The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-06
The Rush For Office.

We are informed that there was surprise
In the caucus of Republican Senators when
Senator Edmunds fatty antagonized the
proposition of Senator Logan to proceed at
| once to the election of new officers of the
Senate, the Republicans supposing them
selves to have the power to turn out the
Democrats and reward faithful seryitors of
their side. This surprise was enhanced
when in succession, Senators Harrison,
Plumb, Hawley and ingalls, took sides with
Senator Edmunds, and declared that they
did not consider it either consistent with
the dignity of the Senate, or becoming, in
view OF the fact that only year ago they
had passed the civil service reform bill, to
make partizan grab of the spoils which
they unquestionably could sieze if they
would. Furthermore it was alleged as a
reason why there was no need of haste that
the persons now holding the Senate offices
were discharging their duties in a manner
entirely satisfactory although they were
Democrats.
Messrs hfaiavao a,sa Islaaicpcrg-r- had. lot.
1t be known that that they would vote with
the Republicans for new deal and support
their candidates provided their particular
friend, Mr.. George G. Gorham, was nomin-
ated for Secretary of the Senate. They did
| not say what they would do in the event
that Mr.. Gorham's claims were not recog-
| nized. Probably they would vote against
making change, that is, they too would be
OF opinion that the duties were being salts
factorily performed by the present incum-
bents We doubt if any change is effected
during the session, and we especially hope
that none will be effected to put the Re-
publican side of the Senate in the attitude of
trucking to the Virginia Readjusters, or
the rather worse attitude of honoring Mr..
George q. Gorham. Mr.. Gorham is not
such party man as gives him any special
claim TO insist that honorable Senators shall
swallow their objections and support him.
He was an independent and bolter in Cali
fornia, which, whatever his motives, makes
1t ridiculous for him to deny other men the
privilege of differing from majority OF their
party. Moreover, he is representative of
some of the policies which Republicans have
ever condemned, and as editor of Wash
ington newspaper he has pretty consistently
abused everybody more scrupulous than
himself We have comfortable confidence
that large proportion of the most respected
Senators of the Republican side will never
vote for the slanderer of Garfield, caucus or
no caucus.
OF course is great pressure for change
hAcauSp a 0hanua in Of
change in all the subordinate places. If
there was an overturn there would be a re-
petition on the Senate side of the scenes
now observable at the other end of the Capt.
toll. The New York Tribune correspond
ent's description of the condition of things on
the House side is not overdrawn. He says:
For an hour this morning, before the floor of the
House was cleared of all except members and Off
cias, it was thronged with wild-eyed anxious look
ing men, many Of whom had petitions which they
were imploring the Democratic congressman pres
ent 10 sign. One man wanted to open and shut
doors; another desired congenia field Tor his abil-
titles in the foldingroom; third would be content
he could be permitted to file the bills of the ma
ton; fourth aspired to clerkship. while fifth
more moaest IN MS amprion woulu wlIllnpiv t,u,ta
tires or carry messages, all for good salary After
the clerk and other officers had been elected thew
came forward to be sworn, and, except the chap
lain, who has no places in his gift they were bag
gard, weary group of men. Evidently they had
slept little since the caucus of Saturday night The
anxiety undergone by Gen. Clark and Mr. Winter
smith, while they were only candidates for Office
was nothingsto that they now experience. Thew
have to endure net only the sings and arrows of
outrageous office seekers but the opportunities of
congressman who for ham, ND
that they shall not forget it, few of the congress
men complain of the annoyance and harraesment to
which they are subjected by the wild scramble for
place which is now in progress, but many more sub
NIT gracefully, and will maintain their composure
until they fail to get their man In when they will
rail most loudly against fate and refuse to be COM
forted On small scale the present struggle fairly
foreshadows the tremendous onslaught that will be
made on every department of the government if the
Democrats shall win the presidency next year.
Will the House records be better kept.
will the carpets be swept cleaner, will the
doors be opened more politely, will the pages
serve Congressman with more alacrity, will
the documents be more carefully preserved.
the letters more carefully distributed, when
corps of inexperienced place-holders is
substituted for those who have learned their
duties? o, no! 1t will only introduce con-
fusion and contribute to the delay instead of
the despatch of business. Two or three
hundred men will move to Washington and
two or three hundred will be sent adrift, for
no fault in their discharge of duty but be-
cause they are not Democrats. The exam
pie set by the Democrats is bad one and
the Ranuhlicans In tho Canota ,,;I 4 IN
to set better one.