Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-30

After exchanging few words with them,
he turns his back for a moment, goes down
into his pocket, and passes something to
each member Of the group, which is re-
ceived with almost slight-of-hand rapidity
So from group to group the same greetings
are exchanged aud the same pantomime re-
peated.
The first questions one is apt to ask him
self are why does Mr.. Daily give to these
men, and what necessity compels them, ap-
parently strong and vigorous, to take of his
bounty or charity2" To the one whose
curiosity prompts him to investigate the ex-
PLANTATION is generally satisfactory. In their
days these men were artists in the profes-
sion" to which they had devoted their
lives. They had been among Mr.. Days
most skiliful workmen. and if not honest in
the full meaning Of the word they
were honest to a chivalric extent in
their dealings with him. Though strong in
body still, they have lost their nerve"
their eyesight has begun to fail them, or
thQpgh some other physical weakness the
skill Of their younger days has gone from
them. As they are absolutely united for
any other occupation, and were once faith
full workers for their employer, he has put
them upon his pension list and assured
them of his charity as long as he lives and
is able to give.
Pat" Sheedy, in the days of his pros
perity had also his string Of pensioners,
and for that matter still has a few who de-
pend on his benevolence as the laborer de-
pends on his wage For several years past
Mr.. Sheedy has been something of globe
trotter, so that lie has been unable to dis
tribute his pensions with the regularity Of
others of his friends VINO have remained in
New York. As far as can be learned how.
ever, he has not forgotten them and, though
he be in the antipodes, he sends them their
stipends at stated intervals. The same may
be said of Richard Can6eld, Honest John
Kelly Peter DeLacy, The" Allen and
dozens of others.
The political leader has also his pension
ers, and the men who solicit his bounty
with unremitting regularity are, as a gen.
eral rule, far from worthy of any charity.
The majority of them are nothing but
broken down petty politicians, whose ply
sical feebleness is due only to their vices
but as they had been faithful officers for
their leader they feel that they have hold
upon his charity, and with a punctuality
which they had probably never displayed
before IN their lives in any good office, they
plant themselves in his path to receive
their regular allowances. Judging from
their general appearance whatever little they
do receive is Immediately sacrificed at the
shrine of Bacchus.
Every evening between five and six
O'Clock any one who happens to walk up
the east side of Center street from
Chambers to Franklin street will see
man of the "seen.better days type stand
ing on every corner in an expectant attitude
with his eyes directed at the saloon on the
northeast corner of Franklin and Center
streets. The saloon they gaze at so intently
belongs to Tom" Foley leader of the
Second Assembly District, and these men
are his pensioners and have been on his
pension list for years. To each one he
gives as cents every evening, and should he
forget to pass their way any evening he
would find the whole string at his place of
business the next morning to remind him
of his remissness.
The mention of Mr. Foley and his pen
sioners IS only by way of Illustrating what
every district leader of Tammany Hall and
many of the Republican party is compelled
to do by habit that has grown upon them.
Even Richard Croker had his pensioners,
though in later years they have received
the little charities through his secretary.
In the corridors of the county court house
ragged little group of men gather together
every afternoon about closing time to await
the going home of the many political
officials and Judges employed in the build
ing, and none of them leaves without re-
ceiving coin OF in some cases a bill. The
same may be said of every public building
in the city, and there are few oficeholders
in the city, however humble, who have not
one or more regular recipients of charity.