The true northerner., 1880-02-20
A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE.

A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE.
How "a Washington Man Happened to Ex-
press His Views to the President.
During the month of December, 1879,
Mr.. Peters, prominent business man
of Washington, was in New York, and
got on the train to go home. The
parlor car was crowded, but the porter
said:
"Take your seat anywhere, sir, for
few minutes. Some of these passengers
will get out soon, and then will give
you seat"
Peters entered the car, and, without
ceremony, seated himself beside a
stranger who was reading New York
morning paper.
The stranger laid down his paper
pretty soon, and engaged in converse
tion with Peters on the topics of the
day. Business, speculation, and other
matters were discussed, and, very nat
urally, 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 he was on his way
to Washington.
"Live there?" asked Peters.
"Only temporarily" was the stran ler's
reply, and he proceeded to explain that
he was in Office.
"What part of the country are you
from?"
"Ohio."
"Lots of Ohio men around Washing
ton since Hayes came in" remarked
Peters, with smile.
"Yes," replied the stranger, Eve Ohio
people think we can supply the brains
and muscle for the whole country"
Modest folks, those Ohio m sn," SAID
Peters again. SCOT the President, Gen
eral of the Army, Chief Justice. Secre-
tary of the Treasury, and about half the
Offices, and now they want to nominate
another Ohio man for President. Do
you think John Sherman stands any
chance of being nominated?"
81 really don't like to express an
opinion on that subject" replied the
stranger frankly. Secretary Sherman
is friend of mine, and l would like
very much to see him President, but l
cannot estimate his strength"
"They say Hayes is giving him big
lift" suggested Peters.
No reply.
II understand that civil-service order
about ofliceholders fooling with polit-
ical conventions has been temporarily
withdrawn so that John Sherman can
get the Southern delegates to Chicago,
said Peters.
"a great many things have been said
by Secretary Sherman's opponents that
are neither true nor reasonable" an
swered the stranger, somewhat sharply.
AZ like to see Hayes stand by his
friends" remarked Peters, but if that
civil-service order was ever intended to
be enforced it ought to be enforced now
while the fight for the nomination is
being made. But it was never meant
to be enforced. Hayes issued it to sat-
isfy some of the namby-pamby gilt
edged politicians who are always for re-
form when they are ont of office. 1t
never made any difference with the pO-
litical machinery of this country, aud
it was never intended to be more than
a pretension."
THE President was sincere in issning
that order" said the stranger, land l
happen to know that he desires its en-
fOrcement."
hope he isn't lying awake nights
fretting about it" remarked Peters.
The stranger changed the topic Of
conversation, and pretty soon Peters
asked if he wouldn't smoke The
proffered cigar was declined, and Pc
ters went to the smoking-room alone
There he met an acquaintance, who
asked:
What gentleman was that you were
talking WITH"
Dunno" responded Peters. l be.
lieve he is all Ohio Congressman.
didn't ask his name, but he said he was
in office"
Don't you know who he is?"
"No; never saw him before
Never saw the President of the
United States?"
Holy Moses! is that Hayes"
Yes"
Look here, porter, can't you got me
a seat in the other carp"