Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-16
HOW oFFIcE-sEEKERS ARE DECEIVE

81 tell you. there is a great deal OF hypocrisy
among public men. though don't inean To charge
Mr.. Hewitt with IT," said ex-ASsiStant Secretary
Bell TO 4 STAR reporter, discussing the Hewitt
O'Donnen imbroglio. Mr.. Bell WAS for years the
second In rank and authority In the Interior DE-
partment. The dispensing or patronage fell mainly
upon him, and he has had, perhaps, as wide and
varied an experience with ofre-SeekrrS rs any man
In the land. "Why." he continued. II have had a
member OF Congres, call uoon me ard introduce a
constituent. He would SAY. 'Nr Bc. this * MIR.
Brown, OF my district, ana want TO tel you he is
the best man in it, Without him cur party couldn't
carry the district Now. want place for him,
and must have 1t. He deserves it. for he has done
more hard and effective work Tor his party
than anybody 1 know of. NOW, I have
never asked you for much because ! wouldn't
tiy 10 put a man on YOU unless he
MAS entirely worthy; and do think that when you
consider Browns clailaS, bacGcd bX MY earnest
request, he ought 10 have a place / have
promised him something. and am determined he
shall have IT, Now. IL you viii Just fix him [
promise not 10 trouble you again f0r long time.
All want Is 10 see Brown wei placed. so that he
can bring his fani,y-ant he has a nice one too
here with HIM wo'lid sten,T continued the ex-
official" and say: 'We Mr. VI. c., can't promise
you anything just now. but viii do my very best
10 place your friend III look around and hope 10
be able 10 lind something for him. Delight would
shine upon Browns couutenance. He would begin
feel that he was very near the object OF his de-
SireS Tie NJ. c. would shake hands cordially with
me ana leave. urging lie 10 act promptly. Within
half an hour less, In many cases. the NJ. c. would
come back alone and, drawing chair up near
here. YOU mustn't think J. was serious in What
said about Brown. He and his friends have bOrh-
cred me SO that have just been forced TO promise
to do what could for him. do want place. but
Tye got man, Smith. that want to put In ii. II
had told Brown i couldn't do anything for HIN
he wouldn't believe me; SO want him 10 think am
doing all cam and he'll bc jus as well satisfied
have had that done with me, lot once, but scores
OF times" Mr.. Bell went on TO say, "in The many
years OF my public life. And there's another class
who come In with a constituent, or perhaps with
out hun. and say: sMr. Jones. or my district, in-
sisted upon my getting him place and I had to
promise to recommend him. Hes fair SUrt or man,
as men 60: writes pretty good hand, and perhaps
would make good clerk. Ii you are In need OF
man OF that sort you might take him. Now have
done what promised Good day. They damn the
man with faint praise, and then tell him they have
done their best for him. A large proportion
OF the troubles. and annoyances OF office-Seeking
and office-giving grow out OF the lnsincerity Of
public men or course the man whom 1 have
designated as Brown, believing that his member OF
Congress is sincerely working for him. feels hope
ful OF success. He remains In Washington on eX-
penSe all the time, thinking that he VIII get
place. His member must keep up the deceit he is
practicng by encouraging Browns hopes. He will
say: sYou heard what l said To them al the de-
partment and you know they promised to ind
months, Brown goes back home disappointed and
out OF pocket, and probably denouncing the head
OF the department, entirely ignorant OF the duphc
ity his member has practiced upon him IL Con-
greSsmen and department officers would only deal
frankly with applicants for Office great deal OF
trouble and disappointment would be avoided But
they won't, and suppose never WILL"
Backing Out from an Awkward Posi-.
tiOn.
The following anecdote is told by his comrades OF
the late Ferdinand Theikuh. Once, when surrey
ing in front OF Petersburg, Va, In 1854 after setting
up his reconnaissance compass, and while intent
upon his typographical sketch. much TO his sur
prise, he was accoSted by confederate picket, who
inquired OF him the hour OF the day. Thelikuhl
" frnH m rhsa dsa-
creetly moved TO a less exposed position.
TIE Nu1T TRlAI--In the second day OF the Mutt
Dukes trial. In Ptttsburg yesterday, Senator EoOr-
heeS appeared for the defenSe. Evidence was pre-
Sented OF the facts OF the shooting and Nuts ad-
mission to that effect, and after three witnesses
had been heard the state closed its case and the
court adjourned. The line OF the defense VIII be