The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-24
BUREAU OF The SENTINEL,
1920 NEW YoRK-AvE..


The number of Indiana democrats who
have filed applications for positions under
the federal government other than post
offices can only be estimated. With the
exception of the treasury department the
books of entry are withheld from the
press. Secretary Carlisle, however, be-
Iieves that the public should know who is
applying for Office. He has caused
record of applications to be kept by state.
where the name, postofiice address and
office desired are entered as soon as the
application is fled. If any Objectionable
person applies for an office the people
then have a chance to warn the secretary
or the president OF the character of the
applicant.
1t goes without saying that men OF ques-
tlonable character apply for Office. The
president and the secretaries are not sup
posed to ascertain oil the facts concerning
a candidates character. They must RELY
upon written Endorsements of prominent
men at home and upon the recommends
ton of senators and representatives. Often
the latter know nothing OF the applicant
They usually rely upon the home indorse-
ment of the applicant As rule pollti-
clans write letters OF recommendation for
any one applying for them. As an Illus
ration. eight years ago Representative
Bynum secured the appointment of a
constituent to an important local office.
He had no personal acquaintance with
the candidate, but he came here
with personal request signed
L A II In
everv state officer asking for his appoint
ment. The Judges OF the supreme court,
the members of the state committee and
the Marion county committee also signed
his petition, the chairman of the state COM
mittee giving him strong letter. Vice
President Hendricks name was on his
papers also Mr. Bynum was then mex
perienced in the matter OF appointments.
He took it for granted that that name was
good on paper, whether on bond or pc
tition, and he believed he could not do
otherwise than secure the appointment OF
this man No man in Indiana had such
strong Endorsements. He was appointed
and within two weeks thereafter the ap-
pointment was revoked. 1t turned out
that he was an ex-convlct.
This administration as we'll as the last
administration has made some bad APP
pointments, but the fault is with the peo-
pie who have deceived the congressional
delegations and the president, There are
here from all over the country men APP
plying for important Office Endorsed by
men prominent in politics and business
who could not get the votes OF these IN
dorsers for constable at home. An In
dianan, prominent in business, politics
and church matters, was asked recently
why he had gwen such strong lndorse-
ment to a fellow townsman for an Office
handling government property to the
amount of over thousands OF dol
lars annually when he knew that
the same applicant had been q
defaulter and a general dead beat who
had never earned dollar at honest labor
and the man prominent in b., p. and c.
matters replied that there was only one
way for the people of bis town to get lid
of this dead beat and that was TO get him
an office out OF the state.
President Arthur's Plan.
President Arthur was a difficult man to
impose upon. He had been a machine
politician and Understood the nature OF
politicians. lie knew that 1t would not
do to rely upon written Endorsements and
that congressman often recommended
people they did not well know them
selves. He adopted a method that
would save President Cleveland much
vexation if he would follow the example,
especially with the western appoint
ments.
President Arthur took into his conf
dence three newspaper correspondents.
When he thought of appointing man to
an office he advised his newspaper friends
to give out to the press a semi-official
statement that so and so had practically
been agreed upon for such an office. Then
the president would wait for results. III q
national office everything said In the
newspapers about the prospective ap-
pointee was clipped by an intelligent
newspaper clerk for the use OF the presi-
dent. Ii local Office the newspapers oil
the state or the county wers secured Tor
comments. If there were any serious OBJ
jections to the proposed appointment they
came up 10 the surface through the press
or by confidential letters TO the president
or to members of congress. In this man
ner more than one man with "cinch" on
an office was laid on the shelf by the
Arthur administration.
Indiana Applicants for Treasury Jobs.
That the object of Secretary Carlisle in
the matter of appointments by opening
the appointment book TO the public may
be fully realized so far as Indiana is con-
cerned the following list OF Indiana APP
plicants for positions under the treasury
is given. 1t is up to date:
David II. Patten, exIspresentsiiye from