Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-07
POLITICAL PATRONAGE.
Republican Leaders Who Were the
Most Persistent Office Beggars.
Frora az PhikadeEpAfn Record.

From the Phftade1pAfG Record.
WARRINGTON, Oct. 2.-William Pitt
Kellogg, of Louisiana, told me once in
''the good old days" before the reform
that he had 225 appointments IN the ex-
ecutive departments here. Every one of
these people was just as much personal
retainer Of the man who procured his APP
pointment to Office as any "Highland lad
die' in 1.-The tail'' OF any Highland Chief.
They served him in Washington; they
served him in louisiana; they went to
nominating conventions and nominated
him and renominated him; they
went to the polls and elected and
reelected him; they were the
strikers who filed the Federal offices of
Louisiana, all of which be controlled as
absolutely IS you control any piece OF
real or personal property. They all be-
lieved that Kellogg owned the offices, they
knew that he rewarded them for services
rendered to him, and so 1t is not strange
that they thought they owed allegiance
first to him and then to Uncle Sam, and
that II their duty to the latter and the
will of Kellogg ever came in CONFLICT they
were governed by Kellogg's wishes, and
not by the requirements of their positions.
And what WAS true In Kellogg's case was
leader, except that probably no one save
either John A. Logan or John II. Ketcham,
of New York, ever had so many followers
in Office at one time as William Pitt kel-
logg. | think Kellogg probably had more
than either Logan or Ketcham, although
they were all three such persistent, per-
suasiye Office beggars that it is hard to
say which got the most. Logan was not
content except with all that he asked for,
nd Nf onINy I'll hn
think of something more to ask. You re-
member Grant used to say that il Morton
asked for five appointments and got one
he would go away thankful, but If Logan
asked for five and got four he would
go off grumbling because he had not
got the other one. II never can
satisfy him." he concluded. Ketcham
utilized his deafness very cleverly to
assist him in his Office hunting. He SAID
to friend who commiserated him once
upon time in the House of Representa-
tives upon his deafness. ooh, l hear
enough" and so it was in his rounds OF
the departments seeking Offices. He
always heard every whisper that seemed
favorable to his quest, ana never could
make out any remark, however loudly
spoken, that seemed unfavorable. The
appointment clerk of one Of the depart
ments (then an important officer having
great deal to say about the disposition
of the patronage tried an experiment
once with the deliberate purpose oil
testing the deafness of "Uncle Johnny"
as he was always called. "Uncle
Johnny" was pressing certain youth
for position. He walked into the office
OF the appointment clerk one morning
| and asked his immediate appointment.
s'Can't do it," said the appointment
clerk in his loudest tone. "Oh," said
Uncle johnny, ''y0u say, Come tO-mor.
row. all right" and off he toddled, deaf
as those who won't hear. Next morning
he was back again. 81 guess we'll have
to appoint that fellow" said the appoint
ment clerk in a quiet whisper. ''Oh,
have him here tomorrow" and of
he went, hearing as well as
any OF us. But all the other Re.
publican leaders were just as eager in the
pursuit of patronage as either OF these,
even the most unsuccessful, just as the
love of money Is as great in the smallest
money maker as in the greatest. They
spent the greater portion OF their time In
the departments and at the White House
begging, caJoling, threatening II by any
means they might capture some. ltseems
difficult to realize the fact that this sys-
tenn was in full operation within the past
decade. 1t is hard to realize, because 1t
is all so different now. The politicians
have not changed, OF course. The Demo
cratic politicians are as eager for ONCE
as the Republicans ever were, put
the administration has changed. The
politicians were satisfied in the
first six months OF the new admins
tratiou that the civil service reform law
would be carried out in letter and In
spirit: and. in the language of the famous
minstrel song, "They haven't DONE any
thing sence." The departments, freed
from the paralyzing exactions of the poll.
ticlans, are filed with men and women OF
more character and intelligence than
could be obtained under the old system,
never were in as good condition as now,
never did so much work, nor so well.
This is due not more to the admirable APP
continents the President aud HIS Cabinet
have made to the higher offices than to the
admirable working OF the new system.