Changes

According to Professor Richard E. Welch, Jr., the Half-Breeds were "party regulars" who "damned" bolters, were not uniformly independent in political nature nor advocates of the spoils system, and more intelligent than personal in comparison to the Stalwarts.<ref>''George Frisbie Hoar and the Half-Breed Republicans, p. 90.</ref>

According to Professor Richard E. Welch, Jr., the Half-Breeds were "party regulars" who "damned" bolters, were not uniformly independent in political nature nor advocates of the spoils system, and more intelligent than personal in comparison to the Stalwarts.<ref>''George Frisbie Hoar and the Half-Breed Republicans, p. 90.</ref>

[[James Gillespie Blaine]], who led the faction in 1880, was personally opposed to civil service reform<ref>Weisberger, Bernard A. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/james-garfield-and-chester-arthur James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved November 20, 2021.</ref> and opposed questionable policies pushed by President Hayes. He emerged as one of its main members largely due to sheer contempt for Stalwart [[Roscoe Conkling]],<ref name=levipmorton/> pertaining to a rivalry dating back to the 1860s.<ref>[http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/history/waughj/classes/gildedage/private/gilded_age_politics/history/bio_conkling.html Roscoe Conkling: Congressman and Political Boss (1829-1888)]. ''UCLA Social Sciences''. Retrieved November 20, 2021.</ref>

[[James Gillespie Blaine]], who led the faction in 1880, was personally opposed to civil service reform<ref name=garfieldandarthur>Weisberger, Bernard A. [https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/james-garfield-and-chester-arthur James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur]. ''Encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved November 20, 2021.</ref> and opposed questionable policies pushed by President Hayes. He emerged as one of its main members largely due to sheer contempt for Stalwart [[Roscoe Conkling]],<ref name=levipmorton/> pertaining to a rivalry dating back to the 1860s.<ref>[http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/history/waughj/classes/gildedage/private/gilded_age_politics/history/bio_conkling.html Roscoe Conkling: Congressman and Political Boss (1829-1888)]. ''UCLA Social Sciences''. Retrieved November 20, 2021.</ref>

Many sources published in the contemporary era tend to attribute the leader of the Half-Breeds to Blaine and sometimes even suggest that he himself was a supporter of civil service reform, which is misleading and erroneous. Per the writings of Professor Welch:<ref name=p.91/>

Many sources published in the contemporary era tend to attribute the leader of the Half-Breeds to Blaine and sometimes even suggest that he himself was a supporter of civil service reform, which is misleading and erroneous. Per the writings of Professor Welch:<ref name=p.91/>