APPLIED IDEALISM In the spring of 1899 I was appointed by President Harrison Civil Service Commissioner.

For nearly five years I had not been very active in political life; although I had done some routine work in the organization and had made campaign speeches, and in 1886 had run for Mayor of New York against Abram S.Hewitt, Democrat, and Henry George, Independent, and had been defeated.
I served six years as Civil Service Commissioner--four years under President Harrison and then two years under President Cleveland.

I was treated by both Presidents with the utmost consideration.

Among my fellow-Commissioners there was at one time ex-Governor Hugh Thompson, of South Carolina, and at another time John R.Proctor, of Kentucky.

They were Democrats and ex-Confederate soldiers.