The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-07

His Methods when I'm Control of Sir
ginia Polftics-A Boss.

G1nl0 POl1t1cH-A BOSS
Washington Correspondence New York
The sudden illness of ex-senator Malone.
of Virginia, has set many persons rejecting
upon the ups and downs in American public
man who a dozen years ago held the po-
litical destiny of the great State of Virginia
On 1ne hoaG for 81 1be n1 LAST a1 hslf- See %nf hss % been
to struggle Will Congress to induce 1t to
buy a piece of land of him for a printing
office. Recollections of his methods as a
ering of politicians in this city, He used TO
swing party patronage with a long arm In
the early eighties. He used to leave lying
casual visitor of the sense of his power. in
his paliny days, a printed blank reading in
this way:
Washington. d. c., -", 1885,.
General-Please appoint -- postmas-
ter rat at 10 :. . in the county 81 Of those M. virginia ,Ifsrastea
in the office. and for the good of the serv-
truly, WILLIAM MAHONE
To the First Assistant Postmaster-gen-
eral.s Postofhce Department
This document was Endorsed, also in
print. in this way:
mends the appointment of - for post
master at - in - county. Virginia.
Malone worked diligently in conjunction
Office holders within reach. Once in awhile
his mechanical methods brought him TO
grief. The story is told of a Democrat
is-eat deal Of work for General Malone in
one of the southwestern counties OF Vir-
ofice in return. The neighborhood was not
very thickly settled or the people very
much given to letter writing; and the re-
suit was that during the first month of his
Office holding the postmaster took in only
4 cents in cash-the price of one three
cent postage stamp and one postal card.
A q N ion a met mi m ond rhn
postmaster had hardly time to figure no
his profits from his office when a circular
arrived from Hubbell demanding 5 per
cent. of his official income for campaign
purposes. This was quickly followed by
one from Malone calling on him for 10 per
cent. of the same income. The postmaster
concluded that after handing over 8 per
cent. and then 10, the remainder of the
4 cents was not likely to lay the founda-
5 nosfsfs of a an FORTUNE bis me so ne threw sD t up the the
adjuster party at the same time and went
back to his old love among the Demo-
Malone could be very small in certain
ways when he had vengeance to crafty.
An old negro. who had been a servant i'm
an appointment as an employe of the
United States Senate at the instance of
Ben Hill. of Georgia; The place was worth
only a few hundred dollars a year, and the
old man was abundantly able to perform
its duties in spite of his advanced age.
He was a favorite with all the Senator's
viz oAh 81 - hH Va ttV
wanted a place for one of his bankrupt
heelers. and, learning that the negro had
been appointed through the influence of
Hill. who had recently given him a terri
BILE drubbing in a speech in the Senate, he
vent to the Sergeant-at-arms and said;
II want that niggers place.
why" demonstrated the Sergeant-at-
Arms, that is Robert Stewart He was
one Of President Madison's servants. He
Yves. yes. / know; but you might as we'll
make him out one of Washington's serv-
ants while you are about it. Perhaps that
would help him get another position. l
AS the Senator insisted. the Sergeant-at-
Arms complied, for that was the period
when the Readjuster chief held the balance
Of power in the Senate.
In 1854 a commander who had been in the
navy twenty-three years was. superintend-
ent of the fifth lighthouse district. He dis
missed a VIGOROUSLY incompetent negro
who had been appointed by order OF Ma
hone. The Senator ordered his henchman
back again. The commander refused to
obey. The Senator went to Washington
and demanded that the commander be dis
ciplined. 1t took the Secretary OF the Navy
four weeks to bring himself around to the
the officer was put on waiting orders with
the reduced pay incidental to that cendi-
ton.
It is not difficult to appreciate the indig-
nation which inspired ex-Attorney-general
MacVeagh, as early as 1882. to exclaim:
Look at the awful humiliation through
III aA4O atAA Il3 = Il ak
ging the State of Virginia. Every citizen
must be ashamed OK the spectacle. The ad-
ministration is prostituting the national
treasury to enable a certain portion Of the
people of Virginia to force another portion
to repudiate her debt"
There was one man in Washington dur
ing General Mahone's supremacy who took
great satisfaction in showing that he was
the Senator's equal in a game of political
bluff. This was Mr.: Rounds. then Public
Printer. Malone went one day TO the
government printing office to demand the
dismissal of a certain compositor. a vir.
ginian. who had worked against him In
to dlsmissing the man. Mr.. Blank Is q
good printer" said he. HE is faithful and
Industrious. and besides he was appointed
at the request of Representative Dezend1rf
10 whom 1 am under obligations"
Malone. II demand his removal. IL vol
don't remove him at once I shall appea
TO the President and find out whether
have anything TO say about appointment
from my State"
not care to be crushed between the uppe
milestone OF the White House and the low
err milestone OF the Senate He was M
Illinois man himself, and was not uset
10 this sort OF bully politics. After think
ing the matter over he sent for the ccm
positcr. and. in the presence Of Senate
Malone. informed him that he was dis
missei. Mahone's eyes cleaned with sat
suppose. senator" said AR. Rounds