The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-13
ROSCOE CoNKLISG.
How He Appeared before one of the
Rurehnh.

| Burehuh.
WASHINGTON, April 12..-The spectacle
Of the late Roscoe Conkling appearing be-
fore the Departments, to argue cases, like
any other claim agent, is one to which
Washington is gradually becoming accus-
toned. At first he came chiefly to exert
his influence with the Secretaries. Then
he dropped down to Bureau officers, and
now he does general business in any
division or office where his clients have
interests. OF course 1t is all honorable
business, and 1t would excite honorable
remark II any other than Lord Roscoe were
the main actor. e. ~ H.,9 /
To meet him in the corridors Of the pub:
lie buildings, waiting a chance to be heard,
calls wildly to mind the rapidity with
which public men who make great mis-.
takes drop from lofty stations. Only few
years ago one President was shat man
Hayes" with him. Later, In this city, be
purposely neglected to return call OF Gen.
eral Garfield, after the nomination OF the
latter. At q subsequent day he made
known to President Garfield that he might
stomach the New York nominations by re-
tiring to a cloak.room and holding his
nose. Before his friend, Arthur, had
been in the White House six months,
Mr.. Conkliug was designating him by
one OF his choice descriptive phrases as
"The Prize Ok" and 80 for years
he sneered at the highest, as II
those on whom he ffowned must OF nee
eesity stand in his shadow forever. And
now he comes aud waits his turn to be
heard before Secretaries who once would
not have been allowed to touch the hem OF
his garment, before Bureau officers who he
would never have visited except to COM
mand, and before other officers with whom
he would not have deigned to communi-
cate except by messages through q page.
He, who for years commanded the atten-
ton OF the Senate galleries and OF the
country, now moves almost unheeded in
the thropg OF those who crowd the depart
ments.
He, however retains some Of his former
display methods. As in the Senate, where
he was always posturing for effect, so now,
he seeks to make his presence felt when he
comes as a clairh agent. A few days since
1t was announced that he had come ever to
argue a case Of importance before Secre-
tary Teller, and that the press was 10 be
rigidly excluded. The ruse did not work.
No correspondent applied to be admitted,
and when aitsrward they were informed Of
the subject OF his argument, and the day
was dull for news, 1t was not deemed to be
worth paragraph.
But the fact OF Mr.. Conkling being shut
up alone with Secretary Teller in a room
twenty feet square, and there gravely de-
livering an argument an hour or 80 i'll
length, isasubject which no paragraph can
do Justice What preparation there must
have been in moving the chairs and tables
back TO give the ex-senator chance for
his usual Tree movement. What an effort
to tone that mighty voice down to the lin
It's OF those walls, and reduce the old.tlme
posturing 80 that 1t would-tit in between
the tables and desks, To ask that the press
might be excluded may not after all have
been ruse. The memory OF Senate scenes
and Senatorial power may have suggested
contrasts which he did not care TO awken
in the minds Of others. slow are the
mighty iallenw From thatproud position
in the Senate to waiting his turn for
hearing before Bureau officer! From
rank where he lofty refused TO visit the
White House to where he waits with the
common crowd in department corridors!