The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-05-04
Purchasing Positions.


The Washington correspondent Of
The Boston Herald says: Procuring
Government positions for pay, or, tC
speak more accurately, should say the
pretense of procuring Them" said 8
gentleman of long official experience tC
Star reporter, sis a confidence opera.
ton that will continue to be practiced
as long as there are fools to be fieeced
out of their money"
"Are these brokers ever really able
to command ositions?h
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 a
fixed sum of money, but such transac-
lions 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 conf
dence men.
"How do they work their schemes?"
"Well, in different ways. They are
usually shrewd scamps, who use every
opportunity and take advantage of ev-
cry trick. One plan is to inform the sp-
plicant that cash outlay will be neces-
sary, and require an advance from the
victim of, say S25. He is put off from
time to time and fieeced 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 as
deep in the mud as he (the sharper)
is in the mire, and that's the end
of it. l know of one case in which
a young man from Western State
was here seeking Government en-
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 a short converse
ton the terms were agreed upon, and
the broker assured the gentleman that
he would get him a place. Then he
asked his visitor if he had any refer.
who knew him, and
who would vouch for his character, etc.
30 yes" replied the young man, very
thoughtlessly; Senator - is my
friend, and has been promised a position
for me-" naming the Department Chief
promise. Next day the broker waited
upon the Senator and expressed great
interest in the young man. He was
anxious to see him placed, and was sat
isfied he could be of service in obtaining
him position if the Senator would but
permit him the broker) to aid in the
The Senator, who, by
the way, was one of the most honest
and credulous, easy-going men / ever
saw, gladly accepted the proffered aid,
and in short time the broker was in
pOSSeSSlOH Oh all Tile IdctS CONCERNING
the case. He obtained a 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 he
might say to the Senator that vacancy
was to occur in a fewdays. The broker
then carried to the young man the mes
sage which called him to the Depart
ment to receive his appointment and
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
fluence in getting him work than the
man in the moon. The young man is
still here in the Government employ,
and he is most worthy gentleman:
hence l do not give his name. I've no
doubt he's type of many cases. You
may set down any man who offers to
procure Government places for pay Is
a fraud"