The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-01

rev poStothces, and those were not important
There were fewer custom houses and Indian
agencies were unknown In fact the LIST Of
places to be filled by the president by ap-
pointment approved by the senate was very
small. mere are $500 postmasters 10 be
appointed by the president now, and other
local ofnces have grown in proportion. SO
the onslaught is no less than in the time
W Wni1 myr:ads besieged Jackson in the
Wnite mouse, clamoring for places.
or course the demand for office is greatest
Wneh one party goes out of power and another
comes IN. Mr. Cleveland had comparatively
easy time in his first administration because
as one Democratic congressman explained it
recently our people did not know much
about offce holding then" But Harrison was
driven almost distracted; Cleveland at the
beginning Of his second term had his little
stock of patience nearly exhausted and the
attack on Mckinley promises to be terrific.
IL VIII be not only terrific, but prolonged
Other presidents have been anxious to COM
plete the necessary changes SO as to dispose
or the troublesome subject and get an OPP
portunfty to attend to other public business.
More than one of them has said that the pres
idents time is too valuable to be taken up
with deciding squabbles about offices, but
Mr.. Mckinley has intimated to some Of his
friends that he will hold ;ip the appointments
which are not Immediately necessary until his
pet tariff bill is passed. This means pros
Pgerity for the boarding house keepers in
Washington, but it is going to be pretty hard
on the congressman, the presidents secre-
tary and the president himself. One reason
tne senator's and representatives fought the
ierences with Maj. Mckinley was the anx-
fety they felt about the office seekers.
II the congressman are at home during
the first part Of new administration they
can put off applicants by signing recon-
mendations. But if they are in Washing
ton they cannot escape the weary round Of
chiefs, the introductions to the president
and all the horrors Of office seeking which
make the life Of senator or representative
anything but "a happy one''
Here is the routine of new CONGRESSMAN
or an old member Of a new congress. He
is awakened at o'clock or perhaps even
earlier by caller, one of his constituents
newly arrived. The visitor knows that be-
ing the first on the ground is an important
point gained. The congressman sends word
that he Wi! be down soon, and the visitor
sits in the hall to wait for him. While the
congressman is shaving, another card is sent
up. 1t is from another applicant for Office.
He is shown into the reception room. In
a little while the congressman comes down
stairs, and the man in the hall buttonholes
him. He has bundle Of papers-letters
OF recommendation, petitions, etc., signed
by prominent people in his town. The con-
gresham looks them over and perhaps
makes an appointment for a later hour to
take the man to the White house Then he
enters the parlor and finds visitor No. 2,
armed with more papers and prepared to
argue his case 1t may happen that the
congressman has promised the place this
discourage the man. Perhaps there is
something just as good that you can get
for me-" he says. They discuss the matter,
and the congressman advises him to pick
out place for himself and come again.
APPLICATIONS BY MAIL.
Breakfast is served, and with 1t comes the
private secretary, his arms full Of mail. More
Observation-Disclosures Of applications
letters of Endorsement. Men he never heard
Of write to him to recommend other men for
appointment. These recommendations the
secretary refers, with a formal note to the
head OF one or other Of the departments.
Acknowledgements to the writer's are pre-
pared, and these the congressman signs after
he has gulped down a bite Of steak and cup
OF coffee He reads the Washington papers
at the breakfast table. After breakfast he
closely. He learns from their local columns
the names of new candidates for Office the
petitions being prepared to forward to him.
and the men who are planning to visit Wash
ington to press their applications.
He examines his personal mail, dictates
some letters and goes out at 9 o'clock to
visit the pension office, where one of his con-
stituents has claim pending, and the post
Office department, where he is looking for the
appointment of a fourth-cIass postmaster.
AS likely as not he finds another applicant
sitting on his front doorstep as he goes out
From the departments he goes to the White
house. meeting his visitor Of the morning.
He sends in his name to the president, and
waits in The anteroOm for a few minutes.
When he is shown into the square room,
where the president receives visitors, he finds
half dozen other men ranged along the wall
in stif-backed chairs. He awaits his turn.
After time the president looks in his direc-
ton, bows and smiles.
APPLICANT SEES THE PRESIDENT.
He comes forward, introduces his constitu-
ent, who is thrown into tremor by the cor
diality of the presidents hand grasp and he
rehearses his mission. The applicant has
those precious papers grasped firmly in his
right hand. Without looking at them, the
president says that they should be filed with
the head Of the department in which the ap-
pointment lies, and that they will reach
him in due time, when he is ready to take
up the case. Another cordial hand grasp, q
smile, and the applicant is dismissed.
OF course the congressman knew that ne
would be referred to the department but he
would have wasted words if he had told this
to the applicant. The who wants an
office must always see the president and
make the application in person He is
quite sure that if he does not the president
way. Many men have been appointed to Of
flee because the president took a fancy to
them. When Norman J. Coleman was a
candidate for commissioner of agriculture
he was afterwards the first secretary of agri-
culture-he had a long talk with President
Cleveland, and his enthusiasm rose to SUCH
pitch that he pounded Mr.. Clevelands knee
to emphasize the point. The president said
that Mr.. Coleman's enthusiasm was a good
thing for a man in public Office to have and
he made him commissioner Of agriculture.
From the White house the congressman
takes his constituent to the appropriate de-
partment, where he is introduced to the de-
they part, the congressman going to the
capitol where he has a committee meeting
to attend-it was called at 10 o'clock-and
more mail to examine before the house is
called to order at noon. From his seat en-
the floor he is called several times by the
doorkeeper to men and women, most Of
them offce-seekers, and when he leaves the
capitol at o'clock one Of the place hunters
escorts him to his door. In the evening he
has no time to give to his family. A dele
cation from the biggest town in his district
calls on him to hold a conference about the
poStoffice there, and when the delegation
has been dismissed he must work till mid
night debating long letters to people who
have written to him on every subject Under
the sun-cranks, beggars. theorists. pClIti-
clans, business men, and, above all else, Office
seekers-for the man who wants government
salary will pursue the congressman frcm
early morning till the midnight hour and
Will assail him through every available cham
mel.
CONGRESSMAN NEVER SAFE.
Even away from Washington the congress-
man is pursued by men who want office.
Representative Geary, of California, used to
tell of an experience he had with office
Sonoma county, situated on the shore OF
a bay. 1t is a wild, deserted spot where
he goes occasionally to fish and get relief
from business cares. When he was first
elected to congress he found himself at the
end Of the campaign thoroughly worn out
So he determined to steal away to his camp
and rest for few days. On the day of his
arrival he had SWIM ate a meal Of fish
which he took from the bay himself and re-
tired about 8 o'clock with sense Of COM
fort he had not known in months. About
midnight he was awakened by the sound of
hammerlng on the door. He sprang from his
bunk and went to the door in his pyjamas.
is this Mr.. Geary?" said some outside
as he flung the door open.
Yes. What do you want?''
I'm candidate for postoffice over at our
place, and they told me I'd better apply early