The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-29
As Told By One Who Knows.


We have heretofore had occasion 70
condemn the demoralizing Bepablican
custom Of concediug TO members Of
Congress the right t. nominate csndi-
dates for the federal Offices. Below We
copy an interview between Western
member and the Washington conesPon-
dent Of the View York Hoald which sc
offer rs evidence to-snstsin the views we
have expressed on the subject ]
1t viii be seen that the Congressman
interviewed does not complain that his
constituents send applications for office
through him on that the President or De
partment Chiefs apply to Congressman /
for information about the character and /
capacity Of applicants. That, he con
cedcs to be proper and right. But he
finds that be is not only expected to
fife applications but to follow them up
and see that the applicants are aP-
pointed.
A. long as the Administration lends
countenance to the system deprecated IN
the interview, Congressman, urged as
they will be by their constituents, are
not to be blamed for endeavoring to
secure that which custom has accorded
to them as a right, unless in doing so
they should place self above the welfare
Of the people or the party which elected
/ them. Bun the custom itself II destruc-
/ tive 20 good government, and Is one f
4 the greatest Of the abuses which Presi-
dent CLEvELhND Is pledged 10 reform.
In the interview there are indications
that he appreciates the situation, aud Is
acting accordingly. 1t is possible that
he may 90 from one extreme to the
other OF that, however, we cannot
/ Judge except as hemay unfola his plans.
1t is enough to know that he recognizes
the present system a. an evil, and that
ne intends to make a change. Follow
ing is the interview:
Il am almost tempted to be sorry that
we elected our President" said a West
ern member Of Congress TO your CORES
pendent to-day.
"Why, pray? / thought you admired
Mr.. CIeyeland"
$50 do, and very much; but ] an
having a new experience, and an un
pleasant one, OF the bother of "a wretcheC
Z system Of Office hunting which grew al
under the Republican rule. an
ge,ing hundreds of letters about al
kinds of Offices. ! have a clerk, and h
and ! are kept busy, day and night
5 writing answers, and il Is a very meal
business"
But you have served several term
and must be used 10 it?'
l Not at ALL and there's the rub
; Under Republican administrations,
r had no one to MODEST me- The rule e.
tablished by the Republicans in m
State, was in Republican district tn
Representative SHOULD dispense all tn
patronage, and the Republican Senator
0 divided up between them all the office
y in the Democratic districts. Hence, 3
:. Democrat, representing a Democrat
~ district, no one appealed to me to hel
n him to place. He wrote to the Repui
e iican Senator, who would have resente
" very quickly an Interference Of min,
or, indeed, of Republican Represent.
= tive from another district"
q "Do you like that system ,"
lie "No. 1t Is the worst possible; and
n should be happy, and every sensib
Congressman fit for his place would
happy, if the President would break
up thoroughly. That constituents
lie mine should send applications for oft
ID through me, is fair enough. While
Il am here | can see that such application
are put on file, and that much does I
harm. That the President or a head
2, department should apply to a Repr
ut sentative or Senator for informatiC
l. about the character and capacity
rs some man whom he thinks of intrustii
t with public duties, is also right. B
ut the system so rigidly established by Il
" Republicans is a very different thin
or 1t makes over us a free gift, perquisit
to to the Representatives and Senator'S
h. the dominant party in State, all Il
federal offices in its limit; and it h
been carried so far that the Congressm:
II simply went to the Post Office, the
ss terror or the Treasury Department, al
n required or ordered the appointment
10. his own men, and his command W
obeyed on penalty of a quarrel. No
w. the result of that was and is that t
ne Congressman is expected by his cons
an tuents to get them into Office. Tn
oh have known of no other way for yea
He is to them the dispenser of t
VI patronage in his district, and ! can L
TO YOU that to man who has served I
i'll some years in Congress in the oppositlC
&c it is no Joke to suddenly find himseli
:. member of the party in power, and fl
1t the burdens of a seeker after Offices
his people ct home"
"Do you get much encouragement
the departments
mo; Pm glad to say that the Pre-
,ut dent and the heads of departments q
he inclined to attend to their busin,
~ themselves. | hope they will firm
ii' adhere to their present course. Tn
sh- are making no removals except
lot cause, and, of course, filling vacanc
he by death or resignation; and they &
81 giving no more than barely civil ate
"'' ton TO congressman who come to III
on their own men for places. My belief
asst that a Representative or Senator W
red does not ask, but waits to be asked,
~ more chance of influencing appoi
an ments than those who go to bore I
ue3u OF department loF Places
ore This Congressman experience is Il
sb- of many others. 1t may be said in g
eral, on the testimony of Cabinet Mir
tiers, that the greater number of den
tly cratic Representatives and Senators hs
ra- not turned up as Office hunters; and Il
rto men of ability do not give them mU
- trouble. But wherever there is a me
70 Der of either house of small ability ht
i'd likely to be persistent office-begl
raj and bore. IL is true that at first so
of able men were misled into heading dc
~ CATIONS to the President and boring
departments for places for their frien
but most of these have become asian
len of themselves and no longer appear
this mean capacity.
md
md A Request and Response