be referred to tne President. I may also aad that I did not th nk that making ait occas.oua campaign speech to my neighbors, while nut neglecting the duties of my office, would be a violation of the Presid nt's order of July 10, 188 ti, Very respectfullv, vour obedient servant, Wm. A. Stone.

Executive Mansion, Nov. 23. The Hon. A. H. Garland, Attorney General: Dear till:—I have ren i the 1 tter of the ISth inst., written to you by William A. Stone, lately suspended lrom office as District Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania and tho subject matter to which it refers lias roceivec* my careful consideration. I shall not impute t > the writer any mischievous motive in his plainly erroneous assumption that his case and that of Mr. Benton, reeently suspended and reinstated, rost upon the same state of facts, but prefer to regard his lerier as containing tho best statement possible upon the question of his reinstatement. You remember, of course, that soon after the present administration was installed, and I think nearly a year and a half ago, I considered with you certain charges which had been preferred against Mr. htone as a Federal official. You remember, too, that the action then contemplated was withheld by reason of the excuses and explanations of his friends. These excuses and explanations induced me to believo that Mr. Stone’s retention would insure a faithful performance of official duty, and that whatever offensive partisanship he had deemed justifiable in othi r circumstances he would, during his continuance in office, at his request, under an administration opposed to him in political creed and policy, content liimself with a quiet and unobtrusive enjoyment of his political privileges. I certainly Sujqiosed that his sense of propriety would cause him to refrain from pursuing such-a partisan course as would wantonly olfend and irritate the friends of the administration, who insisted that he should not. be retained in office, either beoause of his personal merit or in adherence to the methods which have for a long time prevailed in the d.stiioution of Federal offic. s. In the light of a ..otter system, and without considering his political affiliations. Mr. Stone, when permitted to remain in office, became a part of the business organization of the present administration, bound by every obligation of honor to assist within his sphere in its successful operation. This obligation involved not only the proper performance of official duty, but a certain good faith and fidelity, which, while not exacting the least sacrifice of political principle, forbade acti e participation in ] urely partisan demonstrations of a pronounced type, undertaken for tho purpose of advancing purtisan interests, and conducted upon the avowed theory that the administration of the Government was not entitled to the confidence and respect of the people. There is no dispute whatever concerning the fact that Mr. Stone did join others who were campaigning the State of Pennsylvania in opposition to the administration. It appears, too, that he was active au.i prominent with noisy enthusiasm in attendance upon at least two large public meetin, s where the speeches wen largely devoted to abuse and misrepresentation of the administration; that he approved all this, and actually addressed tlie meetings himself in somewhat the same strain ; that he attended such meetings away from his home for the purpose of making such addresses; and that he was advertised as one of the speakers at each of said meeting. I shall accept as true the statement of Mr. Stone that the time spent by him in thus demonstrating his willingness to hold a profitable office at tbe hands ot an administration which he endeavored to di credit with the people, and.which had overlooked bis previous offenses, did not result in the neglect of ordinary official duty; but his conduct has brought to light such an unfriendliness toward the administration which he pretends to serve, and of which he is nominally a part, and such a consequent lack of loyal interest in its success, that the safest and surest guaranty of his faithful service is, in my opinion, entirely wanting. His course, in itself, such as should not have been entered upon while maintaining official relations to tho administration, also renews and revivts, with unmistakable Interpretation of thoir character aud intent, the charges of offensive partisanship heretofore made, and up to this time hold in abeyance. Mr. Stone aud others of like disposition are not to suppose that party lines are so far obliterated that the administration of the Government is to bo trusted, in places high or low, to tnose who aggressively and constantly endeavor unfairly to dostroy the confidence of tho people in tb« party responsible for such administration. While vicious partisan methods should not be i llowed for partisan purposes to degrode or injure the public service, it is my belief that nothing tends so much to discredit our efforts, in the interest of such service, to treat fairly and generously the official incumbency of political opponents as conduct such as ia here disclosed. The people of this country certainly do not require the best results of administrative endeavor to be reached with such agencies as these. Upon a full consideration of all I baie before me, I am constrained to decline the application of Mr Stone for his reinstatement. I inclose his letter with this, and desire you to acquaint him with my decision, Yburs very truly, Grover Cleveland. Department op Jobtick, i Washington, D. C., Nov. 24, 18-fti. f The Hon. William A. Stone, Pittsburg, Pa.: Sir— l am directed by tho President to say to you that, after consideration of your letter of the 18th inst., he will not revoke or change the older heretofore made suspending you os District Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Very respectfully, A. H. Garland, Attorney General.