Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-10-22
THE OFFICE SEEKERS.
They Are Already Abroad in Every
Nook and Corner
The "statesman" Who Knows How to
Treat Them Well Usually kemains
IN Congress for Great
Many Years.
Especial Washington letter.


scorching hot day. 1t was in the room
of the senate committee on public
lands. Frank Flenniken, the clerk of
the committee, was hard at work. lie
was always hard at work, because SEN
ator Plumb was hard worker, and it
required good worker to keep pace
with him. Frank Flenniken was equal
to the task.
Ex-Gov. Ike Sharp was there. Jim
Beacon, of Smith Center, had just come
in. There were five or six other Kan
sans in the room when Senator Plumb
entered. He said: Hello, boys" and
went to Flenniken to give directions
about some business, when jim Beacon
walked over and said: plumb, gimme
a handshake."
The senator turned around, took Bea
cons hand and shook it heartily, say
ing: always glad to see you, jim;
but what do you want to shake hands
for? Are you going away?
"No, I'm not going away" responded
Beacon; "but 1 sort O want to get
warmed up, and you're a warmer"
Isn't this day hot enough for your"
inquired Plumb, who still held Beacon's
hand while with his left he wiped q
perspiring forehead.
ut seems mighty chilly to me" re-
sponded Beacon. II supposed it was
hot day, but I've just beeu calling
on Ingalls, in his committee room up
stairs and l got pretty thoroughly
chilled"
Ingalls, chilled many people. He he
came aristocratic and naughty. He
didn't like office seekers, and Jim Tea
con wanted to be postmaster. He knew
that Plumb would not chill him, for
he was always a good handshaker and
genial with all of his constituents. So
Beacon sarcastically alluded TO Ingalls,
in that manner to show his disresrcct
for ingalls, and his high regard for
Plumb at the same time. 1t was the
chill which lie impaired to many of
the common people that struck in one
year later, and the people gave Ingalls,
the cold shoulder by electing PETER in
his place. Even the office seekers be-
lieve that they have some rights.
When Frank Hatton was made iifst
assistant postmaster-genera! he was
placed in charge of the fourth-c!ass
post offices and controlled the appoint
ments of upwards of 4O, 900 pos tmasters.
His room was daily filled with office
seekers and their friends. After he
had been in his high office for about
week, I asked him one morning how he
managed to treat all of those Office
seekers with such patience and urLan-
tty, and he replied:
1--WE just been an Office seeker my
self. Those people have as much right
to treat them politely, just as I expected
and received polite treatment when /
was seeking this office"
That is the sensible way to look at
the subject, but there are few lnen who
attain high positions and remember
that they were recently Office seekers
themselves. Thus it is with senators
and representatives. They solicit the
SURFACES and favors of the people. be-
cause they want office. When they at
tain the object of their ambition. they
should not forget that others have
right to seek preferment, and have a
right to expect the assistance of the
men whom they have put forward as
their representatives.
The office seeker is abroad in the land
to-day. No matter who shall be in
augurated next March. there will be
hordes of office seekers in the national
capital. They will call upon their SEN
ators and representatives, and the men