The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-05-20
TRIALS OF THE oFFIcE-sEEKER.

He Is Never Sure of Getting the Place He
Wants Until He Is Sworn In.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, May 19.-It is safe to say
that nine-tenths of the men who come to
Washington now are either seeking posi-
tions for themselves OF friends. More than
half of them want appointments themselves.
1t is amusing, sometimes, to note the pride
shown by some applicants for Office. Two
well-known Nebraska men met in the Eb-
bitt the other morning One of them is a
well-known seeker for a federal position.
and when he shook the hand of his friend
he said:
II see you are an office-seeker, too"
mo, am not an ofiice-seeker,' was the
reply.
"What!n exclaimed the first man: you
don't want an appointments
No. am not an office-seeker," mildly re-
piled the second man, lowering his tones
almost to whisper.
"But Congressman Blank just told me
that he signed your application papern
well" stammeTed the modest man, II
have made application for appointment,
but am not seeking 1T. / am acquainted at
the White House, and have put my papers
ON file there"
The offce-seeker who didn't care whether
his aspirations were known to the world or
not laughed out aloud. slapped his friend
on the back. and after telling him To
'brace ND" strobe away.
There have been quite a number of very
sad disappointments among the ofice-seek-
ers. Several men expected right up to the
very hour when their riv ais were appointed
to positions that they would secure the
places themselves. The extremely reti-
WI r0 is fore
tell an hour ahead of the time an appoint.
ment is made who will secure position,
has made the office-seekers TO walk In dark
ness continually. and some of them express
their feelings when they learn at the time
their hopes are highest rival has been APP
pointed by saying 1T is like leading a man
up a gradual incline to the height OF
Jungfrau and when at its hi ghest point per.
hitting him to step off on the other side
and GO down an abrupt perpendicular" In
q number of instances commissions have
been made out. sent to the White House,
placed OH the Presidents desk. and when
that officer was in the act of attaching his
signature the appointments have been
withdrawn. Only couple OF weeks ago q
gentleman came here from State far in
the direction of the Orient. In
fact he came number OF times,
and finally it was determined that he
| had made a good case and the incumbent
| of the position he sought should be removed.
| The appointment of this gentleman was
| made out, the commission eXecu ed, and 10
| was sent to the White House. The Office
seeker followed it to the executive man.
| sion, and there he was told that the case
was all right, but it would be better tohave
| it rest for few days. He waited. so that
| the order directing the removal and the ape
| pointment would not come so close to-
| gether as to excite comment. When the
| order for removal, or the demand for the
| resignation of the officer. was received by
| the latter, he telegraphed to the Cabinet
officer asking permission to come here. The
| permission was granted. This was suff-
| cient. of course. to warrant further delay
! in the issuance of the commission. Upon
| the arrival of the Democrat in Office. he
| went to the Republican members of the
| delegation in Congress from his State. and,
| after telling them that his resignation had
| been demanded. secured a contest over the
| appointment of his successor, which brought
| about the final withdrawal of the appoint
| ment already made. The incumbent will
| be permitted to serve out the time for
| which be was commissioned, and the man
| who came so near securing his commission
has gone home with a very heavy heart.
| He said it was like placing a big, ripe
| cherry on the lips of a child, and just as ID
| was in the act of drawing the fruit into
its mouth, snatching 1T away without q
| promise of return.