Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-14
DAVID DAVIS MISTAKE.
Why a Nice Young Illinois Congressman
Withdrew His Application to Have an
Appointment Made

]
Withdrew His Application to Have an
appointment Made.
David Davis made a strange mistake
for an honest, not to say serupulous, man
I in getting down on the Blaine side Of the
fence, says Washington letter, just at
I the close Of the campaign, after he had
sat serenely on the tep rail all summer.
He is shrewd man, too, and therefore
his misstep is puzzling. 1t has caused
much talk here, where he is still remem-
| bered, and where everybody would be glad
! 10 see him again as a Senator from Illinois
II be had not made that impossible by his
choice OF the wrong in place OF the right
side IN the recent contest. Whenever
puOllc man IS talked about IN W washington
some tough stories flow, and one can new
and then get one ont Of the DRIFT that IS
worth repeating. Here is one about David
Davis that was new to me and seemed
worthy OF preservation: Shortly alter
Folger had made his friend j. b. Butler
Appointment Clerk of the Treasury De-
partment young Illinois Congressman
named Davis came into Buffers ONCE O1e
day and remarked that he wanted place
for a soldiers widow with seventeen small
children, and the wolf at the door. But
said Butler, there is no vacancy"
''Well," said the Congressman, ''make
one; there's a woman here from my dis
trict; turn her out and give her place to
my friend" But" demonstrated But
Ter, ''she's a good clerk and a soldiers
widow besides, and has halt dozen young
ones to provide for" E.NeYer mind" said
the self-suEcient young Congressman,
"turn her out; turn her out" "We0,0
said Butler, "Fu send fer her papers,
When they were brought he saw on their
back Recommended by David Dayis.''
He at oil and alan h0r-
he could have some fun with the fresh
young man from Illinois. So he placed
his finger over that line and showed the
young Congressman from the papers that
the clerks record was an excellent one.
Il don't care" he snapped out; i want
her place for my friend. You must turn
her out" Butler replied that if the Con-
gresham would put his request il writ /
ing he would consider it. So the Con-
gresham put it IL writing and signed his [
full name. The same day Butler sent for /
the clerk and told her that her place was |
wanted by the young Congressman! She /
said she would see her influence" Next +
morning, while Buffers room was filed /
with people, a big nan strobe in, parting .
the crowd, and marched right up to the I
desk OF the Appointment Clerk. The lat /
te- had never seen David Davis, but he /
recognized him at once. MY name Is /
David Davis" gr0Wied the Senator; fare
you the Appointment Clerk:' yes, sir"
said Butler. ''Weu, what are you both
ering Mrs. Blank for: Isn't she the only
appointment Pye got in this department?
What are you troubling her fOrT' ''pm
not troubling her" said Butler; Il simply
told her taat l had had request for her
place from an Illinois CONGRESSMAN"
"HlinOis Congressman shouted David /
Davis, who was very angry; "What Hi
nOis Congressman? Who's troubling my
lambs:" For reply Butler handed him
the request Of the Illinois Congressman.
After David Davis had read it lie paused
for moment and then said: ooh. is that
the fellow: We J, pH TX him. Pll in
yite him 10 dinner and Ee'll withdraw this
request" Then he b0lted OF. NeXtmorr-
ing the young Congressman came ia. lie
led Butler into a corner. "Id like to
withdraw that request I left with you the
other day about an Illinois clerk. on the
whole, l don't want that change made.
You see, fact is, old David Davis takes an
interest in that clerk, ana he's ustinyited
me to dinner. I'd feel like hog to eathis
dinner with that request stnl on file"
The request was returned and burned, and
the David Davis widow is still in place.