Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-12
9ai1g eagle
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Some Phases of Life in the Capital City
NTho Army OF Ofice-Seekers and Theil
Varied Experiences.

NTho Army OF Ofice-Seekers and THOR
Varied Experiences.
Especial Correspondence
The most prolific theme of conversation
10 dislnterested onlookers in Washington
Is the ofice-seeker, and his name is legion.
1t is q subject which runs the entire gamut
of susceptibiIities, from grave to gay, from
better hap to worse. These patriotic gen.
tlemen came here IN February as they did
four years ago, and every other four years
Rgone for full half century past, like an
army with banners. Although they did not
come "as wolf on the fold" it may truth
fully be f1guratively stated that their ''co-
horts were cleaning with purple and gold"
Yes, they were clad in shining raiment and
fine linen. The sheen of their silver coin
was as stars on the sea, where the blue
wave rolls lightly on deep Galilee Upon
every face was written the word hope, in illu-
minated type, and thatwas printed on back
ground of confidence which was unmistaka-
BILE Each man bore in propria persona the
marks of distinction, the badgeof the legion
Of honor, won by party service on the dark
and bloody grounds which surround the
rostrum and the first-class hotel at which
they stopped during the campaign. l am
personally acquainted with probably about
three hundred Of the best class of Office
seekers from the various States, and there
is only one practical man in the whole num-
Der.
He Is an ex-Congressman from Western
State. He says: ''When another man
was nominated to succeed me, saw that
my political life was ended and immedi-
etely resumed the practice of law. Having
been In Congress eight years had lost my
cunning and was not very good lawyer
But the fact that was an ex-Congressman
brought me some practice and l was doing
well when the late campaign commenced.
The State and National committees called
Oh me to do some public speaking, and
they paid me handsomely for MY services.
That was pure business with me
and it should have rested there.
But being worked up to political enthusi
asm, and our party being successful, got
an itching for public life again. l like
Washington as place of residence, as all
do who have served here in Congress. 1t
seemed to me that an executive Office would
just suit me, and my family did not demur
at the idea of coming back here to live; so
1 cast about me for something nice, and
concluded to ask for it. Our Senators and
Representatives encouraged me In the be-
lief that to ask was to receive, and here
am. l ought to have known better. True,
L served in Congress with General Harri-
SON; true, knew the crowd of office-hunt-
ers would be large; but not until the
week after Inauguration did it dawn forci-
bly, upon me that there were more men,
better men, stronger men for these places.
i did not need an Introduction to the Pres
ident, and hence went to see him and told
him what l wanted. He smiled regretful-
~ land know he was sincere), and in
formed me that the position was already
pre-empted for another. He asked me to |
name something else, and left him to |
look up another position of similar caliber |
Two days later called and named another |
place, and that. too, had been practically |
promised. have not been there since. | |
am ashamed OF myself for entering the !
race. l am going back home and shall /
resume work. My people will for the time
being think less of me than ever. They |
will put me down for a small man. l am
in hopes that they will not long so regard |
me, for l shall agree with them, and, like /
a repentant sinner, confess nay faults, beg t
pardon, and promise never to do so again.
He is good man. There is no ADLER man
in the country for legal position such as
he sought. But he would have stultified
himself To have remained here begging the
delegation, of which he was formerly a
prominent member, TO go day after day So
Letting new place as an aims for him.
II is pity that more can not be like him in
reaching an early conclusion concerning the
vanity of vanities of office-seeking. The
small fry are here in great numbers. The
men who did petty services to Congress
men in counties or districts, or even in
whole States, have come like budding
flowers il the spring; and all they can get
Is disappointment. Their conditions are
nothing short Of pitiable As the days go
by their purses grow slenderer, and anx-
iety gives away TO despair. They move from
irst-class hotels TO second, third and fourth
rate places, finally winding up in cheap
lodging houses in the suburbs. Instead of