Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-24
NNAl NkAn
How Jenkins Failed n Securing
n C0nsulship, bat Did Far
Better.


N~4uAItN'n 1auua1 ntTalus
jenkins, formerly Chairman of the
Republican State Central Committee
Of Virginia during Grants time, is
now a successful lawyer out in Col.
ofSdo, where he Is rapidly growing
rich. BE is one Of the candidates for
the Senate before the Colorado Legis-
lature. Forty m~illionaires are con-
testing for the coming vacancy, there.
b. putting seats in the Legislature at
an enormous premium jenkins was
poor when he lived in Virginia. Whese
be grew thinner day BY day in his at
tempts TO nurse the Republican party
into a healthy growth. Becoming
tired, jenkins said: II will 20 abroad
and rest" He came to Washington.
He visited the White House. No
one stopped him. He walked right
in to Grant and told him what he
wanted. Grant treated jenkins
very politely, and said to him: II
recognize the value Of your services,
but | do not keep the run Of the for
eign appointments You 90 over and
talk with Fish. Twill give you a card
to him, saying that | would like TO
have you sent abroad.
jenkins took the card aud went
away delighted. 1t was Thursday.
When he reached the department he
found it was diplomatic day. A
messenger stopped him at the 6rst
door, The State Department was then
on Fourteenth street, in the building
now used as an orphan asylum. Jen
kins, when stopped by the messenger,
said; well, | thought there was
always some place where style is put
on by an administration [ did not
encounter it at the Presidents, but
here | meet it in e 5000 messenger"
He succeeded in getting the man
to read Grants card, however, and
was then admitted. He entered
at 2 pm, and Fish kept him
waiting until nearly 4o'clock. When
jenkins was finally admitted, Mr..
Fish did not allude to the subject Of
the Virginian's visit, but began Ia
prattle in a solemn way about the new
State Department building. then
nearly completed. Finally jenkins
blurted out his wishes, breaking into
the middle os one of Mr.. Fish's SEN
fences. "Ah," said Mr.. Fish, you
want a second or third class mission
sir. | am perfectly satisfied with al
the present incumbents, and | could
not ask for a resignation to CRAFTY
even you. But, my dear sir, as you
are a friend Of General Grant, | shall
see what | can do
Calling for a list of foreign Offices
Mr.. Fish said: mr.. jenkins, how
would you like to go to Jerusalem
What is the pay?"
Twelve hundred dollars a year"
Mr.. Fish, | have a wife and s1
children. | do not think $1,000 woulC
pay our way out there if we wer,
shipped as freight, and | am sure W,
could not live afterwards on that sum
But there is one place | would like
What is that?" said Fish.
Said Jenkins, gloomily: IF yol
have a vacancy in the Consulate il
the New Jerusalem l will take it a
any price"
Mr.. Fish did not smile. Will
great solemnily he said: "Sir, th,
achievements Of this administration
have been great. By peaceful mean
it has settled the most vexed diplo
matte questions Of modern times, bu
in spite Of all its great achievement
it has never succeeded in establishinI
diplomatic relations with the New
Jerusalem. II it ever does, MI
Jenkins, you shall have the frs
chance for the place."
jenkins slammed out at this an,
ran back to the White House. Gran
laughed when he heard his expert
euce, and soon after appointed hin
Secretary to the then Territory 0
Colorado. Instead Of going abroad
to starve Jenkins went West, and ha
now a fortune for his wife aud babies