Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-11-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

term is no longer discussed here
No one can doubt that he is, al
though he has nothing to say upOT
the subject. HIS desire to secure
the denomination has directed Iii
official and personal course entirely
for the past year. He has not haC
the courage, except in circumstances
to enforce his order against Fed
eral officeholders, although he has
positive proof of its violation II
numerous cases. This quiet sub
mission, and many other acts indi
cate the Presidents excessive feal
of injuring his chances for 1888
His retention of Garland is only t
avoid offending the South, his
signing OF the oleomargarine tal
was to placate the dairy farmers
and his approval of the $4,000, 600
River and HarbOr bill was to please
certain powerful influences. Their
his Difference to the Mugwumps in
localities where they are lnfuen
tial, and his relations with machine
politicians in States where there
are no reform sentiments, are al
stratagems Of a shrewd aspiranl
instead of one-term reformer.
When the Forty Ninth Congress
expires, there will be an exodus Of
Democratic leaders from the Capt.
tai similar to that of 1861. Not
more than three or four distinguish
ed Democrats of the present House
will succeed in coming back
Among the candidates who were
left are a number of prominent men
who were also prominent in sup
porting the present Administration.
There is Willis of Kentucky, close
personal friend of the President
and of the Speaker of the House
Bragg of Wisconsin; Boyle OF
Pennsylvania, who was Chairman
of the Pan Electric Whtewash
Committee Reese of Georgia, Sin
gletOn of Mississippi, who is also a
devOtee of the President and of Sec
rotary Lamar, besides many more
such, who failed to make connec-
ton.
Yirginians have been rather
troublesome at the White House of
late. At one of the Presidents re-
cent hand shakings a long lank
raw boned female appeared to vim
dictate sole Vlrginny" by admins
tering a mild reproot to Mr.. Cleve-
land for not taking his wife to the
Richmond fair. At another of his
MONDAY receptions, a representa-
tive of the Old Dominion was the
innocent cause of a dog fight in the
grand East Room. The old gen.
tleman brought two pointer pups
to present to Mr.. Cleveland. lie
had considerable trouble, of course,
to get them passed in, but finally
succeeded. With a pup in each
arm he proudly took his place in
line, but just before reaching the
President the dogs began to bark
and bite, for twas their nature to,
e;c. In great confusion the owner
dropped them on the floor, where
they continued hostllitieS, yelping
and tumbling until they rolled be.
tween the Presidents feet. The
brutes were quietly taken ont of
the room with their master follow.
ing. After the reception an effort
was made to allow him to make
the presentation, but the President
was then safe behind barred doors,
and the ill-bred purps were carried
Jack to old Virginia shore.
The democrats have been jubi-
liant over The way in which Pablo
Printer Benedict has been cutting
and slashing around in the Govern
ment Printing Office. lie has
made $50 removals since he assum-
ed charge there. Tie has given his
attention so entirely to this sort Of
work that the real work of the Of
fee is behind now. The Depart
ments are clamoring for work on
their reports, and unless the work
gets up better it will DO in a tangle
when Congress meets.
Benedicts appointment was a
political one, and it is well under.
stood that he intends to help
strengthen the party in New York
through his office. Indeed, it is so
well understood that he intends to
fill the places he has made vacant
with New Workers, that there are
but few applications from any other
sections.
Benedict is almost certain to be
rejected by the Senate, which can.
not legally confirm him. The law
requires that the Public Printer
shall be a practical printer and
versed in the art of book binding.
The present incumbent meets Meth.
err Of these provisions, and, it
would seem, knows very little that
is practical about his own business
or any other. He had no sooner
made these wholesale dismissals
on the ground that his office was
short ofmoney, than he created a