The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-02
HOW TO GET AN OFFICE
It Takes Hard Work and Much
Persistence. ~,
LISTEN TO THESE TALES OF WOE

LISTEN TO THESE TALES OF WOE
Ono Lady Was Successful Through Dire
Necessity and Northumberland
Applicant Labored Six Months to Got q
5000 Clerkship-other Experiences.
WASHINGTON, May lit will doubtless
be of interest to many In these days Of
officesceking to know how some of the
government clerks secured their positions.
With view to securing some pointers for
the ofiiceseeker who is novice, a number
of clerks were interviewed with the follow
ing result:
"How did you secure your positionf'
was asked.
II secured my position through the in
fluence of two congressman and after
about 20 visits to the interior department"
said young man. 81 received the indorse-
ments fully q month before I was ap-
pointed Once or twice a week for three
weeks called at the department., each
time to be told that my application was all
right and only vacancy was requisite to
secure me a position. Finally, when my
finances were so reduced that did not
have more than enough money to pay ex-
congressional indorsers, told him the state
of affairs and called his attention to the
fact that he had promised to secure me
position. And I WILL he said. Come
with me- went with him to the depart
ment He went into the chiefs room and
come out in about 10 minutes with my ap-
pointment."
Necessity and Determination.
"How did secure my positionf re-
peated q young lady in the treasury de-
partment. We'll, I attribute my success
to two things-dire necessity and deter
mination. Iwrote from home to my con-
gresham and received very nice note in
reply-'application received; take pleas-
ure, ETC. Hearing nothing from him, two
| months later l donned nay handsomest
costume and assumed my most winsome
ways and called on him with a lady friend
of this city. He had looked into the mat
ter; no vacancies, etc. Then Smiled my
sweetest and talked as only we woIGan
can, and to get rid of me he told ne /
would hear from him next day. And
did. secured the position next day."
well, secured my position" said one
of the clerks in the pension department,
first through the influence of congress
men, and then through necessity Of the
case stayed in Washington nearly two
IMMUNE WIN lO OtlCI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IuNn
promises, and finally went around and
took a loQk at my application. Tt was fist
ms had left it months before, and began
to see that something was wrong.
Six Months Getting n 5000 CIerksIip.
I'm fact, when l approached my con-
gresham he had forgotten all about it, As
my father is one of the leaders I'm his dis
trict he came to time when told him
had to have something to do. In less than
an hour afterward was appointed"
IF had to undergo again my expert
ence in seeking an office, would never be
an officeseeker," remarked another II
WINS six months getting 5000 clerkship,
and when did get it 1t took me more than
year to get clear of debt. l can tell you
one thing about it. The simple indorsc-
ment of congressman is not worth
penny If he does not hustle for you after
wards. have often wondered why I did
not see it when they Endorsed me SO
quickly, without question-just as they
Endorsed anybody who came along. hon
estly believe the average congressman ex-
poets two-thirds of those he Endorses to
brcome tired of waiting and leave"
Many Months of Waiting.
ut is to ME n sad story" said another.
ut is story of months of waiting, of ex-
pectancy, mixed in with free lunch coun-
tiers and dairy lunches, until the appoint
ment came. was here for three months
before received place, and then could
barely live on the salary. While have an
81, 800 clerkship today, and will probably
hold it through this administration, L
would willingly exchange it for position
was capable Of filling at one-half that
amount. The mental worry of each cam
paign is worth the salary. The young man
who can make $40 or $50 month at his
home had better stay there
YES" said an old clerk in the navy de-
partment, 1.-THE road to secure an appoint
ment is rough and hard to travel, and
when you once get in you have to scheme
to stay there, especially when you hold n
good position. am Democrat, but 1
was appointed under the second admins
tration of President Grant. You may or
may not believe me, but 1t is a fact that
the representatives of the two great parties
are about equal in the various depart
ments-as it should be- What would be
my advice to an officeseeker as to the means
of securing an Officer 1t would be get
there There are as many ways as there
ara roodc IN Roma