The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1892-12-15
HUNGER FOR OFFICE.
The Pressure for Place is
Greater than it has
Ever Been Known
Before.
CONGRESSMEN WORRIED
They are Trying TO Devise Some
Means to Escape From the
Office. Hunters.

n dSninbCOH tpeClSI w 'uo ~
LOUIS Republic says: The oldest
politician in Congress cannot remem.
ber when the pressure for Office was so
great as at the present time. Nearly
half the voters of the United States
seem o be candidates for something
under the Cleveland administration.
The Democratic Congressman are al.
most in despair. There is an average
Of about twelve applicants for every
postoffice in their districts, They ad-
nit that all the applicants are good
friends of theirs, and that il they
make the selection themselves the
eleven disappointed ones will become
enemies and perhaps find a goo ex-
cuse for joining the Peoples party. 1t
is notorious that the leading men OF
the Peoples party at the present time
are men who we're disappointed in not
getting Office during the past eight
years under the Cleveland and Harri-
son administrations. The Congress
men are comparing notes on the sub
ject and trying to invent some scheme
by means of which they can escape
the pressure. They will find it diff.
cult to do so. The applicants for post
offices proceed in the most practical
and deliberate manner. They say to
the Congressman II helped you to
get Office. l worked for you day and
night, now you do something for me"
Several OF the Congressman in discuss
ing this subject have recommended
that elections held in towns somebody
be recommended by a vote OF the
Democrats of the community. OF
course this scheme would not embrace
the larger cities, but it is argued that
it would be available in towns of be-
tween 1000 and 10000 inhabitants.
A Western Congressman who, has
served his people in the United States
Legislature for many years said to your
correspondent "There is no doubt OF
the pressure for Office. don't exact
" know what causes it unless tits the
dulness OF business throughout the
country The cause seems to be prac'
tical hunger Every lawyer in my dis.
trict wants something. w&s told dur
ing the canvass that the business Of
the lawyers was in very bad shape.
The Alliance, it seems, had engender-
ed an idea among the farmers that
arbitration was more direct and less
costly than a trial in court. Ir conse.
quence the farmers have been holding
arbitration courts almost everywhere,
thus settling their disputes Quietly
and ignoring courts. AS result the
lawyers in the country towns in my
state are almost on the vege Of starva-
ton. Attorneys who were making
$4,000 or $1,000 year, and some who
were making 10000 or $4,000 year
five or six years ago, are now max
ing less than $1,000 year The re-
suit is that the lawyers all want Of
fees. Those of them who cannot get
country paper to edit or make a dea
with a real estate agency or an insur
nnce company want a consulate. dis
trict atlorneyship or pOstoffice, or
job in the departments at Washington
do not feel called to the responsible
~ Of deciding among twelve or four
teen or tw nty or thirty good mel
who are applicants for postoffice IL
my district as to which ought to have
it. As matter of fact it is none o
nv business who shall have the post
office. have nothing to do With tn
executive psrto the government
But custom has made it so thA
CongresAmen must recommend in tn
district where they live, and therefore
/ am confronted with the most nT
pleasant duty that ever came face t
face with. The only way that | ca
ace out Of it is to serve notice up
my people that the Democrats OF eac
town must have an election, fight