Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-16
How Government Clerks Regard Elec.
lions N0wadays.

An old-t1mer was complaining the other day
about the indifference OF Government clerks to
politics. "Blamed II don't believe that some of
them are ignorant that a convention has been
held" he remarked by way OF a climax to his
description OF their benighted condition "After
while they will lose the run Of the Presidents"
he went on, 'and be like the people in some of the
PACK counties, who are said to still vote for An
drew Jackson" The old man spoke with such
earnestness that STAR reporter who was listen.
ing to him determined to interview some clerks
and subject them to q sort Of civil-scrvice exam.
ination on politics. After talking with several he
found that all OF them knew that Grover Cleye.
land was President, and that he had been renOm
to who would be the next President there was
some difference OF opinion. The appotntees under
the present Administration had no doubt that MI.
Cleveland would be reelected, and were Of the de-
cided opinion that the country would not be safe
II the republican party should be returned to
under former Administrations are termed were
undemonstrative In their talk. They did not seem
to have given the subject OF the next President
situation were mild and rather colorless
THE DRIFT OF DEPARTMENT SENTIMENT
seemed to be In the direction OF keeping thtnos "A
they are. In going through the buildings and
into the rooms TIE STAR man was met with very
few inquiries about what was going on NJ 81
Louis, even on the days when the national con.
In~
vention were, however, received In all the depart.
ments but they were not for general use Discneet
messengers carried them from the telepraph on.
orator directly to the rooms OF the CHIEF officfas
where they were read and passed ALONE untii
they reached the head OF the Department
NO MORE BULLETIN DoARpa
The bulletin boards that used to be n familiar
sight In the Department corridors were not to be
found and the clerks did not seem to miss them.
The interest in the preliminary preparations for
the great national struggle did not ripple the calm
routine OF Department life. 1.-THE democrats Who
are In once are satisfied and the Republican,
are afraid 70 express themselves" was the rather
terse explanation which . recent omce-holder gave
OF the stLnaron.
wHY DHNoCRATrc CLERKS ARE sATIspYp.
'You see, +" he went on, ''the men who have re.
Gently been appointed arc resting on their oars.
They have got what they were AFTER and they are
satisfied. They don't want to be bothered. A
comfortable place makes . man Indifferent 70
everything except what concerns himself. He u
not expected to contribute either money or per.
sonal enort for the good OF his party, and natu.
rally ne does nothing. OF course there are excep-
uonaI and some ofnce.hoders both In this city and
elsewhere are active politicians They are rot
however: IN sumctent numbers 70 keep the Depart.
q have no doubt" he added. .'psfors next No.
vsmoer that the exc1telneht OF the canvass WIN
reach even the quiet depth o. Department ma, and
sne9 pereaPe ~ the cierke wil b afvusSd %
shs tAet that Its y prsedensial ysar."