Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-24
CHANGE the offee-seekIng Business

The clamor that prevails In Washing
ton city carried on BY Office seekers mas
grown TO be the most annoying as wen
as the most persistent clamor that be-
sets the president. the members OF con-
gress and the department chiefs.
This office seeking business Is uresome
20 read about and must be tiresome 10
hear about on the spot.
The president OF the United States Is
actually pursued and interviewed BY con-
rressuen and senator's who are being
pressed from the rear until he must be
tired and sick OF the whole OF this ofiice
seeking business
n is reported that the president Is al
most hiding himself at Oyster Bay TO get
an interval OF rest and his friends are
congratulating him that hotel facilities al
Oyster Bay are 50 limited that the crowd
perforce must be diminished.
II was an optomistic sort OF person who
lad an idea that poor eating or sleeping
places would keep that crowd at bay.
TREY would Ike nothing so well as TO put
up at cheap lodgings while they pressed
their claims. and unless the president mas
some sort OF a cave where he can really
hide when at Oyster Bay he Is literally
helpless and cornered satisfactorily In
little county place.
The senators and congressman have but
precious little time left for legislative
ONCE seekers. II IS the nightmare that
attends their waking dreams. and they
could have real good time IL this clamor
would cease and the pressure could be
lightened.
But It Is not possible at present. The
whole fabric Of American politics is based
on tie struggle for ONCE. The big fell
lows get IN and she little ones intend TO
get IN too. and II they can show where
they have helped the big fellow the latter
must hustle and get the small fry located
In a place that pays. or the big fellows
VIII smell the patching" when they
want denomination and ask their help
again
Il Is many the man who has gone under
because he got an III name for failure 10
secure places for the people at home.
The greatest man IS no longer the man
who talks or votes the best. but the man
who tricks and trades until his support
ers are Quoted and their hold on the
public teat Is a substantial one.
This office seeking business reminds me
OF the antics OF a litter OF pigs-when the
mother SOW returns from a foraging ex-
petition
The pigs squ,al and caper and fight and
push until each teat IS occupied. then
they all grow strangely quiet and only
the old SOW grunts while she fattens the
piss.
me NiN@ &4lEAA O-&NEE NNNF Ca
per IN and out OF the departments and
woe be 10 the senator or member who does
not go with the ONCE seeker and get on
his marrow bones before the folks who
can appoint
Il Is a commentary on the weakness OF
the system as well as the weakness Of hui
mankind that Offices are not distributed
in better and EOre equitably way.
i IS reported that a presidential nomi-
ration once hinged On an appointment TO
the supreme court bench. Interstate cor
pc-atiols having picked out a jurist who
would wear their collar. the newt thing
was 20 say: Look here. candidate. we
viii furnish the money 20 carry the cleo
tiou. provided you appoint our man for
Judge" Guild pro quO.s Something for
souethlngl Such judge wearing such
collar would have made every hair on the
head cf a revolutionary Patriot bristle in
d.sdain.
But the candidate did as he was told
and the money was planked down and
justice MD her face and wept.
cas- FREEDOM shrieked when Koziusko
fcH-'1
The president should be a ruler. not
an ofIice giver. II detracts from the dig
nifty CT the place. 70 see him cutting pie
az pie counter. The presidency has de-
generated into a dispensary OF patronage.
and congressman should not be allowed
TO- hand cut pie either A Recommended
tion should come mp from the people who
are 20 be served. and their wishes should
be respected II IS a notorious fact, that
census work has gone down into actual
dIsrepute because IL Is become a pie. TO
be cut and dlshed out 70 the servitors Of
a congressman. There should be a COM
rrittCe at home IN the county TO select the
officials who are to be appointed and stop
an this tricking and trafiicSing to ind
places for the smaller fry. Then we
should have better people in the places
and give the members in Washington a
living chance 10 do what they were ELECT
ed for and expected TO do.