Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-06-09
Women as Ofice-Seekers.
How Officials are Sometimes "Influ-
enced."

in recent lecture on official life at
Washington, says Of female office
seekers
was struck at once with the
great preponderance of females
among the applicants for office.
There are in the Patent office, in
round numbers, about twenty-five
male employees and about sixty-fve
females. A proper proportion would
have made the number of applicants
about four males to one female. In
fact, the proportions were more than
reversed, 50 that, having in view
the number OF Offices to be filled, the
women who applied were to the men
in the proportion Of about twenty to
one.
They were also by far the most
persistent applicants. 1t was next
to impossible to keep them out of
ones room, and next to impossible
to get them out when they once
came in. a refusal was apt to be
followed by a flow of tears, and a
soft-hearted Commissioner was like
ly to be severely tried. Unfortu-
nately, the speaker acquired the re-
putation of being soft-hearted. In
experienced in public life, and ac-
customed to treat ladies with some
degree Of Difference, he was slow to
acquire the necessary gruhncss to
frighten these visitors away. In
truth, there were many rough tales
of poverty, suffering and toll, which
even a ha:d-hearted man could not
have heard without emotion. A
man once flung himself on his knees
and begged for place to keep his
family from starving. And a well
dressed lady, leading her little chill
dren into my presence, proposed to
do similar obeisance with the whole
family, if had not promptly de-
clared that such a demonstration
would close the door of appointment
forever.
l learned to distrust some tears,
but there were others, the genuine
ness of which l could not doubt,
and when they shed tears of JOY at
receiving their places, l was soft
hearted and perhaps soft-headcd
enough to suppose they really need
ed them.
A widow, mother of an invalid
child, had presented her petition
and recommendations. She was a
woman of worth, intelligence and
education, and it seemed proper that
her prayer should be granted. The
sickness of her child kept her at
home for some days, when she call
ed to learn her fate. In official
phraseology4 said: T am happy
to inform you that we have given
a favorable consideration to your
case" She received this remark
rather coolly, until after few mo-
ments further conversation / asked
her if she could report on duty on
the following Monday. "Why," she
exclaimed, cam l appointed?"
"That is what meant to say a
moment ago."
One joyful glance, and then burst
ing into tears she exclaimed: ooh,
Mr.. Fisher, you don't know how
much good you have done!"
The greater number of applicants
Of the other sex came from Virginia
and the District of Columbia. In
fact, out of 800 employees in the Pat
ent Office 100 were from the District.
A lady resident Of Washington
could always command more Con
gressional friends than one from
distance. The poor soldiers widow
or daughter in the country had but
one Representative. The young
Miss of the capital brought in her
train a couple Of Senator's, four or
five members of the lower house.
a General or two, and perhaps a
gruff Admiral or Commodore.
If she were removed she would
assault you with such an array Of
ssinfuence" that you would seriously
begin to ask yourself the question
whether your retention in office or
hers was of the greater Importance
to the nation.
In the same lecture the ex-Com-
missioner said, as to the methods of
"gettlng around" public officials j:
OF direct bribes there are few
rendered, and l apprehend so few
accepted that this method, consider
cd as mode of influencing the