The news & observer., 1897-03-11
Dff3@G andl Off
ff1MGnSGG[AG0oS
IMnshington Post.l


| clugin that ,post OF II OH are lElil'ei
tI,,vn, and that othh,s that lo not c,plc
under the civil service rule will not he
disturbed until after the tariff bill bs
passed and the terms OF the present iii
| cumhents have expired,
Certain people who had apprehensions
| lest Mai Mckinley might lack decision
OF character have been relieved Of MI
anxiety on that score, He is nifable, he
| IA gracious, aud even cordial TO every ono
| who calls. but he Is like a stone wall when
| the candidate runs against him. and has
| as large q stock of silence nt his dis
posal MS Gen Grant People are begin
/ Ining to notice a resemblance in President
/ Mckinley 60 the silent soldier lie can
listen patiently with manifest nttens
/ ton TO whatever is said 60 him, and lot
/ the speaker 50 without offering any re-
| ply whatever. He does not gush like
Garfield or endcavor TO explain his dit
Eaculties like Hayes. lie is never rude
| aud gruff like Cleveland aud he does not
give his visitors the chils a@ President
Harrison did, lie manages 10 show a
cordial interest in every one, but is MS
| firm as the eternal rocks when people try
to crowd him.
II y
| hind the Republican Senators aud Repre-
sentatives. aud will consider no applicn-
tions for office that do not bear their in
| dorsement. He recognizes them rs the
representatives of the people, as the best
source Of information concerning the
character and qualifications Of candi-
| dates, and the effect of appointments
upon the political condition of their dis
tricts and States,
1t is n source of satisfaction to appli-
cants that the responsibility Of selection
is to fall upon their Senators and Repre-
sentatives, for they are always within
reach and subject to selfish considera-
tions to which each otice-secker thinks
he can appeal better than any of his
competitors. AS the Russian peasant
says when he is questioned about the
tyranny OF the boyars: THE Tsar is al
ways busy. and God is afar OFF, But
Senators and Representatives are easily
found and it is difficult for them to escape
the opportunities of their constituents.
The office seekers like this rule better
than the Congressman. Many of them
would prefer to have the President as
sumo the responsibility.
A Senator went to the White House
with a bundle Of papers representing a
bout forty applications for consulates.
They all bore his recommendations and
were neatly done up and briefed.
'tYou don't expect me to appoint all
those men, do yOu?' said President Me-
Kinley.
well I don't know" returned the
Senator I'D like to have you appoint
as many as you can. They are all good
men"
How many places in the Consular SER
vice do you consider you State entitled
to-"
Il should think we ought to pull out
FIVE or six good ones"
WELL" retorted the President sup
pose you take those papers away with
you and after consulting on that basis
with your delegation pick out five or six
of the best men and all join in recon-
mending them. There is plenty of time.
1T would be difficult to make selec-
ton" suggested the Senator.
Not so dificult for you as for me, re
turned the President "You know the
men and / don't"
II mean that it would be embarra ssing
for me to indicate preference in many
cases"
"You want me to assume that embar-
rassment? ! am willing to share the re-
sponsibility, but ! cannot make any APP
pointments from your State unless you
select the men. You must get together,
too. ] don't propose to settle any con-
tr0versies."
That is the sort OF talk the President
gives to me rly all the Congressman who
visit him, and as a consequence the dele
cations from the several States will hold
meetings to decide between the claims
of contending constituents. They are
pretty well convinced that they will not
be able TO secure appointments upon their
Individual influence and must act to-
gether for the welfare of their party.
A gentleman OF some fame as "a writer,
who might claim a residence in any 0f
three States, and who has been a warm
personal friend of the President, asked
to be considered candidate for an at
tractive foreign mission
II have not brought any papers," he
said, "for you know me as we'll as any
body and can judge as accurately Of my
fitness as all the Senators and Repre-
sentatives and politicians in the country.
Still, if it is necessary / viii get some
letters"
II would do so if were you" observed
, the President quietly.
From whom do you suggest|
"From the Senators and Representa-
tives OF your State"
II doubt If / could get either one Of the
| Senator's" was the reply, "but | can get
| the Representatives
Better get the Senators, too, IL you
can," remarked the President in cOnclu-
! sion and turned to another visitor.
| Senator Hanna has appointed as his
private secretary Mr.. s. A. Perkins, who
was president OF the Republican College
League a few years ago, and during the
last campaign acted as assistant TO Sec
retary Osborne, Of the National commit
tee at the New York headquarters Mr..