Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-13
sp.1a, r.s.oran 20 ~ Rsqss,s-.

Few moments MlCn 10 Neo eA@A~s -
glance at his Office disclosed better than
words can describe the immense pres
sure 10 which he has been subjected
since the new administration came IN
And what is said Of Mr.. Wilson repre-
sents faithfully the situation OF all the
West Virginia delegation. On large
table in front o. him were fifteen assort-
ed piles OF letters relating TO the post
Offices in the fifteen counties OF his dis
trict. Upon the floor and Ia the cor
ners Of the room and under the table
were immense piles Of other letters, part
OF which had been opened and 0riefed,
but many Of which were still unexam-
ined. In answer 70 questions propound-
ed from time to time, he said In SUB
stance:
II have remained 10 Washington al
most constantly since the Inauguration.
/ knew there would TO large number
OF nv own constituents and others Wis
iting this city who would desire and
who had a right TO see me. have &C
cOrdlngly remained here, and for most
of that time I have been closely i'm
prisOned In my office. When l get up
from the breakfast table, find my Of
ice nearly full OF visitors. Ottener
than otherwise the stream Is continued
until late ed-time. As q consequence,
/ have been utterly unable 70 look after
nv orresDondence and, although /
have had all the time the active assist
ance OF one clerk and part Of the
time OF two,
HAVE BEEN UNABLE
N answer or even 10 sort aud
distribute the letters that have been
piling in upon me. / have no doubt
there are hundreds Of friends 10 West
Virginia aud elsewhere who are angry
al not receiving prompt replies 70 their
letters; bat AN obliged occasionally 10
admit 70 one OF these callers that have
, not seen the communication he sent me
several weeks ago. The contests over
the fOurth-claSs JOstOftises are far moro
hsmerous than they were eight years
ago. / am constantly asking myself,
What right have /, as member OF
Congress, chosen 70 legislate in the d.
rection OF certain lines OF pub
he policy, TO dictate who
shall be fourth class postmasters
in nv district? And on the other hand
by what right am made 70 take on me
he indivldious burden OF deciding
.lmonR applicants, all of whom are my
political and nearly all Of whom my
DersOnal friends; these vOlCminOus and
oftimes bitter postOfice candidates.?
As to general applications for offices, my
docket which is as yet very incomplete
will show nearly two thousand. Many
of these are for high positions, from
chiefs Of divisions 90 assistant secreta-
ries. and verify believe the doctors at
home are prescribing foreign con-
sulates for al Of the diseases they
cannot cure. Here, for instance, is the
record Of single county, which / will
not name, but 10 IS typical OF almost al.
There are over fifty applicants for
places IN Washington, and more than
half OF them for important and well
salaried positions. Almost all Of them
are men and women who have reason
able right 70 apply for public positions
and reasonable right 20 expect my
hearty support In securing them places.
Nov. m / were able 90 take up
this list and by extraordinary efforts TO
secure for each applicant upon 10 the
Mace he seeks, I would more than con-
sumo the entire quota Of Vest Virginia
under this administration, and every
other county in the State would be ex-
cluded from federal positions az Wash
fngt0n or iu she consular service. Our
friends at home viii eventually learn
that there are but few places outside
OF those covered by
THE CIVIL SERVICE Law,
that can be obtained. A few
hundred Of these. possibly two or
three. are for reasonable salaries.
The remainder are what are called la
borers and skilled laborers, Tor which
the pay generally, while sounding large,
compared with the pay Of country
school teachers aud country clerks, Is
not large for a city like this. / ought
10 say that my correspondence ana my
callers are by no means confined 20 West
Virginia. I have spoken 10 various
parts OF the country, particularly ia the
states and Territories OF the
Northwest which have no Demo
cratic representatives 10 Congress.
have received the cOurtesies of
Democrats In almost al sections OF the
Union, aud IL is natural for them, when
they come or write 20 Washington, to
invoke my assistance in their candida
cies. and IL would be q very uDgratiOuS
thing In me to complain Of their doing
so. Nevertheless, as a matter Of Physi-
cal necessity, / have been compelled to
decline many hundreds Of earnest re-
quests to make personal appeals to
the President and TO the Cabinet Of
icers in behalf Of friends whom
SHOULD LIKE TO SERVE.
Had undertaken this, the White
House and the Departments might
long since have been barred
against my opportunities. have
no doubt my own experiences
have been, IN a measure, experiences Of
my colleagues also, and assure you
that none OF Us are complaining al
though all Of US are anxious for our
friends in West Virginia TO understand
that we shall be unusually successful If
we can secure satisfactory places for
one or two In the hundred who expect to
get them.
II feel confident that in the long run
the Democrats Of West Virginia will
receive ample recognition fronl. this ad-
mipistration and my own desi and /
an grar6ed to add the desire Of ny col