The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-25
ALL CAUSED BY A BOOK.
INDIGNATION RAMPANT AT WASH
INGrON OVER "IN OFFICE"


They Have Been Libeled Alleged
Wickeduess OF the Capital.
From the Philadelphia Press.
NEW YORK, Nov. 22.-The letters of
Commissioner Raum and Secretary Noble
oensuring and dismissing from bis clerkship
in the pension bureau Lewis Vital Bogy for
writing the novel In Office" have done
more to make the book talked about than
perhaus either the commissioner or the sec
rotary dreamed would be possible. Each
day there is greater demand for the pecu~
liar aid notable story. Each day, TOO, finds
increased speculation among people, inside
and outside Of Office, In and even away
from Washington, as to the identity Of the
men and women to whom Mr. Bogy mas at
tributed such wicked traits.
The discussion has some of the nature of
that following the publication of 1.-THE
Breadwin ners" aud THE Moneymakers" a
few years ago. Keys explanatory or sup
posed to be explanatory of those volumes,
we're printed then and so to-day, in Wash
ipgton and New York, men get together
and construct keys to the characters of
sin Office" War friends OF MANY
of those whom Mr.. Bogy is supposed to
have portrayed. Indignantly asserted that
certain men should not be mistaken for GER
tain characters in the book. Their warmth
has been indiscreet. By their utterances
they have drawn attention to worthy pub
lie men, and connected them with the book,
men who doubtless have never been guilty
Of the sins with which Mr.. Bogy blaokens
most of his characters, men who but for
their friends indiscreet defense would never
have been suspected Of wrong.
Take the case Of ex-Congressman Med
Of &e For
missioner Raum has plainly animated his
belief that Mr.. Bogy meant Mr.. Niedring-
hause when he drew the character of "Mr.
Friedringhaus." The commissioner in his
letter to Secretary Noble complaining of
the book, refers to the Friedringhaus mat
ter in this way:
sit Is impossible TO believe that q member
of congress would advise an innocent young
woman to enter upon life of shame as a
means Of retaining her position in a depart
ment, and yet prominent and honorable
business man of st. Louis, who was a men,
Der of the last House, is brought forward in
this book under slightly changed name as
the person who did this thing, and the ex-
cabinet officer is introduced as the willing
Instrument to carry out the damnable sug-
gestions Of the congressman"
RAUM's GUESS A FAILURE.
In reply Mr.. Bogy says that Commits
SAOAOt AsoaAA 40 "ASA6s AAoAO al 2 1hAs AJOSy .
words:
His attempt to fasten the detestable char
acter OF Friedinghaus upon ex-Congress-
man Niedringhaus, by reference to The
honorable business man of st. Louis, who is
brought forward under a slightly changed
name is beneath contempt. I have the
honor OF knowing the ex-member, aud those
who possess his acquaintance will under
stand that denial OF the intention imputed
to me by Gen. Raum is unnecessary. No
one would think of likening the desDicable
character have tried to draw to the man
of mature years, whose public aud private
life has always been above reproach, and
who is esteemed most by those who knew
him best"
Whatever the truth may be, 1t is certainly
strange that the author, however much Of
an amateur could not have given his wicked
congressman some other name than one so
closely resembling that OF man whom he
himself declares to be above reproach in
both public and private life.
So, too, in the contemplate character
whom he calls "Geu. Twining.n Mr.. Bogy
could have dolineated and scored such do
ings, and, if he really wished to accomplish
good, have accomplished it by saying that
this influential rogue had been a senator.
But, no, he must write that Twining was an
ex-Postmaster General. and not merely that,
but as young ex-Postmasrer General"
Is ~ any WOuO6T Ju6n LudJ GL6 ITleuO5 Oh
Frank Hatton, the only young exPost-
master General who has recently bad to do
with Washington affairs, should protest
True, Mr.. Hatton may stand aloof. pro-
voked and irritated. and in spirit of OUT
ragged dignity, say that neither he nor his
friends need defend him, but who shall say
that Hatton really does not carel
The same is true of the min isterial char
acter whom Mr.. Bogy represents as toady-
ing to a wealthy ard fashionable congrega-
ton partly composed, according to the
author, of iustful husbands and dishonest
wives Mr.. Bogy calls this minister THE
Rev. DR.. p Bar tell" and because there is
In Washington Rev. Mr.. Bartlett, people
are forced to think that the daring novelist
had DR.. Bartlett in mind. Commissioner
Raum apparently thought so. Mr.. Bogy
denies that such was the case.
WOMAN's MISTAKEN FANCY.
These instances illustrate we'll the cause
OF Westinghouse agitation. Here is a writer
who sees what be conceives to be an i'm
moral influence at work in department life
at the national capital He observes close
Iy; he knows that many believe with him
thes scores of vlrtuous women in Washing
ton fall beneath the weight Of TEMPTATION
thrust upon them by superior officers; he
decides 60 write book and open the way
for great moral reform. A laudable eff
Tort. But his methods are clumsy, dispas.
slonate critics claim. and he shows no fer
unity OF resource in selecting names for
those who, to his mind, typify the vices he
would punish and crush.
Commissioner Raum wrote TO Secretary
Noble that Miss M. D. Miller first called his
attention to sin Office" and asked him to
make special note of page 146, where one of
Cne characters tells Of man shooting him
SELF in the bedroom of Miss Smiley, a young
woman clerk. Commissioner Raum says
TINS OF the matter:
i have read the book in question and
nave the passage before me to which Miss
miller Invites your attention, at page I4S,
wnere ailusion is made to a tragedy which
occurred some years ago Of a young man
smoothing himself nt a residence. where he
was calling, through cereleesness The
young lady referred to was not responsible
.or It In any way. There can be no doubt
Mr. bogy had this case in mind when he
wrote this paragraph. The change of names
uoes not obscure his allusion The in
nuenoo that the honor of the young lady
vas compromised by the visit and death of
Sne Young man. that damaging facts were
nusneo up by an influential congressman,
Snu That the young lady is not kept in office
because of her merit, but because of
i;s., ngure, is, in my opinion,
'4oSl upon all the parties concerned
nr' bogy replied to Gen. Raum as fol-
~ have not seen the letter written by
LIES maggie d. Miller. to which the COM
hission refers. and will only say that my