The Portland daily press., 1893-04-03

and though enc of the most courteous
and considerate men in public life finds
large number of his colleagues still
cold and unforgiving because he didn't
throw wide open his doors for them eight
years ago!
AS I heard &C bright woman say in the
senate gallery few days ago as she
looked down upon the floor, 'You men
are only big boys"
Already stories are whispered round
to the effect that there is trouble between
the new president and the senate. They
are not going to confirm some Of his
nominations. There is to be a>big row
We always hear these stories when a
new president comes in, and they remind
me of the advice which General Grant
gave to General Hayes when the latter
came down to Washington to be presi
dent. Colonel Cerbin of the army was
with Mr.. Hayes then, and he tells me
the story.
General Hayes asked General Grant
for some hints about the work, and the
old soldier replied:
stYou will get along all right with the
people, General Hayes. They are reason
able and not difficult to please You
may even satisfy the house of representa-
tives, but the man was never born Of
woman that could win the approval of
the United States senate"
But am wandering away from Sec
rotary Gresbam's anteroom. The can
didates wait and wait, twirl their hats
in their hands, wonder what their neigh
bors are after and if they are going to
get it, say to themselves they'd give it
up and go home if it wasn't for being
laughed at by the people who know they
are in Washington and for what pur
pose, and suddenly all in the room spring
to their feet.
The secretary has entered. He has on
his overcoat and carries his hat in his
hand. Forty pairs of feet edge in his d.
rection. Forty hands have an itching to
grasp his. There is no stampede, no rush,
no crowding. The aspirants are too well
bred for that. AS one Of their number
reaches the secretary's side the others
fall back little to give him chance.
but shuttle eagerly forward when Mr..
Gresham disengages his hand and polite
ly removes his ear from proximity to the
tongue of the foremost. Thus man after
man rolls up, grabs the hand that runs
the state department and signs commits
sions, whispers few hurried words, TO
say which, with others, he has been wait
ing for days, and falls back.
1t is a trying scene for all concerned
trying to the aspirants, for each of them
instinctively feels he has not helped his
cause a whit; trying to the secretary,
because he would if he could give every
one of these men fair chance to state
his case, and because he knows that not
one in dozen of them will carry home
with him anything but disappointment
The secretary of state is only human.
weak and frail. He can endure only SC
many hours day the ordeal of receiving
callers He must have sleep, rest, meals
and exercise, and if there were 72 in
stead of but "a hours in the day he
couldn't enjoy these and see even one
half of the aspirants and give to each
the time desired Besides the secretary
has much other and much more impor
tant work to do, and so he runs tint
gauntlet toward the corridor, shakin;
hands and exclaiming:
ssYou must excuse me, gentlemen, a.
must go to the executive mansion a
once am glad to see you, but yor
must excuse me now. | remember 20,
very well, sir, but must pass on now
Come and sec me again"
And thus he presses his way to the hal
and is Off His bearing is admirable
He is simply trying to do the best hi
can to be courteous, gentle and consid
crate under trying circumstances. Day
after day he is fatiguefa by ordeals like
this. Yet he works on, and the aspirants
hang on, and here we have glimpse OF
the Office seeking scenes of the day.
What havs told you of one mornins
in the rooms of the secretary of state i
true of every morning of every cabine
minister's office, of the White House it
self On the part of the representative
of the government there is patience, anG
also keen appreciation of the fact tina.
these men who seek official appointment
nave buc1I UiiCy CYL w VI I'LL
of respect and consideration. 1t is no
disgracefui, though decidedly uncomfori
able, to seek Office amid this scramble
But how wearisome must be the grinc
how sad and useless must all the pushin
and pulling seem to the cabinet minister
who know that 10 out of every Is Of tn
long procession must have only bite
disappointment for their pains!
It is not alone the executive officers o
the government who suffer. Senator
and congressman are overwhelmed
They fly to Fortress Monroe for fe1
days respite, or to New Yorl-any plae
but Washington or home. Their mail
dumped upon their desks by bushels an
all singing the same tune. A doze
clerks and stenographers could not kee
up with their correspondence these day
Their private and family letters lie bun
led in the mass which they do not &
even time to open. Invitations to dime
are discovered days after: the feast ar
) I. J.