Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-07-24
PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE.
How the Latter Look Upon the
Former-Clerks Getting Bold.

PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE.
How the Latter Look Upon the
Former-Clerks Getting Bold.
Special Correspondence of the 1SrER-CcEAS.
WASHINGTON, July 19.-Of the many
people and things that visitors to the
capital encounter, nothing seems to sur
prise and disappoint them so much as
the president. The popular idea is that
the president is a very extraordinary
parsonage. Scarcely any n who has
never seen q real, live president expects
to meet a plain, prosy, ordinary mortal.
Yet the very work of the chief magls-
trate make him to some extent q COM.
monplace man. He arbltrates in petty
political affairs of the whole country so
far as they relate to federal offices, and
this requires contact with all classes of
people.
Some irate congressman were talking
about a Capitalization of power in con
nection with MI. Cleveland's recent Wig
exercise Of his veto power. There
can be little danger, however, Of impe-
rialism, or the drifting away Of the ex-
ecutive from the masses, so long rs the
functions Of the presidency are admin
istered as at present. Notwithstanding
this compulsory contact with all kinds
of people, the present executive COM
mlts himself to his business callers only
to the extent he thinks proper. 1t is
really amusing sometimes to see how
he manages to evade the direct ques-
tons and requests of otice-seekers and
politicians.
For instance, when the Virginia con-
g%ressional delegation called upon him in
behalf of Mr.. Goode, whom the senate
rejected for solicitor general, although
each one took occasion to express the
hope that he would renominate this
gentleman, nothing could be extracted
from Mr.. Cleveland as to what he would
do in the matter. He was sorry the
senate had rejected MI. Goode; he hoped
it would reconsider its action; he liked
Mr.. Goode very much, ETC., but that
was the only encouragement given the
delegation. The president long since
learned, as all presidents must, to act
before he speaks. In regard to Mr..
Goodies disappointment, it may be said
that he need not yet lose hope. A for
mer candidate for the solicitor general
ship, whose nomination the senate re-
jected, rose, afterwards, to he secretary
of the navy.
President Cleveland continues to come
down into the east room three times Il
week to shake hands with the people
who are there awaiting the honor. Yes
terday he was confronted by about two
hundred callers, most of whom were
excursionists from New Orleans. There
were also Il number ofcolored people in
the party, and their pleasure at shaking
hands with Il real live president was
plainly manifest. One old auntie, shaped
like Il balloon. waddled up to Mr.. Cleve-
land and drew off her white cotton glove
in ORDER to take Il grip with my bar
ham, as she expressed it. Several of
the eXcursionists took occasion to say
to the incumbent of the white house
that he might rely on their votes when
another election day rolled around.
Government clerks are 10 longer back
ward about taking vacations. At this
time last year they were rather timid
about asking for their months leave.
They probably feared that the new ad-
ministration might find out that their
services could be dispensed with if they
were absent, and so they preferred to
stay close to their desks. At any rate
that was the practical result until quite
late IN the summer, and the depart
ments had their full quota through the
torrid weather. ''Now the leaves are
falling quite rapidly in all the depart
ments," said an appointment clerk.
The feeling that a Democrat would slip
into his place If left vacant for ever one
day, does not haunt the clerk as it once
did. OF course all apprehension has not
died out, but it is no worse than the
chronic condition of mind of nearly
every II in the government service.
The thirty days leave, however, is not
so common now as formerly. because
under the new regime the time that a
clerk Is absent on account of sickness or
from any other cause is dctracted from
the usual vacation period.
Women stand very little chance of
being appointed to position III the exec
utive departments here now. One of
the executive officials remarked that
there are ten men sent for by the de.
partment official to every one woman.
He mentioned a lady who had Just been
appointed to Il place in the ~postofice
department, whose standing IA very
high in every branch. yet she had been
on their list for Il long time, while men
whose standing was 10 per cent on an
average below hers had long,since got
ten positions. In reply to a question
asking the reason OF this state OF things,
he said there was no real cause for it.
1t was more Il matter of prejudice than
anything else. Perhaps some chief oil
bureau or other officer has an incompe.
tent woman in his Office who is trouble
some, and he is unwilling to try another.
Then there is a feeling that a woman is
harder to get rid Of if She is incompetent
than Il man. 1t is hard to tell a woman
that she is unsatisfactory. The chiefs
feel that a man will take such lnforma.
ton like a man, but they fear the women
will make a fuss about it and shed tears
Piles are frequently preceded by
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