Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-21
POINTS ON OFFICE.sEEKERs.
A Member of Congress Tells Some Of His
Recent Experiences.


Recent Experiences.
did you ever notice." said member Of
Congress to STAR reporter last night, show
frequently one ofice-seeker will hang on the
skirts OF another whom he thinks has more
influence than he himself has?"
The STAR man said he had noticed that an
ofhce-seeker would clutch at the skirts of any
one whom he thought would be able in the
remotest degree to aid him, no matter what
might be his age or previous condition.
Yes, you are right" said the Representative;
"but what caused the remark first made was
an experience which had to-day. There is a
gentleman from my state whom I am very
DESTROYS to see appointed to a certain position
which he has selected. He has been faithful
worker In the republican ranks, has given large
sums In the past for the support of the party,
and has never before sought anything for him
self. He is gentleman of refinement and
eminently qualified for the diplomatic post
which he seeks. / intend to do my level best
III his behalf and am confident that he will be
appointed. He is here in the city now and to-
day called upon me at my rooms. Just as we
were leaving another man from my state came
up to me, and when he ascertained that had
promised to take the first gentleman to the White
House invited himself to go along. Well we
didn't go there, but have learned that this Sec
ond man has lowered about the first, who is my
Trend, nearly all day seeking to get reflected
influence as it were"
what is the second man trying for?" asked
the reporter
He don't know. He hasn't fixed upon any
particular place. He is willing to take any
thing that promises good salary and not much
to do He is good sample of class Of men
that make the life of a Congressman a perfect
bore. He has never rendered any distinguished
party services: he has been a failure as a bust
ness man, he knows nothing about govern
mental work: and wouldn't put myself out one
bit to help him; and yet 1 suppose I've got
to listen to him every day as long as he
stays in Washington. I've got to pretend to
help him."
Well, won't you help him2"
III sign any paper, but won't go person.
ally, y; and see any one in his behalf"
Then you don't place much faith in petit
tions a1one?'
''Of course petitions and testimonials as to
character and ability are valuable as far as
they go, but they have to be backed by per-
sonal solicitation. Now in the case of my
friend whom am really derious of assisting,
and in whose behalf l will see the President,
can point to the fact that he has the cordial
Endorsement OF all the republican members of
the state delegation in Congress, as well as to
testimonials from the business men in the city
In which he lives. l can point to these to sus-
tam the representation shall make in his be-
half. But every Congressman and Senator
signs papers for hosts of men in whom he has
no interest whatever except that they are
from his state or district and come to
MN lndorsed by people whom he
does know. Now certain Senator, who ought
TO have more influence with this administra-
ton than any one man in either branch of Con-
gress, was talking on this subject with me last
night. 1t came up in discussing the candidates
for position which is one of the most impor-
tant in the gift of the President next to a cab
met office. There are quite number of ap-
pllcants, all of whom are strongly Endorsed.
Among them is one from this Senator's state,
whose papers he has signed, and it has been
asserted in print that he was deeply interested in
having this man appointed l was somewhat
interested in one of the other candidates and
wanted to find out how bitterly the Senator
would fight my man. He told me that he had
signed the papers of the man from his state,
but he added that in doing that he had done all
he should do and that he didn't care con-
tlnental whether the man was appointed or not.
Now you see that man is completely knocked
out and yet he don't know it. He has been
banking on the Senator's active assistance and
has no doubt secured many influential names
to his papers upon the supposed interest which
the Senator took in his case"
"a man is never sure of an appointment
then, until he gets it in his hand, suggested
the reporter.
Indeed he isn't. He NAV even be promised
1t by the appointing power and yet fail to re-
celve it. There has been one instance of that
kind already since this administration came
into power, and there are likely to be others"
Have you been bothered much by applica-
tions for Office so far?
Il suppose have had my share, but have
not been very heavily burdened. l suppose
shall get 1t when they get at the post-offices.
At present only the big offices are being APP
piled for. The state is democratic, though l
think we can make it republican at the next
presidential election, and so we are not enti-
tied to so much consideration in the
general distribution as if we were all
republicans. 1 have had an easier time
than some members 1 know. But l want to
tell you there is vast difference in the char
acter and condition of those who are now APP
plying for office and those who came here for
the same purpose four years ago. Then the
greater portion came from the south, and they
had pinched and hungry look. They were
anxious for place-terribly anxious. It was
bread and butter to them. After they got
here they waited until they got something, for
they couldn't get away. You could tell them
first about the hotels and then about the
boarding houses Now the people who come
are In fairly prosperous condition. Many
were turned out by the democrats and want
their old places back again as a vindication of
their former efficiency. They don't look as if
they had starved since they have been out of
office, but on the contrary appear to have en-
joyed fair share Of financial prosperity. They
will stay for awhile, and if they don't get what
they want will go back TO their homes and re-
sumo the business in which they have recently
bttu tISdScu. OO, lOO, III
the new applicants. Hardly any of them really
need the Oi1ices they are striving for. In many
instances the salaries attached to the positions
sought exceed the present incomes of the ap-
plicants, but if they could only be made to see
It the increased expense of living about evens
things up. Still it is the inaienable right of
every American citizen to hold office if he can
get it, and there will always be an army of ap-
plicants big enough to fill all the offices at the
disposal of the administration. l don't think
President Harrison will make any unnecessary
haste in making changes, but that he will pro-
coed slowly but surely to weed out the partisan
democrats"
Then you don't think the democrats should
be bounced?'
~ think that republicans should be provided
for. l don't know that 1 much approve the
meddling with the lower grades of clerks, but
there is one class that ought to be removed at
the earliest possible moment. l mean those
who have been allowed to remain in Office under
republican dmnistrations-some of them ever
since the close of the war-under the impress
sion that they were republicans, but who, as
soon as Mr.. Cleveland was iuaugurated, an
nounced themselves as democrats, said that
they had always been democrats and sought to
have their republican associates removed
These men have forfeited every right to kind
treatment now, and ought not to be allowed to
remain in Office any longer than their successors
can be selected"
"CLUB" DRINKING ON SUNDAY.-This morn
ing in the Police Court John H. Painter, colored,
was placed on trial charged with keepipo or