Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-11-07
THE PRESIDENTS NEW RULE.
Why He Has Closed the White House
Against Officeseekers'
IL -. .lL.. Y N,ln-


against Ofhceseekers.
Washington Lstler ~ y Sun.
President Cleveland has slammed the
door OF the White House with q bang full
in the face of the oficessekers, great and
small. His formal notification Is meant
to be pers mptoEy and permanent 1t was
not Issued in pet, but upon thoughital
consideration, and the President lntencs to
live up 10 it. But while the edlct may
seem harsh and belhgtrent, such 10 no. liS
nature. Il was not framed in passion, nor
is it designed to sntsgonize politicians. It's
reason aud intent are thus explained oy
Private Secretary Lamont:
Ever since the 4th OF March, SAID
Colonel Lamont this afternoon, the Presl-
dents time has been occupied BY ONCE
seekers from 10 q. ~. until lunch time, and
three.uusr:ers of them are men who have
bseu in the city since the 4th OF March,
and many have come daily. These are
,he chronic cases Il has come to such q
pAss that the President has been unable TO
do any other work than to listen to their
imuortanities, and this, too, when verbal
APPLICATIONS are useless. The President
made a rnle on taking office to base sp,
pciatments on the papers, not on Verosi
statements and applications, and such sp'
oIicarions have litlle or no effect. When
! the oficeseek er has made his request the
/ President commonly ssks If what be has
said is contained in his pspers. 1t 1t IL,
PERSONAL solicitation is superhuous; II 1t Is
NOT no advises the applicant to include the
statements and what else bears on the
case and put it on Gle. That 10 ths usual
course, aud probably not one in hundred
personal applications is considered favor
ably"
Colonel Lamont explains that the order
Affects members of Congress as follows
| During Nogem Der tie rule Is to be lGhs4-
IDLE. The President during that month
does not intend to make appointments or
listen to pleas for place from any one or
for any one. He must devote himself to
his message and 10 other business already
in arrears, and which must be attended TO
before Congress meets. When the session
opans the President will consult with Sena-
tors and Representatives on appointments
and on other matters, but it is not INTEND
ed 10 let Congress have the free run OF the
White House az heFstotore. Outside OF the
three public receptions each week. all WIS
TORS. including Congressman, are 10 be 90
mitt,d BY card and on statement OF the
business OF ybich they seek an interview
There is one cus,0a which the President
intends 10 stop. Many Congressman and
other distinguished persons, whose rePuts
lions naturally open al doors, are disposed
"a abuse their privileges. The Presiden,
= determined that the White House shall
not no a longing place where poEticisn'
msv gsrbsr 70 sSc"nNe gossip and anee
| dote TO the interruption Oh 80 Uu"i'o Jus -
ness. 1t is practice Of certain class
public men to sauntsr in with group Of
| ftienls. whom they expect the President 10
entertain. Some politicians do Ehis oy de
sign. They show by this means their lnti
mscy and influences at TIE White House
and The friends go home much impressed
by their members greatness Hereafter
members of Congress desiring to Introduce
friends 10 the President are expected 10 dC
40, like other citizens, at the three puoh'
receptions each week. -.
In short, the President finds on eight
months trial that he cannot afford hm'
% De everybody's friend. As 1t 10, hi'
! exptrieuce in this role would often d
amusing if they were not so Wearlsome
The persistence and ingenuity o. some
ofiiceseekers are amazing. The lie often IS
suues the character of q species OF MAD
ness, and the one who leads it acquires the
cunning Of the insane. After getung .
rebuff that is meant to be final, the claim
ant turns up smiling the next morning with
raw credentials or fresh friends, or with an
exclamation Of damaging criticisms.
| Orber applicants take the President into
their confidence and call day after day to re
mort progress, or to complain OF the luxe
Esrmuess or secret Hostility OF those VINO
sbould be their friends Many poiuclsnI
cali on the President during bis ONO
hours aud make q special appointment
with him later 10 the day, on the groun'
that they wish TO see him on psrucuis
business, aud when their errsnd Is deVeI
ed, it is found to relate TO some petty locs
Office
Against all these arts 10 eaten MS "
waite ear and enlist bis special sympstn
the President rebels Not on account q
indifference or dislike, but because 1t Is
physical impossibility to attend to the q
tails of the whole business of office seeking
The country has become too populous an
railroad Communication has become to
cheap and easy. The crowd il TOO niue
for enc man to handle, even If he had n
other business than to attend to thel
needs. This morning, for instance, tneI
were by actual count FIFTY persons Wsltin
10 see the President when his ONCE houl
began. Each asked for only Eve minute
and FIVE minutes tor each would have col
sumed over four hours.
The new rule is made, therefore, becsu:
= in the opinion of President Cleveland 1t
necessary, rot at ell from suobb shness
from any unfriendly feeling for anybody
class. All appointments belong to SOU
one of the executive departments, and NJ
der the new order the cabinet otice at u
cad of each department will general
have the determination OF patronage wit
in his jurisdiction. That Is substantial
the case nov, bot people do rot and vi
not understand it, and insist on persons
spseal 10 the President
Cong1sssmen end other leading pohI
clans are very much interested in the ne
rnle and they say that Abstrsstiy they THU