Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-03-27
AKoT AFFAIRS.

DAKOTA AFFAIRS.
Gossip from Washlngton-Oberly
--Dlviston-sparks.
Special Correspondence Of the INTER oorAxl
WASHINGTON, March 23.-My partner,
"C~layton," wrote you last week. He is
a splendid news-gatherer, and a good
writer, but he is an offensive partisan.
He is a Republican all over, and can see
but little good in Democrats OF their
party. Under the circumstances, he
did pretty well.
Some other follow writing oyer my
signature is causing me a great deal of
annoyance. Nearly every day I have
letters from people whom I do not know
asking why I said thus and 80 about
them. Whoever the spurious John is,
he is a bad egg, and you should beware
of him. The n and only original
"John Smith" is as harmless as a kitten
and never said one word against any
one in the world, except for reason.
He is, however, like Dom Piatt, in
one sense. Dom said: II have been
accused Of being a bitter writer. 1 am
not. But: there sometimes comes to
me a little devil and gets into my ink.
stand aud spreads himself all over my
paper, and when l get up from my
writing the article is full of gall. I
can't help it. .
You have all heard of the Dakota
man who came to grief in New York,
buying counterfeit money. He was sold
badly, and called upon the police au-
thorities Of Philadelphia for assistance.
They ought to have locked him up.
He was as much a criminal as the fell
low who duped him. He came all the
way from Dakota to purchase bogus
money from a New York sharper. He
got sawdust instead. The silly rascal.
John H. Oberly, of Illinois, recently
appointed civil service commissioner,
is one of the strongest partisan Demo.
Gratis. He is not an original civil ser.
vice advocate, but has been converted.
He is one of the finest gentlemen /
have ever known. No man could want
a better friend; the public service could
not have q more honest official. He
said a great deal Of truth last summer,
when he said: "There are only two
Democrats in tho administration, the
president and the first assistant post.
master general" 1t was a strongly par.
tisan saying, but it meant business. At
that time only those two officers vera
making removals and appointments.
By the way, have l ever told you any
thing about the first assistant postmas-
ter general2 He is an Illinoisian, a
strong partisan and a thorough gentle.
man. He has chosen as his confden.
tial clerk, VIM. Duff Haynie, of Illinois,
and the two make a splendid team.
Every one who comes to them on bust
ness is we'll received, and their wants
promptly attended to. They run their
Offices for the benefit Of the public, and
do not forget to take care Of the faith.
full of their own household at the same
time. No officials in this city are more
popular; few are 80 deserving Of com
mendation. Their clerks are their
friends. They have none Of the over
bearing, domineering, tyrannical all
which characterizes so many of the men
who have "a little brief authority
Their employees like them, and work
for them with pleasure. Other mon
watch their clerks like hawks, suspec-
ting n and all of being crooked be.
cause they are Republicans left over
from a former regime, but Stevenson and
Haynie treat them all as gentlemen
They get good service from them there
by. 1t is not the service of serfdon,, but
Of friendship and almost of love.
Secretary Lamar has done a wise and
c~ommendable thing in his decision In
the &c parte case of James Brittin. He
reversed the decision of Commissions.
Sparks and opened great possibilities
IN the matter of the presumption Of
public lands. 1t is q great good thing
for Dakota. l believe that you are very
much indebted to Messrs. Clifford, Day
and Engel for this decision. They oil
worked for it, and labored like beavers
for it. Mr.. Commissioner Sparks may
be honest in his intentions, but he has
injured the territory very much by
some Of his acts and decisions. Mr.
Lamar is a bigger man, and looks ou'
for the public veal frat and all the
time; although he never forgets that he
i, is a Democrat. Mr.. Sparks needs {
j. great deal of defending by his party as
sociates. Mr.. Lamar needs none. Mr.
Sparks may mean we'll, but he is an I'm
fortunate man for his party,
Things look decidedly gloomy for Mr.
. Attorney General Garland. His tele
phone stock is a good investment, fnan
) oially, but it is not worth having, polit
8 ically. The man was probably homes
i in accepting the stuff, but he is unwis
to retain it, and remain in the cabinet
Mr.. Gilman, Of Chamberlain, is here
He ia ono of the apnlicants for tho nos,