The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-26
And How Viee-President Hendricks Trots
Through the Various Departments Hunt
ing Little Offices for His Supporters.
Possibility that DR.. Walling May Yet Be
Appointed Surgeon-General.
Secretary Lamar in Poor Health. with Little
Hope of Any Permanent improvement
Case of Paymaster- General Smith.
CLEVELAND AT WORK.
President Receives Ofnce-SeeRers

Special to the Indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 People who visit the
White House frequently in the interest of Office
seekers, make very good reports of the way the
President considers business He has gained
the reputation of being very blunt man, and
simple in his ways. This is just and true In
some respects Mr. Cleveland resembles Mr.. Lin
coin in the treatment of otfice-seekers. Mr. Lin
coin, it will be remembered, always inquired
first after mans habits, and practices, and sue
ccsses in his own affairs. and whenever he made
bad selection it was due to the msrepresenta-
tion on the part of those who championed the
applicant Mr. Cleveland does not waste any of
his time, and may be said to be truthful man,
so far as he has control of his veracity. He oc-
cupies desk usually situated near the windows
overlooking the Potomac and never permits his
apartment to become filled with boisterous men,
or to become the place of noise making or con-
fusion. He talks in a low. self-possessed tone,
and tries to curtail his interviews as much as
possible He neverhurries away man he likes,
and yet, when he passes much time with caller
1t is usually spent in social and not in political
official matters. He has adopted the habit Of
his late predecessor in inouiring into the ins and
outs of local politics in the large cities and places
of reputation from whatever cause. He says
that by studying the politics in one part of the
State, he gets at least fair smattering of the
situation in that entire section, as the local poi
tics in one portion of the State resembles to n
considerable degree. that in another.
A gentleman who has called at the White
House very frequently on missions relating to
appointments in his State gave me little incl
dent (which occurred to him the other day, illus
trative Of the business like manner in which the
President goes at this thing. The gentleman
had been pushing the claims of two men, espe-
cially. for prominent positions and had been at
the White House several times before in their
behalf. When he entered the room the other
day the President was alone, and as the
Executive caught his eye he began business in
something like this style:
sit down by me here and let's talk over your
two men. Since l saw you last have heard
good deal about them, and had been a man who
made up his opinions from miscellaneous reports
would have my mind fixed upon these matters
already. think one of your men ought TO be
appointed at once He is, as you have stated to
me, successful man at home, and stands well
with his people. He is not worn-out politician
and of no use to business, society or the govern
ment Now, what have heard about the other
man is exactly the opposite of what tell you
believe to be true of this man."
The President then looked at the caller in q
blank. staring sort of way, as if TO inquire,
''Well, what have you got to say about thisl"
In the event l should withdraw the name Of
the man you have unfavorably considered, what
would you do with my other man?" inquired this
gentleman.
Il would appoint him within about ten min
utes, replied the President. 1.-THE unfavorable
aspect of the one man makes me hesitate to pro-
ceed with the other" continued the President
Before I had left the Presidents room, the
latter had directed his secretary to make out the
appointment"
The gentleman says that he felt that he could
not satisfactorily explain the objections the
President had to the other man, and so he let the
matter 60. While the President is not a tattler
and does not, in the least, make known to others
the missions of one man, he has a way of inquir-
ing around among those who know and who say
nothing by which he finds out pretty closely
now the character of men who want places He
told man, one day not long ago. in discussing
the mistakes the administration had made in
appoin tments, that if he had not been so credu-
lous and had not taken as final the statements
members of Congress and his Cabinet but had
proceeded in his own way, there would not have
been any of these mistakes. 1t can be seen by
this that the statements recently made by Con-
gresham Abram s. Hewitt, OF New York, that
the President was much of o detective turn Of
mind, was true Within himself he is suspect
=
provoking character in the President, but prob
ably yields him good deal of satisfaction, as
man generally feels better over an act he has
done after investigation and inquiry than when
made in haste even though there should be no
error at all; yet, the smart is more keenly felt
when an error develops after all
this inquiry. OF course, the people who get
office from him, knowing this detective
character and this aptitude for suspicion, be-
come more foxy and secretive than they would
otherwise, and the situation makes it as difficult
for the President to solve as if he were inclined
to repose more confidence il his friends. This
is one side of the Presidents life that is never
talked of here.
President Cleveland, although deliberate and
little sluggish. turns out great deal of work
in day. This he accomplishes more on account
of method than anything else. Most of his in
tercourse with the people he gets by calls, as his
social tide goes out in snatches He seldom
passes an evening at the White House or else
whore with one or more friends, in which he
is enabled to have long and unrestrained conver-
sations, as was the won't of Presidents Arthur
Grant and Lincoln. After while President
Cleveland may ct de that there is nothing
Czarish about the tent of the United States