The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-10

. political intrigue in the national capt.
tai Ii was an audacious conception.
The employees of the postoffice number
no less than 10000 persons. What an
opportunity for politics" II is true
that Mr.. Wanamaker is so rich that money
cannot bride him. He paws out more than
quarter of his official salary on the en-
| poyment Of private secretary. Mr.. Mar
shall Gushing, who is worth, indeed as
much as the whole salary out of which he
is paid. Mr.. Wanamaker's home In Wash
ington formerly the Frelinghuysen man.
sion, then occupied by the Whitneys, of
magnificent memory has cost him for
change and improvement, more than he
Will ever make out of the postoffice How
are you 10 approach a man whose business
nets him a million year? No; Mr. Wan
amaker makes nothing out of the vast
patronage of his Office. Pecuniarily, the
" whole business is rather a loss 10 him than
otherwise. Why, then. did he acceps IL?
II must, of course have been ambition.
Mr.. Wanamaker is ambitious lie is a
| strict Presbyterian, a rigid moralist. an
honest shopkeeper; but he cannot deny
that he Is ambitious. Although, however
this was accounted a SIN in julius Cesar,
1t can hardly be SO regarded in Mr. Wanna
maker. For Mr. WanRmaker's ambition,
SO far as Washington City is concerned, is
confined TO giving this country the best
postoffice administration il has ever had
Some wise persons will here smile saga
clously and say: And what about the
presidency?" Well. | ara free TO admit
that | don't believe Mr Wanamaker
wants the presidency. Ii has been
stated that no man can live who is
capable of refusing it, were he sure of
getting II. Mr.. Wanamaker is not sure of
getting H. far from it, but believe he is
more than content that it should be So
he doesn't want il. Were he nominated
and elected, be might think be did want il.
Bat he doesn't want il now: and il is very
likely that, when his term is up, he will
retire with much content into private lite,
even giving up his shop. perhaps. and
show the world, in common with George
Peabody and c. W Childs, how much
good money can do
To give an Of idea what the postoffice
growth has been since it was started under
Old Samuel Ossood hundred and odd
years ago. il is enough 70 say that in 1888
zWo letters were posted in day, whereas
now 5000 are posted every minute of
We twenty-four hours. Nevertheless,
We greater part OF this growth has
taken place since 1850, and since the
present administration assumed power
some Of the most useful improvements and
striking reforms have been made. Still
greater ones are ia prospect. Bat before
ehierlng upon their consideration let us
AAe look at the postmaster generals HIM
sci and see how he looks and how he oc-
cnpies himself
The mansion in | street is quiet, hut
fleh Nothing is expended in fancy. bat
everything IS solid and valuable and APP
peas better at the second glance than at
she nrst, Mrs. Whitney's famous ballroom
nov picture gallery with several hun
ofea thousand dollars worth of the best
Pictures in II. The dining-room is soberly
hSgnincent-ebonyW woodwork. gilded cell
ing, 0arK red silk walls silver and crystal,
gobehn tapestry, hammered brass. The
hersry IS more SOBER still, but III eG-
ee3ent taste Here Mr. Wsnamaker ap-
psred 20 the present writer clad IN light
pray ioungine sack Snd dark trousers. He
man above middle height, rather
aEhtiy QUILT. His face is fresh colored,
smooih-shayen and young looking HIS
yves are dark gray, very bright and OBJ
servant: forehead large lower face slender
10 Proportion; a good sized business-llSe
nose. There Is q certain quiet energy and
enthusiasm IN the expression Of his
coentenanoe; ven see that the man Is a
man Of genius. of judgment. of resources.
h's conversation Is thoughtful, terse and
ihos-Foiced Activity and alertneSs are IN
hiin combined with composure.
am bound 70 say that Mr.. Wanna
maker tla not take very ardentiy 10 the
Gee oi being exploited ia the newspapers.
ne IS man ~ deeds. not words. II
inst try - do the work: that's about
a. there - Of u, was his remark. He
ns1ens sttentive!y and keeps his own
| eoun sell
However, made an appointment for