The Washington times., 1894-04-25
IN AND OUT OF OFFICE.

There is large chance for some one Of the
newspaper men representing an anti-admini-
stration paper to make a vigorous kick against
what might be called press-censorship in the
department and at the White House. This
deep, deep diplomacy Of ours. this secrecy
as to the mysterious ways in which we depart
ment people move our wonders to perform,
is one Of those frequent evidences Of the large
ness OF head We acquire when we secure
appointment here. We really dc. forget that
other people in Washington and in other parts
of the country are nearly enough as good as
ourselves to receive little consideration now
and then why not dole them out n real good
story once in while to let them know we
have not entirely forgotten. l for one am in
favor Of it.
What for instance is the cause of oil this
inquisitional unoommunicativeness at the
White House? Why is every move of Mr..
Cleveland deeply stranded in mystery? Why
when he goes infrequently abroad does he
veil himself as If he were the queen Of an
harem? Just at present, why can the news
paper men hear nothing but rumors, worse
one hundred times Of course than there is any
possibility Of the truth being. Necessarily when
one only find mysteriously closed doors with
mysterious fiunkeys and their mysterious
whisperings guarding them one imagines
what might be behind them. And then II one
goes of and tells some one else that one has
heard that these curious things are behind
the doors who is to blame? That's how those
uncomfortable stories get about. and OF
course. they aren't true. But why wouldn't
little Of the ordinary daylight unscreened
method of doing things be much better for
every one?
And the same in the departments: the peo-
pie cry for light; why can't we give it them?
Every day some official Of US gets some little
piece of news OF no Importance which could
be given out without wrecking the govern
ment. We might give it out and keep the re-
porters quiet. As it is they tell things as
nearly true as they can guess them.
One example with regard to this railroad
strike and the Post Office Department The
other day the Post Office Department wanted
to know If the strikers could be prosecuted
for obstructing mail trains. Attorney Gen
eral Olney was asked for an opinion. Finally
correspondents. the press association men
were hunting for news, some OF them about
this very matter. Some of them asked every
department official who could possibly know.
and among them the people who really did
know after this opinion of Mr.. Olney was
given. Nothing was given out. The opir N
was telegraphed to Assistant Superintel. 1t
Wilson, who is at St. Paul looking after mat
tiers there. From there the Associated Press
telegraphed the opinion over the country,
and to Washington with other places. This
is one little story. There are many OF Others.
Mr.. Smith has issued his promotions pro-
Dunciamento. the regular thing, you know,
the sterotyped order that all promotions and
reductions shall be made from proficiency
records and that kind of thing How lone
some we should feel il this tough old girl
didn't turn up some year. Every Secretary
that has ruled for some years back has flirted
with her, has, as it were, taken her around on
his arm and been proud to have the boys see
him with her and admire her beauty. Mr.
Smiths order is the result of several weeks of
travail on his part. offlciated over and helped
along by the heads OF his business. All these
people have met behind closed doors (again
this secrecy every Monday this month aad
last. Every Tuesday the papers have printed
the pickup" story.