New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-09
OFFICE-SEEKERS UNHAPPY.
THE PRESIDENTS NEW ORDER FAILS To
AROUSE THEIR ENTHUS SIASM.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY HE DEDIC ATED
HIMSELF IF HE i NOT WILLING
TO DE SACRIFICED.
[HY TELEGRAPH TO IAE TRrBrSE.l


who have been drawn here in the prai>eworthy
purpose to help share in tIiumphs of the recent
rcstoration." The sangunc and eNuberant party
patriot and seeker after Office has had many trials
and embarrasSments to face since the return from
exile and in his responding and darkcned mo-
mrnts has been driven to believe anything possible
in this world of political sellishncss and ingrati-
tude
Coming TO Washington full of confidence in such
encouraging phrases of Mr. Clevclands inaugural
address as " In obedience 10 the mandate, Of my
countrymcn | am about TO dedicate myself 10 their
service" or " ! pledge complete devotion to the
interests of those who have honorcd me- the
hopeful patriot could not bc blamed for imagining
the beginning of "a happier day in politics, in
which the evils Of office brokerage and und rh n led
influences to be- done away with and the
candid applicant for IA post in the public service
would simply have to present his claims of party
standing and character to have them Indeed
openly and freely by the Chief Magistrate, who
had publicly " dedicated" himself to that pains
taking task. One by one the deserving seeker
after Office has seen his privileges AS a citizen
curtaIled abolished, his qualification. houtrd
and even the ordinary means of access to the
President and members of his Cabinet denied or
abridged, until the long cherished phrases of the
inaugural message have become u hollow mockcrv
in the ears Of those TO whose interests and wei
fare the newly elected President had "dcdicatcd7
himself, promising solcmnlv to promote the Mel-
fare of " those who have hOpOTed me.
Tie order of Yesterday marks hnal blow 10
the unhappy applicant for office. Instead Of that
kindly and sympathetic interest with the Demo
cratic patriot had counted receiving for his
claim 10 a share of the fruits of th" restoration.
he is bluntly told to Danish himself hereafter,
not only from ante-rooms of the White House.
but even from the streets of Washngton. Those
Of the long-suffcring patriots who have remained
here stcadfastly 10 ask FOR Judgment on their
claims 10 receive office are divided IN their feel
ings about this last official icbuke to personal ac-
tiviiy \ few oflicc seekers and brokers VINO
have swallowed all previous rcbnlls with outward
~tolylity. accept this new turn IN th" situation
with all the Grace they can, and say that perhaps
the President simply wishes to stem the pressure
for Office temporarily The great majority of TN"
rank and file of politicians are loud. however, ~
their dennnciation Of the order shutting ont the
rcorlo from PERSONAL interviews with III" fr'7-
dent about matters in which th"y and the com
mnnit~- in which th"v live NJ" viiay lh'et'S''"
,. fl.r III, ulcas II { put y.
They say that ono reason WHY there hdS ''''
such a crowd IN Washington and 50 much press
pre ,non the President il because the impression
cot abroad among the people that this Aimlnistra-
tion intended 10 break up ring rule and bo7SIsm
I'm nolitcs 10 pay less attention 70 the r. coinmcn-
da,ions Of Senators and representatives and local
rarty leaders and more 10 the Endorsements oil the
rconIe direct Citizens obtained the idea that
they were invited 10 come forward win camil-
date. and to speak mp in their own right. Ihry
responded ~ the invitation and now hnd th"m-
..lvcs turned down at Nh" threshold IN" dIs-
ornnted minor p, ,ticans max" the poih' t'o'
that tie order will have the effect of making
close corporation Of the patronage system by GIVING
senator, and Representatives tn" sole right to talk
with the President About appointments, ana that
,bn President will thus b. dcbarrcl from icarin"
tn. voice Of the people at large on the iitn'S' "f
candidates put forward for appointment TO Offices
Many politicians express indignation ar IN" CLOS
ING sentence Of the Presidents proclamation. which
soya. Applicants for Office will ony prejudice
their prospects by repeated importantly and by
remaining at Washington to await results
They think that the President has no right
virtually 10 send them away from the city AMI
threaten them with his dsfavor II they persist
i'm asking for that 70 which they claim a perfect
,ight AT least in requesting. and which th" PreSI-
don't has himself asked AT The hands of the p'o-
plc-appoihtmcnt 10 Office They loudly proclaim
against what they term an arbitrary exercise oi
power by the President III refusing audience 70
men who have public business with him, but VINO
do not possess official position. They point u
fine fact that tlis is the first time in American
history when a President Of III" United states has
shut the door in the faces Of private citizens who
come to discuss public affairs In which they are
interested. Why shord the President, they argue.
himself the chief office holder, refuse 20 receive
any who call to Sc him purely office business :
In defence of the Presidents order il Is said by |
mem hers OF the Administration that although |
severe in its tone and stringent in it, effects ITS
issue was ma lc absolutely necessary by the bur
dcns nut upon the President by the seekers after
Office. It. is urged that the President has borne
with patcncc the personal solicitations of the peo
plc for two months that az a matter Of fact the |
personal presence of th" applicants l. seldom nee |
essarv Papers and Inducements ar, filed in the |
eases of offices for which the majority of his callers
have been applicants and action is taken upon the
papcrs in the case alone The President cannot |
even the names of those who seek per |
sonal interviews with him. To say nothing of the |
claims for prcfcrmcnt which they put forward |
here are times of course when t." President wonll
like to meet certain men who are recommended |
for appointmcnt but in that ease he can srn for |
them 1t is argued that the denial of personal !
interviews does not cut off the right OF citizens 70
make Endorsements or put forward candidates.
They may file all the papers they wish to. AMI
when the question Of filling certain office comes
up the claims of each applicant will receive at
tcntion senator Vance. who called at the White
House to-day for IA moment, indor,rd the Prcsi-
dents new order He said it wouh relieve the
President from great deal Of pressure cNertcd
by office seekers which, while it consumed valuable
time did not benefit the applicant, for personal
inter, lows hardly amounted 10 anything when
the President many persons in the course
Of a day. Senators and Representatives. of course
warmly applaud the tone and spirit OF In" order,
and congratulate themselves that the President
has voluntarily done for them, by his new ruling,
Il double service In the first place, he has !.
licved them from the tircsomc task Of taking con-
,ttuents 70 the White House to present their
claims, and in the second place. by barring ont all
Others but themselves has greatly incr'aseI the