Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-28

~ concluded. The can
vass lie now being conducted most actively. and
II will grow steadily more energetic up to the
moment when, about four weeks before the new
House is organized in December. the various
candidates establish their respective head
quarters here in Washington and proceed to
marshal their forces for the decisive fray.
In old times 1t was the custom for each candi-
cate 10 dispense at his headquarters convivtal
delights ia the shape of liquor and cigars sd
nDltum, so that the toll OF eiectioneerlns was
made easy BY widely distributed lag This
fashion reached its height during the war. when
there prevailed in Washington a much greater
iaxlty OF morals and behavior than is now toll
Grated 1t WIS carried TO a point Of abuse
which brought about a sudden change and
since then things have been altogether differ
emit No longer is the best Kentucky whisky
spiiled Tegardless of expense and 25-cent cigars
soat.cfeo broadcast among the boys when q
night for the speakership is on. The smallest
uispiay or stimulants nowadays would be con-
sidered an impropriety; but IL you are person
ally known TO the candidate he will take an op-
portnnity of conducting Won into an adjoining
room. where there IL a water pitcher and bot
tIe Probably he will offer you domestic Ha-
Vana aud match ns well, but the whole pro-
ceeding will be most dignifed and decorous.
hr. Carlisle and Mr.. Randall. on the occasion
OF eeir Contests for the speakership offered
tlei: trends no more profuse hospitalities
way. 20 lind the two great competitors for .his
Eonor through SO many years past both re-
moved from the field within the last twelve
month-the one by promotion 10 the upper
house and the other by death. 80 now 1t re-
mains scrilnmage free for all. As for Mr.
Reed, there was not even an impromptu toddy
to be Obtained at his headq quarters while he was
running, unless possibly by a particularly
favored few behind the arras. To do other
wise would be to risk exciting criticism at a
cfiacaI time, ard perehanee to lose eoid-water
votes.
WHERE Tue LIQUOR Flows.
There is plenty OF drinking done at such
times about the headquarters of candidates
who are not aiming for the speakership. The
cid style of conducting the fight for that Office
mss been adopted the modern fashion of
making IA campaign for the more important of
the subordinate positions in the Hou-e-the
places OF sergeant-at-arms. doorkeeper and
postmaster particularly. Aspirauts 10 these
posts of dignity begin their work long In adj
vance. Already many of them are here en-
gagged in canvassng the members elect They
viii open their headquarters in Washington
before the candidates for Speaker have en-
gagged theirs, at Wizards, the Metropolitan and
the National Among themselves they will vie
as to who shall spend the most money and give
away the greatest quantity of liquor and
cigars.
That IL a great season for the colonies and
majors and all the other dead beats of distinc-
ton about town. Having nothing in the world
to occupy them save the pursuit of free drinks
they devote their time 10 making the rouad a.
the various headquarters. conyersing oracu-
!hrly on politics and proclaiminy their adher-
ence TO the interests of whatever candidate NAV
happen tob be setting up the whisky they are con-
Stunning at the moment BY this ingenious
method they manage to keep themselves filled
mp pretty much all the time. type peculiar
to the national capital whittier they have
drifted since the war. they can get along per-
fectlywel without anything TO eat so long as thew
have plenty of alcohol.
The candidates know better than 20 offend
the colonies ana the judges and the majors.
Those gentlemen-manyo of them persons of
position in the south before the war reduced
them TO penniessness-wielda certain influence
in Washington. They are only loafers and dead
beats Tor the reason that work is beneath their
dignity. Their acquain lance is most extensive
they know personally almost every member of
Congress and they are employed TO no small
extent for petty lobbying purposes a. go-be-
tweens and otherwise. Furthermore they are
potent in the making of rumors. No one who
has not made Legislative science a study can
realize how much influence rumors have in
controlling affairs. Started in hotel
bar room by an irresponsible gossip
monger, n rumor passes from mouth 10
NOUN, mining the credit OF each responsible
person who speaks Of having heard it. until it
scE W oe acccpteu M truth ana votes and
even laws are changed by it. MANY a time has
judge OF colone! been paid money to state a
faischood In public place and thus set it in
circulation tor an ultimate purpose. The thing
was repeatedly done during the last speaker
ship contest, when members were anxious TO
Jump over to the winners side at the earliest
possible moment. IL will be the same next
autumn. Such men as those it is desirable 10
be well with.
DIcKEarNa FOR PLACES.
The candidates for the position of door
keeper OF the House are in a position 10 scatter
promises quite profusoly among the members
whose votes for the place they are DESTROYS Of
obtaining. That official has about one hundred
appointments in his gift ''If you will vote for
me, Gays the asplrGnt to the Representative
elect, II will place at your disposal, supposinr
that am elected. 81 500 appointment. To
each one whom lac approaches the candidate
makes similar offer. II il all q matter OF bar
gain. and the Office he desires can be obtained
in no other way. Such is politics.
Likewise the would-be sergeant-at-a-ms has a
considerable number Of places 70 dispose of on
the same conditions. several Disturbing clerk
ships among them. So, too has The expectant
postmaster of the House. who has the rro.p.ct
Of employing a large corps of assistants neces
sary for carrying on the business of a post
office which handles as great an amount of mail
matter as is delivered in and sent GU; from a
sood-sized city, public documents Included d
All their patronage Ia mortgaged in advance.
md after the election members lose no time In ]
the fulhlment of the promises made
N order that they may pay political debts of
heir OWL by bestowing the situations thus
purchased. Even the post OF chaplain of the !
House is always the subject OF sctive cleo
noneering. Candidates for the Office have 70 I
10 offer. keep no headuuarters
md dispense no whisky and cigars: bur their 4