The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-05-03
Purchasing Positions.

The Washington correspondents Cf
the Boston Herald says: " Procuring
Government positions for pay, or, to
speak more accurately, l should say the
pretense of procuring them," said
gentleman of long official experience to
Star reporter, sis confidence opera
ton that will continue to be practiced
as long as there are fools to be feeced
out of their money"
care these brokers ever really able
to command posi- tionsp'
No." was the reply. There may
be, and perhaps are, cases In which
Government. positions have been OBJ
tanned from those having the power to
make appointments through corrupt
bargains, possibly for the payment of
fixed sum of money, but. such transac-
tions have been between the corrupt
official and some trusty crony, the lat
ter being the blind. But these men who
advertise to procure situations under
the Government, and who profess to do
it for pay, are sharpers-regular conf
dence men,"
How do they work their s,hemesf"
"Well, in different ways. They arc
usually shrewd scamps, who use every
cry trick. One plan is to inform the APP
sary, and require an advance from the
victim OF, say $25. He is put off from
time to time and feeced as long as he
will stand it, being told that the place
has been secured, but that another $25
or $50 is necessary to pay for it. Finally
the victim, out of patience, refuses to
pay any more, and then he is told that,
as he will not comply with the neces-
sary conditions, it is his own fault that
he fails. If he threatens to expose the
sharper. the latter coolly advises him
that he, in offering to buy place is -
deep in the mud as he (the sharper)
is in the mire, and that's the end
Of it. / know of one case in which
young man from a Western State
was here seeking Government em-
ployment. One of the Senators from
his State was working industriously
for him, and had been promised posi-
ton. The young man, however. got
out of patience and advertised that he
would pay for place. One Of the
smart brokers answered the advertise
| ment, and the western young man
called on him. After short converse
ton the terms were agreed upon, and
the broker assured the gentleman that
! he would get him place. Then he
| asked his visitor If he had any refer
ences-anybody who knew him, and
who would vouch for his character. etc.
20 yes" replied the young man, very
thoughtlessly; Senator is my
friend, and has been promised . position
for me-" naming the Department. Chief
promise. Next day the broker waited
upon the Senator and expressed grest
interest in the young man. he was
anxious to see him placed, and was sat-
isfied he could be of service in obtaining
him a position if the Senator would but
permit him (the broker) to aid in the
undertaking. The Senator, who. by
the way, was one of the most honest
and credulous, easy-going men ! ever
saw, gladly accepted the profered sid.
and in q short time the broker was IN
possession of all the facts concerning
the case. He obtained q note from the
Senator, addressed to the Department
Chief, in relation to the matter, and
thus worked himself right into it. He
was informed that the Department had
not lost sight of the case, and that be
might say to the Senator that vacancy
was to occur in afew days. The broker
then carried to the young man the mes
sage which called him to the Depart.
ment to receive his appointment and
claimed to have procured the position
for him. For eight months that confid.
ing youth paid the broker twenty-five
dollars per month, only to learn after.
ward that the man had no more in
fiuence in getting him work than ths
man in the moon. The young man i
still here in the Government employ,
and he is q most worthy gentleman
hence do not give his name. I've No
doubt he's type of many cases. You
may set down any man who offers te
procure Government places for pay q
| n fraud -