Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-08-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
News From the Capitol-Presidential Candi.
dates-Butler's Letter-Department Clerks
Gossip.

News From the Capitol-Presidentia Candi.
dates-Butler's Letter-Department Clerks
Gossip.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. ID. G., August II, 1884.
The octopus candidate, General B. +.
Butler has at last set at rest speculation
concerning his attitude in the presiden-
tial canvass. He is neither for Blaine,
Cleveland, Pomeroy, nor st. John, but
maintains his consistency by being for
Butler first, last and all the time, and
he modestly expresses the hope that
everybody will vote for him ''who thinks
that it is the best thing to do" Gen.
Buffers declaration that he will stand
by the greenback and anti-monopoly
nomination will introduce confusing ele-
ments into the presidential canvass. and
the question of most Importance con-
nected with his race is (Which party
will be hurt most?" But his candidacy
is looked upon by politicians about town
as having lost its Importance from long
delay. Speculation as to its effect upon
the Irish vote has been rife among the
summer politicians of Washington, who
haunt the corners of Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. and in the Hobbies of the hotels.
But the general verdict arrived at by
these sages is that Buffers plans are too
deep for the understanding of ordinary
mortals, and Secretary Post about ex-
presses the general feeling by likening
it to the Irishmen who, being asked by
the judge before whom he was brought
to answer to criminal charge if he was
guilty or not guilty, replied: IF its sll
the same to yer honor, l prefer to hear
the evidence before answering yer ques-
ton"
Buffers letter seems to have been the
signal gun of the campaign, for its boom
was no sooner heard here at the Capt.
tai than the respective political head
quarters began to wake, and rub their
eyes, and hustle about in preparation
for work. Activity now reigns, and
before long the busy folding ard mall
ing of campaign documents will be in
full blast. The Government clerks
Committee" as the Republican Finance
Committee is called here, wheeled into
position for battle early in the cam
paign. 1t is established in banner and
flag bedecked rooms on New York Ave-
nue. within stones throw of the Treas
ury,-a position which ensures convent
ence to the Departmental attache for he
can drop in on his way home to dinner
and leave his little subscriptions.
Apropos of departments and clerks, |
recall the difference between the work
ings and conditions of the public de.
partments years ago and now. Only
those who have long resided in Wash
ington can realize the change. Then
they were not the swarming hives,
with numberless male and female en-
ployes, they are now, and unless there
was some especial emergency the days
work was usually completed in few
hours. There was not the bustling and
iostling which now pervades the ma
jority of the public offices. An incl
dent of the olden times is told which
cleverly illustrates the state of affairs.
1t is located in one of the bureaus of
the War Departmental Commissary
Generals. The chief of that bureau,
a gallant old army officer, was one of
the most amiable and clever gentlemen
that ever had charge of public office.
His chief clerk was an easy-going gen.
tleman, of considerable avoirdupois.
On lovely summers day, when mint
juleps were refreshing, the venerable,
white-headed Commissary General was
somewhat pressed for clerical assist
ance and had drafted an important Off
clal communication of two pages which
he desired to send off in the evening
mail, and as it was somewhat of con-
fidential nature, proposed that his
faithful chief clerk should copy it.
Stepping into the adjoining room, with
all the amiability for which he was
characteristic, he tapped his chief
clerk gently on the shoulder, and said:
BILLY, here is letter which is quite
important, and which | would like
mailed this afternoon. | wish YOU
would copy it for me-" 1t was then
about 2 p. IN. Billy, ruddy and rofund,
had his feet on his desk, and was en-
joying his cigar, having returned from
his customary lunch. With much as
tonishment he turned TO his respected
chief. and with the most injured air, re-
piled: "My God, General, have al
ready written two letters today To
use common phrase, the old commits
sary's good-nature did not Ego back on
him. He patted his faithful chief
clerk on the back, and said: "Never
mind, Billy; never mind; tomorrow will
do just as well, and gracefully returned
to his own room. Oh, for the good old
times!
1t seems to have escaped general no.
tice that prominent retired navy Off
Ger has gone down to the Isthmus to
take quiet look at the Lesseps canal,
and, it is rumored, make report upon
the condition and progress of the work.
One official of the Government to whom
propounded the question, "What took
Admiral -- down to the Isthmns?"
replied that he ''did not know That
will not do. There IS some good rea-
son for his going, and presume it will
develope itself some time during the
coming autumn. LEMON.
Curtis on Hendricks.