New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-17
ON TO WASHINGTON.
THE pREsIDENT-ELEcT SOON TO LEAVE M
DIANAPOLIS.
FEATURES OF HIS LIFE SINCE ELEoFloN~
erEGED BY OFFICE sEEKERs-THE
1,xrr trcxr on NJ

erEGED BY oFFICE-SEEKERS-ThE
DAILY DELuGE OF LETTERS
frpox A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNEl
Indianapolis, Feb. 14.-In q little more than
week the Presidcnt-eect win say goodbye TO this
busting little capital, and the political centre of
the country will shift with him to the banks OF
the potomac The long interregnum here will be
over its odd and trying routine OF NE VIII De Tor
gotten in the more absorbing interests ana respon-
sibilities of actual official power. say trying
,outine. for this post-election and pre-inaugura-
ton experience has been one thai would have worn
the nerves and Slapped the strength Of any poll
tician less self-controled and imperturbable than
General Harrison. Imagine man Tor three
months the target of thousands Of ofice-seefers,
bioh and low: harassed by the friends of one as
nirant and the enemies of another; made the I'M
willing arbter of party quarrels; obliged to listen
TO multitude of conflicting counsels. and yet to
give no sign of his real opinion; at the mercy of
every stray visitor who had the assumption to
intrude upon his privacy, and yet unable. for fear
OF offence, to pull in the latch-string
"The fight is over now,' said friend here,
congratulating the President-elect just after the
election.
NO." replied General Harrison, jolSingly, " it
has just begun. And the worst of 1t is that from
this on it will have TO be fight against friends
The Generals jesting prophecy was true one.
1t has been a fight against friends" yet 1t has
been carried on with patience, delicacy and sa-
gacty which have thrown as admirable light on
General Harrison's character as did his conduct
and speeches during the campaign.
It would be difficult, of course, to sketch Cen
sral Harrisons life since election. Very little.
ind that the really Insignificant part, has lain on
the surface. Now and then remark that he has
made, or a story that he has told, has suggested
the struggle in his mind over the problems he was
working on. There have been many hints of
pleasure and satisfaction at some real progress on
his Cabinet and his policy Then, again, there has
: been q note of WEAKNESS and dependency Only
q week or two ago he told visiting statesman
that he thought strongly Of selecting his whole
Cabinet from Alaska; that was the only place
where there seemed to be harmony about any
thing. On Wednesday he said the same thing
TO a caller from Missouri That State had about
seven candidates for place in the Cabinet, and
there was difficulty about compromise. The
Missourian was not Disconnected in the least by
General Harrisons witticism.
Well, I hope, General you'll see they're all
registered Republicans" he replied.
The outward details of life at the President
give One day is much like another, after due
allowance is made for the eccentricities of callers
General Harrison is above all things exact and
methodical and he has readily fallen into more
or less fixed routine at home. He gets up about
o'clock. Breakfast is served before o. Then
he reads the morning papers. As his pri-
vate secretary, MIR. Halford, comes, the mail is
sorted out, and the more important letters are
turned over 10 the General Out Of an average
mail of $50 pieces, probably thirty or forty go to
the Presidentelect To these ne dictates the nee
essary answers. To any others that come 20 his
attention he blocks out or suggests replies. few
personal letters have been written in ink by Cen
eral Harrison since his election But most Of his
correspondence is done on the typewriter and he
merely signs his name TO the text. Autograph
hunters ind aim an easy prey 1t is said that he
has written at least 200 or 800 autograph letters
for collectors since November.
The size of the President-ehcys daily mailbag
is considered unexampled in Indianapolis. 1t is
not too much to say that he has received from
$50 to 400 letters day fea the last three months,
and Mr.. Halford often gets up 800 to 400 answers
in one day. Probably two-thirds of the incoming
mail consists Of applications for Offices. Judging
from some of these letters the impression must be
widespread that the President appoints everybody
In the public service, from Cabinet officer TO the
ianitor of United States courthouse. Some
eager ofce-seekers have petitioned to be made
doorkeeper in the Capitol and other buildings
in Washington. Such appeals are filed away with
out moments consideration. They fill two or
three boxes in the Generals garrett, and will be
taken along TO Washington to be distributed
among the future officials whom they may in
terest
;ex fhe lxy IN
these absurd applications are made. All the Indi-
ana politicians Of National reputation have had
their letter-boxes swollen with requests for rec
concentrations 10 the President-elect One State
official gets from dozen TO twenty such appeals
day. Governor Hovey has been O particularly
shining mark for Office-see kers at distance. He
recently got q begging letter from well-snown
Republican, asking his aid in securing either the
Attornsy-Generslship or the Governorship of the
Indian Territory. The second Office exists only in
the oAice-hunters fancy.
The morning mail usually keeps General Har-
rison busy until time for luncheon. Unlike most
indianapolis people, the Harrisons have dinner in
the evening and only light luncheon is served
at noon. AS o lawyer. the General found it i'm
possible to get away from his work in the middle
of the day. and so late dinners were made the rule
After luncheon the newspapers from distance are
delivered. General Harrison is regular sub
scrber to The Indianapolis Journal" Colonel
John c. News newspaper. and to The New-fork
Tribune. These two papers he always sees. but
many others are sent here. and all articles re-
fer-ing 10 him cut out for his use From .
o'clock until is the time for visitors. though
politicians Of importance generally make special
engagements for calls. Some idea has been given
before this of the number and variety OF the
callers on the Presidentelect 1t is lucky day
for him IL less than thirty people drop In OF an
afternoon for confidential interviews. Half OF
.bau, are likely to be genuine bore6. Still they