The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-19

the Master With the People Who
Pay the Taxes-Great Men In Of
ficiaI Life Easy TO See and COur-
teOus In Their observation-disclosures
kies Sometimes Make Mistakes.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Especial. IF
words were equal to the task, 1t would
give me the greatest pleasure I ever ex-
perienced to convey some idea Of the In
science of many of our public officials. 1t
Is something the majority of people know
absolutely nothing about. Neither Is it
possible for them to comprehend unless
| they have the actual experience.
1 refer to that SNUG below-stairs i'm
pertinence Of ignorance in livery. 1t
abounds IN Washington. Certain of the
great government departments reek with
1t. More than anywhere else 1t Is to be
found in that great building few steps
from the White house known as the
state, war and navy building. But when
I mention this one I do not except any
others. In every government department,
and in every branch and bureau and office
of each department, there is an Astounding
surplus OF officiaI fnsolence.
With 1t, it's inevitable complement, is
always present an equal quantity of syo-
ophancy. Enter the superior, and-presto
behold the change! Stay and behold it
if you can stomach it--for 1t is a nause-
Gus dose. The recent bully is unlimbered
in every joint The snarl Is transferred
to an artificial. grin. He is as alert to
fatter and wheedle as he was a moment
before to deal out gratuitous insult.
1 am speaking now from the stand
point of the outsider-the nCn-office hold
er, the -pnlitician-the man who may
have occasion to go to the departments
on business. l. speak of something L
know all about. And know much more
about 1T than the president of the United
| States, any member of the cabinet, or
can tell them all more about 1t III q min
ute than they would suspect in all their
| lives.
I have no idea what might happen If
the men who have the power-and also,
in this instance the ignorance-should
come to comprehend, in ever so small de-
gree, the real condition of affairs. 1t was
my good fortune once to see one little
incident which was certainly suggestive
1t occurred while L was walking in one
of the basement corridors of the capitol
building In company with Congressman
Mann, of Chicago. We were in search Of
an obscure committee room and the con-
gresham addressed question to one of
the capitol employees whose business 1t
was to know the location of the COM
nlittees, and to direct people who had
business with them. AS It happened this
employee failed to recognize the con-
gresham, and supposing he was address
ing an ordinary powerless citizen returned
an Indifferent and insOlent answer.
Well, I have seen many angry men,
and 7 have heard much strong language,
but I never saw. a madden man, or listen
ed to moro vigorous oratOry In my life
1t came right from the heart, and had it
been delivered on the floor of the house
would have made the speaker famous
It was like a blast from a smelling
furnace, and at it's. conclusion i could
imagine [ smeiled burning flesh and sing
ed hair. -,t-
And yet this mans offense was trivial
compared with the thousands committed
daily.
BIG MEN. COURTEOUS.
In following the business of a news
paper writer I have met and been thrown
into PERSONAL contact with all kinds of
people It has been necessary to see and
talk with cabinet officers, influential SEN
ators and the so-called merchant
princes" At times it has been necessary
to go to these men on errands which
could not fail to be offensive and annoy
ing to them. Yet it has been my uniform
experience to be met with civility and
courtesy, and often kindness. One Of the
most delicate matters ever tntrusted to
NE was an interview with Vice President
Hobart in regard to his reported connec-
ton with the coal trust; yet l found less
difficulty in securing an audience and
more readiness to accommodate than l
have many times experienced with some
eleventh-rate' petty bureau funcuonary. L
have often interviewed Mark Hanna, that
VIGOROUSLY domineering and brutal party
owner; yet I can testify that I never have
been abused or snubbed at his hands.
The same is true of ex-Secretary AL
ger. Cen Miles is never anything but
considerable Secretary Long, of the
navy, is VIGOROUSLY accommodating and
civil President Mckinley himself is the
model of courtesy.
The man who has real greatness or real
strength does not have to be a bully. 1t
is your little great man, your valet in his
masters clothes, your incompetent and
cowardly imitation, who struts in the
feathers of imagined greatness and seeks
for an opportunity to show the authority
which he has ilched, or which, for the
time being, has been entrusted to him.
1t is your doorkeeper, your bum batliH,
your private secretary, your bureau
chief, who impersonates insolence. These
little satellites, living and revolving in
the shadow of greatness, learn to ape
the tricks and mannerIsms of their SUI
periors, and when they are by nature be-
meath the position which they hold and
are in truth menials they itch to practice
their tricks on others. 1t is a part Of
their ignorance that they generally fail
to recognize their superiors and are
amenable to nothing but a kick.
I hesitate to mention specific instances
which I have encountered lest 1 seem to
be moved by some personal animus. Be-
sides, insolence is something which can
hardly be described. Stripped of the at
tendant circumstances, and without the
air, the tone of voice, the gesture, the
personal mannerism-an impossible to
reproduce with accuracy and in detail
the incident may appear trivial. But \
cannot forbear brief account of one of
many cases.
OFFICIAL INSOLENCE.
At the Office of Admiral G. w. Mel
Vile, chief of the bureau of steam en-
gineering, I learned that the only place
1 could obtain certain information was
from Admiral A. S. Crowninshield, chief
of the bureau of navigation. The infor-
nation of which 1 was in search was of
a nature somewhat involved and per-
sonal 1t would require few minutes
private conversation to explain what
wanted and to find out what 1 wanted to
know. AT the same time it was nothing
which the department could have the
slightest hesitation in giving out. At the
door of Admiral Crowninshield's Office |
presented my card to the colored messen-
( ger who guarded 1t.
What do you want?" demanded the
messenger, glancing at my card and ris-
ing from his seat.
ITO see Admiral Crowninshield, I re-
piled