Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-10-24
THE OFFICE SEEKERS.
They Are Already Abroad in Every
Nook and Corner.
The "Statesman" who Knows How to
Treat Them Well Usually Remains
IN Congress for a Great
Many Years.
Especial washington Letter.l

1t was in the summer of 1859, and
scorching hot day. 1t was in the room
of the senate committee on public
lands. Frank Flennil<en, the clerk of
the committee, was hard at work. He
was always hard at work, because Sem
ator Plumb was hard worker, aun 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
handshalie."
The senator turned around, took 3ea-
cons hand and shook it heartily, say
ing: always glad to see you, jim;
but what do you want to shake haGds
for? Are you going away"
mo, I'm not going away" responded
Beacon; but I sort O. want to get
warmed up, and you're a warmer"
Isn't this day hot enough Tor you2"
inquired Plumb, who still held Beacon's
hand while with his left he wiped a
perspiring forehead.
1T seems mighty chilly to me- re-
sponded Beacon. II supposed it wns
hot day, but I've just been 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 lea
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 disres.cct
for Ingalls, and his high regard for
Plumb at the same time. 1t was the
chill which he impaired to many OF
the common people that struck in one
year later, and the people gavt Ingu;ls
TIE cold shoulder by electing Peff"r in
his place. Even the office seekers be-
lieve that they have some rights.
When Frank Hatton was made first
assistant postmaster-genera! he was
placed in charge of the fourth-c'ass
post offices and controlled the appoint
ments of upwards of 10000 pos tmas;ers
His room was daily filled with ottlce
seekers and their friends. After ht
had been in his high office for about {
week, l asked him one morning how he
managed to treat all of those Office
seekers with such patience and urLhn
ity, and he replied:
I've just been an Office seeker my
self. Those people have as much rIgh
to seek office as had, and it is my dr ty
10 treat them politely, just as expected
and received polite treatment when
was seeking this Office"
That is the sensible way TO look n
the subject, but there are few lnen ,rhC
attain high positions and remembe
that they were recently Office seekers
themselves. Thus it is with senators
and representatives. They solicit tn,
suffrages 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
right to expect the assistance of :h
men whom they have put forward a
their representatives.
The Office seeker is abroad in the 'aBC
to-day. No matter who sh5il be in
Gugurated next March, there will b.
hordes of Office seekers in the nationa
capital. They will call upon their sen
ators and representatives, and the mel