The Helena independent., 1889-04-10
WANAMAKER A MISFlT.
cLARksoN RUNS THE MACHINE
Complaints That the Great Clothing
Dealer is a Blundering Incapable
Offending Old Friends.

Washington Special 10 the St Louis
Globe. Democrat (republlcanl: Mr.. Wan
amAker is the misit Of the cabinet, But
for the presence OF Col. Clarkson the post
Office department would be In hot water all
OF the time. The first mistake The Phila
delphiA merchant made was In showing
Too much executive ability toward the
congressman. lie was Inclined 10 run the
general postoffice as he does his store. He
was afiable enough To visitors, but when
ever the senators and representatives be-
came little too persistent he assumed the
autocratic manner OF a highly success.
full business man who feels himself
perfectly independent when he chooses 10
be. The first serious rupture came when
the Kansas delegation presented candl'
dates for two presidential pOstOf1ces. The
terms OF the democrats had expired and the
congressman OF the district had selected
the candidates for each place, In accord.
ance with the rule which had been laid
down. But when Mr.. Wanamaker was
informed of what WAS wanted he bluntly
demanded that the congressman should
produce the papers OF "tner candidates for
the places, saying he wanted TO see all Of
the papers. II Mr.. Wanamsker had
asked In a polite way for the other
papers he would have readily OBJ
tained them. But he made the
mistake which was, perhaps, natural 10 a
man wholly unacquainted with govern.
ment business 0f demanding that mem
Der OF congress, a representative OF CO
ordinate branch OF the government, should
do something. The congressman with
drew with dignity. The matter was laid
before the president Senator Quay was
also informed of the mistake his friend had
made. Very promptly the names suggest
ed by the representative were sent 10 the
senate for the two postoilices.
Mr.. Wanamaker has not only offended
congressional dignity and independence
by his manner OF speech, but he has made
another mistake. He has seriously offended
his best friend, Senator Quay. What other
man would have gone ahead with the mat
ter Of selecting postmaster for Philadel-
phia, would have actually offered a posi-
tion and received the acceptance of that
offer without saying a word TO Senator
Quay about ~ That is precisely
what Mr.. Wanamaker has done.
He has offered the Philadelphia postosice
10 his friend, Mr.. Fields, and Mr.. Fields
has accepted. II was only by accident that
Senator Quay and the public learned what
had been none. Mr.. Wanamaker's inten-
tion was 10 keep the appointment a secret
from even Senator Quay until the nomina-
tion reached the senate. Naturally reIa.
tions are a good deal strained between the
merchant and the man who championed
his selection for the cabinet. IL Is hardly
necessary 10 say that Mr.. Wanamaker Is
utterly lacking In what is called "political
sense" He has caused the president more
trouble than all of the rest of the mem
bers of the cabinet He talks with the
utmost freedom, and what he says
10 one congressman does not always agree
with what he says 10 others about the policy
OF the administration. The president with
in a week has had To call halt on what
Mr.. Wanamaker calls introducing "busi-
nesslike methods" into the department. II
was early realized that something must be
done to Offset the mistake of Mr.. Wanama-
kers selection for the cabinet, and Col.
Clarkson was urged AS no other man has
been 20 accept the position 10 which he was
appointed. IL the pressure the president
brought TO bear upon the Iowa man could
be explained fully, II would be under
stood how vitality important this appoint
ment was 10 the successful administration
of the postOftice department. Col Clark
son refused four times 10 accept the first
assistants place, and he only accepted
when the president profoundly urged II
and explained the seriousness OF the situa-
tion. Col. Clarkson is as independent of
tnt lohtuantti nc WV ct'ittniI VI
the interior Is. He IA carrying the bulk OF
the responsibility for the department on his
shoulders. He Is the man 10 whom the sen.
ators and the representatives now look. II
seems as II II VIII be only matter of few
months when Mr. Wanamaker will con
clude that the postmaster generalship is
something for which he has no liking. and
will give II up. Senator Quay at first al
lowed his friend year to get tired OF pub.
lie life and he dOubts now IL he will re.
main In the cabinet so long as that. A
gentleman whose relations with the admin.
istralion are most confidential, said:
'Col. Clarkson will be In the cabinet in
less than year. You mark my word for
IT,"