The Springfield herald., 1897-03-19
FEW OFFICES OPEN.
VISITORS LEAVING WASHING
TON.
Those Who Attended the Inauguration to
Get Position Under the Government
Are Observation-Disclosures Ideas OF
Appointments Held by Cleveland and
Mckinley.

Washington. March 1.-THE office
seekers are beginning to go home
They have found no encouragement to
remain here. They have discovered TO
their chagrin that most of the Offices
are nailed down, and that the FEW that
do come under the civil-service rules
will not be distributed until after the
tariff bill is passed and the terms OF
present incumbents have expired.
1t is also interesting to know that
certain people who had apprehensionS
before the St Louis convention and be-
fore the election lest Major Mckinley
might lack decision of character. have
been relieved of all anxiety on that
score. He is affable. he is gracious.
and even cordial. to every one who
calls, but he feels like n stone wall
when you run against him. and mas rs
large a stock of silence at his disposal
as General Grant. Peopl" are begin
ming to notice Il resembl.o-ee in Presi-
dent Mckinley to the silent soldier.
He can listen patiently and with mani
fest attention to whatever is said to
him and let the speaker go without of
ferihg any reply whatever. He does
not gush like Garfield or endeavor to
explain his difficulties like Hayes. He
is never rude or gruff like Cleveland,
and he does not freeze up and give his
visitors the chills as President Harri-
son did. He manages to show cor
dial interest in every one. but is as
firm as the eternal rocks when the peo-
pie try to crowd him.
There is good deal of speculation rs
to the effect of President McKinley's
policy regarding patronage upon the
future of his party. 1t has been often
Cleveland
the Democratic party by refusing of
fees to those who We're entitled to
them. and there is no doubt that the
original differences between him and
his followers We're due tc that cause.
But there is a decided difference be-
tween the practice of President Cleve-
land and that of President Mckinley
in this respect. They regard the sub
iect and their duty from entirely diff
ferent points of view
Cleveland took the ground that he
was the servant of the people. and re
sponsible to them for the conduct of
public affairs. Therefore. it was his
duty to select his subordinate officials
without regard to the Senate and
House of Representatives. He accept
ed the recommendation of local lead
ers. and used them as sources of infor-
nation concerning the character and
qualifications of applicants. but when
lie made selection for any particular
office it was a matter of no conse
Quence to him whether the applicant
was Endorsed by his representative in
Congress or the senators from his
State. He consulted Republican con.
cressmen quite as frequently as he did
Democrats. The candidate who came
with the best recommendations, from
W n 70 a nb
of getting the appointment, without re
gard to political considera tons. AS n
consequence the Democratic senators
and members of the House of Repre-
sentatives. and the local leaders in the
several States We're constantly irritat-
ed, and eXasperated by a reputation
of what they considered their Drivi
leges and prerogatives. and with the
Senate he was always at war concern
ing his right of appointment. Presi
dent Cleveland's practice of ignoring
them and assuming all the RESPONSE
bility himself. was the wedge that first
split the Democratic party.
President Mckinley goes practically
to the other extreme. He places him.
self behind the Republican senators
and representatives, and will consider
no applications for office that do not
bear their Endorsement. He recognizes
them as the representatives of the peo-
pie, as the best source of information
concerning the character and Qualifica.
tons upon the political condition of
their districts and states.
There is a good deal of impotence
and irritation at his procrastination in
making appointments. of course and
some of the ottice-seekers and their
friends in Congress think it is not fair
for him to postpone nominations until
after the passage of the tariff bill.
They suggest that il looks a good deal
like coercion" Some also complain
because Mr.. Mckinley declines to
turn the rascals out" and intends to
permit honest and faithful Democratic
officeholders to serve their full terms, |
but this practice has been pretty gen.
orally observed during the last three
administrations. and the public is be.
coming used TO it. If the rule is strict
ly observed there will be no great dis
satisfaction from that cause.
The limited number of offices to be
filed is also a source of discomfort for
which the president of course. is not
responsible. This also is generally un.
derStood throughout the country |