Smyrna times., 1889-03-13
TOT UIt oWYTHu IIWIl
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, March l1th. 1889
The crowd has gone home, and
Washington has put on its every day
appearance. Save for stray drabbled
bunting here and there, no outward
sign appears of the events Of last week
But beneath the surface a mighty and
unusual cOmmotiOn goes on. In the
Departments work is practically aban-
dOned and nothing is done save to talk
politics. RumOrs and counter rumOrs
ill the air. This commissioner will be
appointed that assistant secretary is
sure Of the place. Old clerks who
were appointed during the Republican
administration, and who discovered
that they were Democrats after CleVe-
land was elected, are now busy re-
counting their alleged magnificent ser
vices to the Republican party. Scores
of this contemplate class are even
talking loudly Of the promotions they
are about TO receive. And thus the
dirt eating goes on.
Only part of the chronic office
seekers went home. There are still
enough left to crowd the lobbes of the
main hotels, aud they will only drop
off one by one as their money gives out
or their desires are satisfied. Nearly
all are candidates for high Offices, on
the plan that if they fail to get the big
Office they can use the endorsements
secured to receive an inferior position.
Congressman and local statesmen
endorse a man, say for Commissioner
Of Patents, whom they know has no
more chance for appointment than has
a blind beggar. The endorsements are
therefore unusually warm and cordial.
After the right or wrong man is ap-
pointed, this unimpOrtant man will
pose as a defeated candidate who ac-
cepts his defeat proudly and without
bitterness. If ne is lucky, he will wOr-
ry his Congressman into presenting his
application and endorsement to some
Department, and he may even secure
an $500 clerkship. Then he will set
le down and draw his salary with bril-
liant regularity, boast of his influence,
talk mysteriOusly of his association
with prominent men, whom he only
knows by sight, aud becomes in two
wears a confirmed and irredeemable
ass.
You scratch my back, I'll scratch
yours, is the sum total Of american
politics, and any lingering doubt that
YOU have on that point would be eradi-
Gated by reading some Of the letters Of
endorsement one sees. Letters OF
recommendation are exchanged as
freely as cards. Influence is a COM
modify. Sometimes the letter OF en-
.iorsement cites not only the qualilica
tions of the person endorsed but also
those Of the endOrser for some position
the latter seeks. This may give rise to
some confusion and not particularly
ia either candidate, but the endOrser
is too eager to blow bis own horn to re-
member that.
bev were a couple Of Tennesseeans;
one from the mountains, one from the |
iowlands Of the State they both wish
ed to be consul TO Montreal, position |
either stood about as much chance Of
obtnining as be did Of plucking the |
stars from the canopy. The mountain
oer with the fearfully and wonderfully
oeade overcoat and a silk hat that new
~ could have been the fashion 10 any
lime or country, says, 30, Slr you
wont retire ia my favor p No sir, 1
viii not.u Will you endorse me for
Of Lands 2" /" NO, Sir,
sousin wants that" Gould you en-
5or-e me forsi-here the highland
.tetesnan grows desperate" for
.,oii carrier at NashvilleY Y !" Yes," re-
-, !, led the other. Thus Is ambition
.eonlafed bv a decending scale.
a. Saturday President Harrison be-
= 5.,u himself to casual callers,
,ayinc on Friday, as desperate meas