Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-28
PAY UP OR GET OUT
How jackson Collected a Tall
or's Bill.
AN INCIDENT OF SIXTY YEARS AGO.

Interesting Correspondence Never Pub
lished Before A Tailor's Appeal
Made the Subject of an Executive Or
der. and Unreliable Young State
Department Clerk Given the Alterna-
tive of Paying His Debts or Walking
the OmciaI Plank.
NEW YORK, April 2S-The recent action
Of the Merchant Tailors' National ex-
change in waving the red flag in the faces
az debtors and selling at auction their
hopeless, unpaid bills occasioned a stir of
surprise. Just fifty-eight years ago this
month tailor who had been beguiled
into trusting gentlemanly appearing
young mana government employe--for
8 somewhat costly suit or clothes, and
Who, after depending on his repeated
promises to pay for nearly two years, wa s
tired out, made bold to appeal to Andrew
J ackson, then president of the United
States, to have the delinquent debtor
brought to justice and his own wrongs
rghted. His confidence in the paternal
interest of President Jackson in the well
fare of the humblest citizen, and his de-
termination to enforce honesty, at least
in the state department, was well placed,
ii seems.
The Tailor's Woful Plant.
The straightforward statement Of the
cIse by the tailor IS model in its way,
aud the autographs order by the presi-
dent, which is appended to the petition is
unique and characteristic. 1t has never
before been published.
WASHINGTON, April 90 1888 TO THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATEs:-The
sgner of this, your humble servant, begs
leave of you to lend an ear to the state
ment of a case of mine against James
Gooch, clerk il the state departments
He came TO my store November 26, 1851,
and got measured for suit OF clothes,
amounting to S64 so for which he prom
ised to pay me in sixty days; and his hav-
! ing the appearance of gentleman, took
him to be one. He took the clothes on
Il ose terms. At the expiration of the
sixty days sent to him, and he promised
further until twelve months expired
Finding no other way of receiving my
money, entered a suit against him, for
which received judgment after he en-
tered the office, when he took the benefit
Of insolvency; and having understood
| that your highness had taken the steps
fo- the benefit of mechanics and other
citizens of this place by removing or 9TH
ervise making the clerks pay their honest
debts, and l hope it will not be in vain, as
have large family depending on me
for support, and losing this will rob them
of their dues Respectfully, your hum
bic and obedient servant,
CHRISTIAN f. kLooF"
President Jackson's Action.
To this appeal is appended in the presi-
dents handwriting: Referred to the
| secretary OF state If on inquiry the fact
stated he true, unless the clerk pay up the
deOt, let him be forthwith discharged
The government would become party 10
such swindling provided it permitted its
officers to become indie bted for necessaries
AMI not see that they paid their debts out
of their salaries. Honest men will pay
their debts; such men must not be en-
| ployed By the government A J."
This is referred to Amos Kendall, ESQ,
and on $40 per month being secured to E.
kioof, MIR. Gooch to be continued in his
Office. j"
l. Is not recorded that the tailor got his
money from Mr.. Gooch, but it is pr obable