Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-30


WARD USUALLY ExPECTED-CARI NECESSARY N
PREVENT IMPOSITION.
81 hope he won't see me- was the remark which
greeted the entrance in an uptown hotel corridor
OF tall, oldish man, with lean, hungry looking
Face AS precautionary measure against such a
calamity the speaker pulled his hat down over mis-
eyes, and shrank back in his chair. He was not
recognized, and as soon as the danger was past a
STAR man, who was with him. asked what was the
trouble.
'Oh, he is great nuisance" responded the gen.
tieman. who was COL. Dickinson, OF New York, the
assistant secretary OF the national democratic
committee. II suppose that the man might be
called crank. don't think that he is a dead
beat, but he has ideas in regard TO politics which
he considers important, and naturally he wants
the committee to take hold OF them. As is often
the case the ideas are not practical, but In spite
OF that the man hangs around There are good
many cranks In Washington. I suppose that the
crop Is indigenous, however"
Don't You have any in New York;" inquired the
reporter, thinking how lonely the colonel must be
when he leaves Washington.
thousands OF Them" exclaimed the colonel
Win great v1gor; land when the home supply is
exhausted the stock is replenished from ali parts
Oh the country You have no idea OF the number OF
paign with some scheme or plan which they want
the committee to adopt Plans of the organlza-
ton OF the work in the entire country or perhaps
without end and almost endless In the telling are
proposed. have been with the committee since
h ana TINS wiz be the fourth campaign that
nave Deen located at their headquarters"
PECULIAR EXPERIENCE.
"As you may imagine, have had some peculiar
experiences. There is one case that made strong
impression on my mind. About two weeks before
election, in the last campaign. the bell at head
quarters was rung early one Sunday morning.
nau room In the building, which occupied as a
bedroom, and answered the bell myself. man
Oh respectable appearance and good address greeted
me. In rather hurried, nervous manner he asked
II the national committee was at home. / told
MN Cnat representative OF the committee stood
before him and then inquired what he wanted.
and told him that would probably be unable to
go that day. He seemed TO feel relieved on hear
ing TINS, and observed that the members OF the
committee ought not to go to church, as there
was important work on hand.
he then told me the object OF his call. 1t was In
prlel very full and comprehensive plan for effect
Ing political organization In every county in the
United States. He had thought 1t all out and
wanted the committee to adopt 1t at once
SAID 10 MIN that thought his plan was a good
one, ana That there were many features about 1t
which commended 1t to my Judgment at least.
There Is one thing, added that the committee
usually looks into first and that is the expense.
slow much do you think your plan would cost?" /
asked.
about s., 600 for each county," he replied
"1ou think that would be ample?" asked,
certainly" was the reJo1ned.
snow how long Will IT require to get this plan
INTO working Order?" inquired.
probably about two weeks
snow, then" went Oh, taking your own state
ment IT Will cost s. 900 to effect an organization
IN each county. There are sixty-five counties In
tne state OF New York alone, and 1t would require
to establish the system in New York state, over
100000, which Is more money than we have to
run the entire campaign. Besides, as you say, 1t
would Two TAXI weeks to get your plan in opera
lion. The election would be over before it could
be OF any service"
81 never saw a man wilt so quickly In all my
evident that he had never thought OF these prac-
tlcal objections to his plan. He saw the point at
once, and AFTER a few words he took his leave.
FROM INDIANA.
~ recollect," he went on, "during the campaign
OF 1875 that a man came all the way from Indi.
ana to lay before the committee a plan for organ
Zlng society something like the Knights of Labor
throughout the entire state of Indiana. The OBJ
OF the democratic ticket. Then there are numer-
GUS suggestions made In other directions could
SIT here all night and tell you OF the plans and
propositions which have been submitted TO the
committee. Some OF them are entirely useless
while Others have some good features. 1t gives an
IDEA or one class OF people who are drawn about
Ihe headquarters OF political party during a
Campaign"
II suppose that they are all patriots" observed
the listener.
SWELL some OF them are suppose, was the re-
ply, "but as rule bill is presented to the COM
mlttee: The suggestions are presented apparent
ly to aid the committee, but we are apt to ind
that nave TO be exceedingly careful about using
any suggestions that may be sent In. All letters
OF This kind are kept on file, and II there are any
letters written In reply copies are made.
WANTING PAY.
II remember some years ago that man, whose
name have forgotten, but who lived in Washing
ton, sent on to the committee plan for getting
out circulars There were some features about It
that recommended themselves to the committee
who made some use OF them. Not long afterward
letter was received from the man Claiming 3d.
600, and threatening that II the money was not
forthcoming that he would charge the committee
with using his plan for getting out bogus circulars
as he had originally proposed. He was informed
by return mail That his letter was regarded as an
attempt to backmail and that II he tried to carry
out his threat the machinery OF the law would be
set In motion to convict him of libel 1t Is hardly
necessary to add that we heard no more from him
The committee is always glad to receive suggeS-
tlons but we generally Inquire whether the
motive OF the suggeSter Is financial, and in this
way we try to avoid misunderstanding which are
sometimes painful"