Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-02-10
A MEEK OFFICE-sEEKER.


While the civil service reform de-
bate was going on in the Senate a
day or two ago number of gentle
men sat together on one of the Sen
ate sofas discussing the practical side
of the subject, and especially the
opportunities of fice-seekers. Con
gressman Hit of Illinois, formerly
Assistant Secretary of State, was one
of the group, and he told story.
Among the crowds which thronged
the ante-rooms of the State Depart
ment seeking for Consulships at the
beginning of General Garfeld's. Ad-
ministration, there came a man of
modest, patient demeanor, who hailed
from Arkansas.
He aspired to be Consul at some
unimportant point. and had secured
the Endorsement of a number of Con-
gresham, who vouched for the ex-
cellence of his record as soldier.
The case was one which appealed to
the sympathies of the Assistant Sec
rotary, before whom the matter came
primarily for decision. He was, how
ever, unable to take action for sew
eral weeks. The man was a daily
visitor at the department, and, as it
seemed to the kind hearted official,
was growing seedier and leaner as
the weeks passed by. Toward the
end of May, as the man entered the
office one day, Mr. Hit said:
"You have been here q long time,
have you not?"
The man hung his head and meekly
admitted that he had.
"Now. tell me truly" said the AS
sistant Secretary, haven't you been
here since the 4th of March, seeking
this Officer"
The applicant blushed, and, after a
moments hesitation, admitted that
he had been in Washington since the
Inauguration of the new Admins
tration.
"Have you a wife?"
"Yes."
"And you have her here, too, have
you not?"
The answer was a whisper in the
affirmative.
Sand have you children?"
eyes, sir"
"How many?"
"Four."
"And you have had them here all
this time, too-wife and children
have you not?"
Tears checked the voice of the
poor man as he verified the Assistant
Secretary's suspicious.
"Well, now," said Mr.. Hit, his
sympathies for the misguided fellow
overcoming his customary official re
serve. II will make you promise
which have made to no other ap-
plicant, but on one condition. If
you take your wife and children and
start for home to morrow l will make
your case special one, and Twill see
the President personally about it
during the week"
The applicant heaved sigh, re-
flected moment, and, with choking
voice, asked if he might not return
the next day. NO." said the As
sistant Secretary; "you have been
here too long already. I will do as l
have said, but on condition that you
go to your home tomorrow"
The applicant again reflected. and
pleadingly asked to be allowed to
come once more"
"No. sir" said the official. You
have your fate in your own hands. Go
home, or / do nothing in your case"
The man turned slowly on his heel,
heaved sigh, and with his hand on
the door knob, said he would think
of it.
just at that moment the door was
pulled open from without and local
reporter entered. The reporter and
the ofice-seeker saluted each other
Familiarity with Hello, Rob;' "How
are you, Toni" as the one passed in
and the other went out.
What" queried the Assistant
Secretary, addressing the reporter,
"do yon know that man from Ar
Kansas
"Man from Arkansas" repeated the
reporter, with an infection indicating
surprise and amazement. Hes no
man from Arkansas. He's clerk in
the Pension Office; his wife keeps a
boarding house on f street. I've
known 'em for eleven years; used to
board with EN-"