Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1902-11-04
A Joke That Pleased Cleveland.

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President Cleveland, during his
first administration, was greatly
amused at one of Mr. Wright's inge-
nious devices, as related to him by
Secretary Lamar, under whom the
bureau Of labor then came. 1t seems
that when the bureau was first started
man from a western state was
strongly recommended for an impor-
tant position in the new organization
He had the endorsement Of labor lead
ers, of judges of the courts and of
members of both houses of congress.
The only regret felt by those who
read the words of commentator in
his endorsement was that a still
higher post was not open for so singu-
larly meritorious a parsonage. His
appointment was accordingly agreed
upon. But as soon as his name went
out by the Associated Press, food of
protests came in, alleging that the
man was an ex-convict and wholly
unworthy of the place.
Secretary Lamar was much exer-
cised about the matter and asked Col.
Wright what he thought of doing.
81 propose, - was the answer, Ito dis
miss the man at once and then give
the Associated Press in the afternoon
the names Of all the persons who have
endorsed him for this place. -
do you dare do that - ques-
toned the secretary of the interior.
II certainly do; do not intend to
be buncoed into appointing ex-convicts
to Office and having the persons who
endorse them escape"
On the list issued to the press ap-
peared the name of the very judge |
who had tried this man. 1t also be- |
came known that the man was not |
only an ex- convict but was then under
indictment on another charge.
The day after the publication of the
list of indOrsers a congressman was
urgently for an appointment
for a friend, when Mr.. Cleveland,
with the utmost seriousness, re-
marked: 4 suppose if your friend |
should go wrong you would be per-
fectly willing to have your name |
printed in connection with what you
are saying to me today. One of the
new rules of this administration, you
know, is that when federal ap
pointee goes to the bad, we give out
to the press complete list of those
who indorsed him.
The labor bureau was established III |
the latter part of President Arthur S
administration, and the president had
found some difficulty in getting man
to fill it. He accordingly asked Gen
eral Butler if he would not ask Colo |
mel Wright, who was doing similar
work in Massachusetts, to come down |
here and help perfect the organiza- |
tion, but not with the expectation of |
remaining in charge.
President Arthur about that time
wrote letter to President elect Cleve- |
land; explaining the situation to him, |
and saying that out of courtesy to the
president the place would he left open
after March 4, Colonel Wright merely
setting the work on foot. Mr.. Cleve-
land PROMPTLY replied that he should
prefer Mr. Wright's selection to be
made permanent, as he could think
of TO one whom he would rather ap-
point to that position than Colonel
Wright, although he was known to be
a republican.
The department of labor will doubt
less be confronted before many years
with the loss from public life in this
city of the man who was agreed upon
by the retiring republican and the in
coming democratic president in the
winter of 1885. But his work will
remain. Atlanta Constitution.