The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-04
An Intimacy That Grew Up After the Election
of1SS4, When Mr.. Oberly Went to Albany
in the Capacity of Newspaper Reporter.
Jay Gould Annoyed Because the Strike
Has Caused Him a Loss of Flesh.
Rev. Albert B. Simpsons Big Faith-Cure Es-
tablishment, and the Jealous and Ener-
getic Work Performed by Its Founder.
JOHN H. OBERLY.

HIS Relations WITH the EreSidont-HOW he
Came to Secure His Present Appointment.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, April 3-The appointment of
John Fl. Oberly to the Office of Civil service
Commissioner by President Cleveland has
founded the politicians, but the whole story will
make the matter clear and interesting. The
plain and simple getting of public place by a
professional ofice-seeker is no novelty. but when
it comes accidentally. as by stroke Of political
lightning, one likes to hear how it came about
That was pretty much the way Dan Lamont got
the post of private secretary to the President
He was Governor Cleveland's private secretary,
and one of his duties was the opening of letters
from persons who were scheming for the private
secretaryshp at Washington, either for them
selves or friends. 1t would have been natural for
some one else to get the higher post, some one
who knew national men and measures as we'll as
Dan knew affairs and persons in New York
State. Dan rather gave up hope, but
said nothing. Like Brer Fox, he decided
to 'Iay low" The question was settled on the
second day after election. well, Governor.
you're elected; there's no doubt about it, said
Dan. 'Then you're elected, too" said the Gov
ernor, and that ended it. Soon after this, Mr..
John 81. Oberly went to Albany benign look
ing man, so like the portraits Of the early faith
srs of the church that he was quickly nick
named "Bishop" Oberly. He was at once chair
man of the Democratic State central committee
of Illinois and reporter for the Chicago Times.
To account for this blending of two such dissim
liar positions it was reported that he had been
man Of means, but had lost every dollar in poll
tics and journalism. He stuck to both, however,
and the Times was glad to get 80 conspicuous a
politician to go to Albany and watch the Presi
dent-elect while he was supposed to be going
through the secret process of forming his Cabi
net Grover Cleveland at that time held forth
in the executive chamber of the Capitol, and it
was as easy for the reporters, who were there
from all the important papers, to see him as 1t
was for them to see the clerk of any one on the
hotels. But presently he resigned the governor
ship and went to little dwelling on Willet
street, facing park, quaint little structure,
whose front door fan-light bore the outlines,
done in lead. of a fat spider waiting in
the inner sanctum of web for any prey that
might come along. Grover Cleveland was not
at all like this spider. He shut himself up in a
top-story bedroom, at great desk, and, as he
could admit none except intimate friends there,
he had to come all the way down to the parlor
when anyone whom he wished to see called on
him. The flies were discouraged from coming
to that web. Certain newspaper reporters, five
or six in all, were privileged callers. and their
cards always brought him down stairs. They
saw what nuisance this was getting to be, when,
as often happened, they each called him down
three or four times day; and so, as If to wholly
dispense the theory that reporters are all cheek
and no conscience they held meeting and re-
solved that if Mr.. Cleveland would agree to it,
John H. Oberly should represent them to get
the news for ALL excepting when one got special
orders to see the President, or was seized with
special desire to talk with him for his own paper
exclusively. The President was touched by
this bit of consideration. and readily agreed to
the plan. The consequences was that Bishop
Oberly for two months represented the principal
newspapers Of the land, and became the Pres-
dents privileged and semi-ofcial reporter.
Never trust more safely reposed in
man. Oberly was honest discreet, impartial
and enterprising. The reporters never once sus
pected him Of withholding anything or of show
ing any favoritism. The President came to
trust him so completely that he consulted him
about the character of Western men whose
names or faces came up as time passed along.
Here, again, was Oherly in his element. He
knew many of the Westerners as schoolboy
knows a book he has mastered.
s'Do you newspaper men all like Oberly?' the
President used to say, when he saw one of the
men Oberly represented; ''you find him square,
and intelligent, and you like him, don't your
So often were these and similar questions put by
the President that it was at once suspected that
the good bishop" could richly profit by his init
macy with the President, if he wanted to- And
as far as that went, it was understood that his
| reporting would cease when the President went
| to the White House, for he was only reporter
| for this special occasion, not having been one
before, and not expecting to be one afterward.
| Well, the prophesy came true. The President
| managed to keep Oberly by him in Washington,
while he was making host of acquaintance all
in one great rush, and doubtless Oberly's knowl-
edge of Western men and affairs was then valu-
| able. The President first rewarded him with
| commissionership of Indian education, and now
| he has appointed him one of the Civil service
| Commissioners.
| 1t is understood among the Presidents friends
that he never asked for any appointment.
There's another blow at the theory of the cheek
mess of the newspaper reporters. Half dozen
newspaper men in Albany saw Grover Cleveland
every day for two years, in private and in public,
| and knew him through to the marrow. Not one
Of them has asked, and venture to prophesy,
| for / know them pretty we'll, that not one of
them ever will ask the President for SO much as
postmastership of the sixth class il there is so
| low grade as that in the list Of Offices.
Bishop Oberly is an entertaining talker and
tells some funny stories. He says that many
years ago. when a young man, he was elected an
/ assamhlvman in Illinois Ha waH frightnned