Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-09-15
GOVERNMENT JOBS.
Influence Necessary 20 Bring Your Claim
10 the Notice Of tho Proper Author
itlos--A Perpetual Struggle
for Political Existence.


Especial washington Lottor.l
Tho executive Offices Of the govern
ment ar, thoroughly accessible 70 the
political patrician and plcbcian, but TO
the middle classes they are not, on ac-
ronnt ofthe civil service law. mean
by this that the best offices and the
poorest, from q financial point Of view,
are obtainable by politicians when their
party Is in power, while the clerical
branch Of tho government, known as
''thc classified service" Is partially pro-
tcctcd by the law Of 's3. The superior
politicians, that Is those who are able
20 make stump speeches and appear TO
good advantage on the hustings, may
obtain chief clerlSships, which pay
q, 900 per annum, and other offices with
larger incomes. without entering into
competitive examinations with other
politicians Of their own party. The
ward strikers, workers and toughs OF
our great cities can receive appoint
mcnts as watchmcn, messengers and
laborers, positions which pay from s25
70 500 per month. The clerlSships which
pay from 5000 to s1,sO0 per nnnum con-
stitute the great body Of the working
forces in the executive departments,
and arc partially protected by thelcgis-
iation enacted nt the bchcst Of the late
Senator George II. Pendlctou, of Ohio.
Inasmuch as there Is in every com
munity one or more persons desirous OF
obtaining government employment at
the national capital it may not be
amiss to make % recital Of the methods
whereby such positions OF the highest
and lowest grades may be obtained. IL
will make no difference whether you
want 10 be chief clerk Of division in
the treasury department of a cuspidor
attendant In the post Office department.
II will be necessary for you to obtain
the same amount of influence. In order
20 secure a government appointment
outride of the civil service ban you
must FIRST impress upon the chairman
and members of your county committee
the Importance Of your political work
ut home. You must compel this great
parsonage, the chairman of the county
committee, TO believe that the salvation
of the party in your county has de-
pended mainly upon your political
neighbors. You might as well try 70
build a great cathedral without a
foundation as 10 enter political life
with hope of official preferment with
out first impressing upon the mighty
brain Of the great man who Is chair
man of your county committee the in
disputable fact that you are the head
and front of the aggressive element Of
your Arty in your own county, and
particularly in your own township.
Now, assuming that you have already
done this, and that the chairman is
really impressed with your political
standing, the next thing for you 10 do
Is to secure the recommendation Of your
representative IN congress. II will be
practically impossible for you TO get
this recommendation without ihe in
dorscment of the chairman of your
county committee. am not personal
ly acquainted with the chairman Of
your county committee, and cannot say
whether he is sincere In the promises
which he is now making 10 you; but II
he Is sincere he will fumher your ambi-
tion by informing the representative in
congress for your district that it is nee
essary that your appointment should
be made, because he has promised IL =
You and such good politician p yous
representative win always fulfill all
political promises.
Now, having secured the Endorsement
and recommendation of your member
OF congress, You are in a fair position 70
take the first step in the matter of get
ting government Office, and that step
is 10 secure the cordial, hearty, sincere,
earnest and united recommendation of
the entire Congressional delegation of
your state. II there is a democratic ad-
ministration, and both the senators are
democrats, or II there is republican
administration, and both senators of
your state are republicans, II win be
necessary for them 10 unite in letter
to the head OF the department which
you want 10 enter, indorsing your ap-
pointment and urging 1t in the interest
Of your representative, whose letter, we
will presume, is already on file in the
department in your behalf.
But II you imagine that, with all Of
this influence, you are certain TO re-
ceive an appointment without further
delay, you win find yourself greatly
mistaken. Inasmuch as there are from
Eve hundred TO Eve thousand men after
each Office, you viii naturally assume
that several hundred or several thou
sand people will be disappointed, and
you rlny be one Of those people. Much.
in fact all, viii depend upon the stand
ing Of your senators in Washington and
their earnestness in seeking office for
you. II your senator will go every day
TO the head Of the department in which
your application is 6led and personally
insist upon having that appointment
made for the welfare Of the party Of his
state, no matter who may be removed
trom Office and sent 10 the poorhouse or