Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-13
nations has turned upon fewer words than
THE CLERKS HARD LOT.

THE CLERKS HARD LOT.
To the great army of Government clerks,
who compose so large and important factor
in Washington life, the quadrennial recur-
renee of the Presidential election, with its
attendant excitement and anxiety, is not
always and altogether a season of tranquil
and placid enjoyment.
Life in the departments has not been alto
gether normal for the past five months.
During the three months next before the
election, the days of the "hold-over" Re
publican were not happy ones.
His daily lot was cast in an atmosphere
that was not calculated to stitfen his pollti-
cal backbone. He was surrounded by as
sociates who could speak out, while he, per-
force, must keep silent; and who were not
backward in showing the exultation Of an
ticipated success. His peace of mind was
not aug gmented by repeated notices, received
through the mail, that an "Advisory Com
mittee" was located at No. - f street. and
that all contributions would be duly &C.
knowledged."
That innocent looking little card, was cal
culated to give the average Republican
employe, some mighty solemn thoughts.
And then when in the early days ofNovem-
Der, the "boys" went off home to vote, an
nouncing as parting shot, that they should
expect no quarter if they lost, nor should
give any if they won, the mental barometer
of the poor "hold-over" was still further de-
pressed.
They are now feeling better.
The anxious seat, however, is just as full
as ever.
The "boys" as they came struggling back
from the scene of the late conflict, moved
promptly to the front, and occupied the
place so lately vacated by the brethren of
the other side.
The question now agitating their minds
is to know the full extent of the civil and
political rights pertaining to an honest, fair
minded servant of Uncle Sam, and just
where the incoming administration is going
to draw the line separating these from the
domain of Offensive partisanship" ard
"pernicious activity"
But the man occupying the very front
seat of the mourners' bench is he, who four
years ago, was Blaine shouter from the
head of the creek.
And who when he found that he had lost,
straightway became q Democrat of the
strictest sort.
And during the past four years, has
shown all the zeal of the new convert; even
to the extent of going home to take the
stump; to engineer conventions; to pull
wires.
Verify, now are the days of the ''fopper"
laden with tribulation, and at night sleep
departeth from his eyelids.
For he saith to himself: Surely will be
set to pressing brick soon after the begin
ming of the third month.
His lines have not fallen in pleasant
places for many days past. Ris associates
of four years ago have kept aloof from him,
and his new friends have despised while
they have tolerated him.
A PECULIAR PARSONAGE.
But the man above all others in the de-
partment service who will be found worthy
of early attention by the new administra-
tion will be the individual known as the
''hold over assistant chief"
This is title unknown to the law, but
the assistant chief is a very potent factor
in department life. He comes more in con-
clerks daily life pleasant or otherwise, than
all the other officers, from the chief of di-
vision up. The new chiefs and heads of
bureaus have naturally had to rely to great
extent upon some one of the old employees,
and the result is that in many cases the
place of assistant is to-day filled by the
same man who filled it four years ago.
Most of these men have acquitted them
selves in their difficult position like the
honorable gentlemen that they are-with
equal and impartial justice to all. and with
an eye single to the prompt and efficient
dispatch of the public business.
A few of them, however, have developed
into the veriest martinets and petty eight
by-ten tyrants
Whether they hoped by this means to in
gratiate themselves with those higher; or
were only pulled up by a little brief author
ity, or were only actuated by pure mean
ness, it is not material to inquire.
But if they expect the men who for four
years have kept silent because they dared |
not speak, will continue that silence, they |
may find themselves mistaken.
Men who have been treated for years as if |
they were devoid of all honor-who have |
been herded together and watched as though |
they were convicts-who have had the time |
fraction of minute-who have been re-
quired to transact the business of this great |
Government almost in whisper-who must |
not wash their hands between and with |
out leave first had and obtained-who have |
been the subjects of the harassing terror
slip" system, until men who should have
worked together in harmony have grown to
almost hate each other-men who have been |
watched and dogged and spied upon, even |
to those occasions in daily life where de-
cency draws the veil, until the higher DEM
ocratic officials were forced to interfere |
may for the sake of bread for wife and chill |
dren, bear much and long, but the "Hold |
Over, four -years-ago-R Republican, Assistant |
Chief, who finds herein shoe to fit, may |
rest assured that he will not be forgotten.
SOLOMON GRUNDY.