The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-02-19
How q Washington Business
Man Gave President Hayes
Political ssRofufs.ss


ness men was liz New jersey several
weeks ago, and got into the train to
come hume. The parlor car was
crowded, but the porter said:
take your seat anywhere, sir, for
= few minutes. Some Of these pas
sengers yet out soon, and then I'll give
you q seat.
NY friend entered the car, and
without ceremony seated himseif by a
stranger, who was reading a New
York morning paper. Ny friend is
little sensitive about the story l am to
tell, and | will not give his name, but
for the purpose Of identification / will
call him Peters. He is a very socia-
bic man, stalwart Republican, and
pretty well up on politics.
The stranger laid down his paper
pretty soon and engaged in converse.
ton with Peters on the topics OF the
day. Business, speculation and other
matters were discussed and very natG-
rally the conversation ran into poll
tics, of which subject the stranger did
not seem anxious to talk. Peters
asked him how far he was going, and
the stranger replied that be was on
his way to Washington.
"Live there?" Peters asked.
"Only temporarily" was the stran-
gers reply. and he proceeded to ex-
plain that he was in Office.
"Whst part Of the country are you
from?"
Ohio
"Lots of Ohio men around Wash
ington since Hayes come in, remark
ed Peters with smile.
"Yes," replied the stranger, Eve
Ohio people think we can supply the
brains and muskets for the whole coun-
try"
Modest folks, you Ohio men,"
said Peters again. "Got the PRESS
dent, general of the army, chief JUS
,ice, secretary of the treasury, and
about half the offices, and now you
wsnt to nominate another Ohio man
for presi lent. Do you think John
sherman st ,nds any chance of being
nominated
II really don't like to express an
opinion on that subject" replied the
stranger, promptly. Secretary Sher
man is friend of mine, and / would
like very much to see him president,
but | cannot estimate his strength"
"They say Hayes is giving him
big lift. suggested Peters.
No reply.
al understand that civil-service or
der about ofice-holders fooling with
political conventions has been tempo
rarily withdrawn, SO that John Sher-
man can get his Southern delegates to
Chicago" said Peters.
IA great many things have been
said by Secretary Sherman's oppo-
nents that are neither true nor reason
able, answered the stranger, somewhat
sharply.
~ ell | like to see Hayes stand by
his friends, remarked Peters; "but if
that civil service order ever was in
tended to lie enforced it ought to be
enforced now, while the fight for NOM
ination is being made. But it was
never intended to be enforced. Hayes
issued it to satisfy some of the namby-
PANTY, gilt-edged politicians. who are
always for reform when they are out
of office. IL never made any differ
enre with the political machinery of
this country and it never was intend !
ed To-"
1.-The president was sincere in issu-
ing that order" said the stranger,
land happen to know that he de-
sires its enforcement
81 hope he isn't lying awake nights
frettlng about it, remarked Peters.
The stranger changed the topic of
conversation, and pretty soon Peters
u.kcd if he wouldn't smoke. The
proffercd cigar was declined, and Pc
tiers went To the smoking-room alone.
There he met an acquaintance, who
asked:
What gentleman was that you we're !
liking With"
Dunno" responded Peters. IL
believe he is an Ohio congressman. | |
didn't ask his name, but he SAID he was
in oiFics."
What were YOU talking sbout?"
Politics, mostly. He seems to he
an administration man. Says he wants
John Sherman nominated, and seem
ell little tuuchy when | said that
Hayes ci:il service reform business
was humbug. He said he knew
Hayes was sincere, and all that"
''Don't you know who he is?"
''No; never saw him before"
Never saw the President of the
United Sixt..s!"
"Holy Moses Is that Hayes"
Yes"
"Iou don't tell me. | thought
knew the man, but it didn't occur to
m. that he WAS Hayes. /"
"Shst did you say TO him?'
Morning but what I'll back up.
and nothing hut what is true; but
risyh. would not have expressed my
views ~ clearly if l had known who
] war talking with. Look here, por-
fer, cant you get me seat in the 9TH
or carr"
The -itOrm i'm Nashville.
NASHVILLE. February IA cy-
rlone. utt,umuiniel by lightning. thun-