The Washington times., 1905-07-02
sYNors1s OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.


In the first days OF the civil service
away back in the eighties-the author of
The Life Story OF Department Clerk" !.
young Indiana lawyer. came to Washington
20 accept cIerkship In the Office Of the
Assistant Attorney General. having 'the
dreamiest sort Of dream" that he had
planned his way into the Office of the At
torney General.
He describes his entry into the service
OF the Government and the shocks to his
dignity, administered not only by the '1ordiy
watchman." but by future associates.
He tells how he plunged into the routine
work OF applying "the little law in printed
pamphlets to letters Of inquiry.
The reader is made acquainted with his
soommates. the chief. "a man of fifty or
hfty-five years. short. and half fat, over
hearty in manner. with puffy eyelids, un-
kempt. profane; hard drinker. a gambler.
kind to everyone. a lawyer by courtesy
only" and one who owes his position to a
campaign speech; the second .n authority.
M Macpherson, a tall, extremely taciturn.
tain,lipped. acknowledgements individual
lawyer by virtue Of general legal
the writer. 'as any 1 have ever encoun-
Tered; an Irishman. O'Mara, about thirty
and a fine advertising agent of his own
talents" who knew little law. spent much
aas time in in .gassing the gerls," and who 'da-
widow. Mrs. Enrol, who was appointed
through the influence of her husbands
friends. and an unmarried woman. '.the
Dragonfiy," who seemed to rely for her Office
standiag upon the intimate friendship with
member of the National Senate.
The first year passes by before the author
realizes it He enjoys living the life'' in a
big city. which affords diversions unattain-
able in the small community from which ne
came Nevertheless he does not devote all
his spare moments TO pastime, for he pursues
his studies in the endeavor to get diploma
from school Of law. So passes the first
winter and tie next.
Then comes an event which brings about
a change In all The chief of the division
dies. and o Mara becomes his successor al
though fellow-clerks believe Macpherson en-
uued TO the promotion 'Yis. il is Mr.
" Mara, and L m sorry you are disappointed
says the appointee in noting the look of
surprise on the face of the writer. Macpher-
likewise. His judgment tells him to go
BACK 1s home HIS pride urges him to stay
ti.ins transfer. OMara lending his aid.
He learns with surprise that his posi-
hon Is cierkship. requiring no legal at
6ainments, but reconciles himself. best
he can. to the "bed he has made and has
to lie upon"
OMara in the meanwhile reaps praises
from the newspapers for the 'reorganiza-
ton of the division
During the Harrison Administration the
scramble after plums kills the last of the
writer's theories on the merit system as then
enforced, and he accepts the advice of MD
Macpherson 20 join and help rum the In
diana Republican Association. lest II run him
out of the service. Attacks are made on
his qualifications for membership through the
r1achinations OF orMara but an unexpected
friend is found in Colonel Powell. the new |
assistant attorney general and conscientious /
public servant, and the writer wins in his |
fight for Office in the association He secures |
q transfer to the Office directly under the su- |
pervision OF Colonel Powell q nj is made |
happy by chance to return to legal work. He |
undertakes the labor of compiling the laws |
while he brings from Indiana a girl who |
had been trained TO think the making of a |
home for her husband and her children the |
best work God could give her" Days begin !
in which the touches every leaf and /
blade of grass with gold
The writer rejects a promising opportunity
to return to his home town ana practice
- : The volume Of laws is finished and meets
Colonel Powell and Macpherson The depart
rneIt. however. gives no credit for the pub
Hcation to the man who did the work That
goes to the Secretary.
: Home expenses and a new arrival, Baby
and though friends lend assistance and ceIe-
brate the birth of the child by arranging a
salary increase. every day finds trouble |
..leaping on
O. Mara is detected In an act of insubordi-
nation and dismissed He falls on his feet
and is made district agent OF great con-
tracting company
Digging persistently along. though not con-
capable routine clerk. His hopes grow high
when chance for promotion IS offered
to the ground when he learns that the av-
erage he made was reduced by a poor mark
animation are men Incapable TO fiII a post of
executive power. and Philip Schuyler Is after
ii1 iivision chief He is told that the ' question
II salary Will be settled later. He finds out
ater through Colonel Powell that all the sub
Itantial recognition was given to other clerks
Sho could not carry the responsibilities.
In the endeavor to add 10 his income
lnce agent. but he deyotes but one day TO |
his side issue" and rellnauishes it be-
Il time belonging TO the Government He
las q talk with his Congressman, who says
reased salary that belongs to his position.
nd who INDUCES in a TRADE against. the
hanees in his home state Of Indiana. he "Gse Gee
lares. are not worth two whoops in he'll
Schuyler learns through Powell that some
4 his division, but that he is expected TO
ontinue the actual work Schuyler accepts
aigning trip. because merit ain't going 10
sow deep with that Cleveland crowd; and If I
e fHarrison) wins he win readjust that ,
Eliefship business right enough He re-
elves great ovation on his arrival in his
Intense enthusiasm and complimentary no
ices IN the home newspa per are the re-
ards of Sciiuylers speechfnaking and the 1
ressman concerning Powell and Schuyler
What they don't know about practical poll I
hole dictionary let loose. but the two of
lem together amt got ten votes IN their
suits. The election proves 70 be Demo, =
'aiic landslide. and Philip returns to Wash :
lgton crestfalen. j
He fnds that those who thought the cause :
civil reform would not plow deep durfne =
le Cleveland Administration we've greatly I
istaken. few changes being made for polit- | 7
al reasons except among bureau chiefs
.'Iudgs' Wheat. from Boston, becomes the
ssistant Attorney General and announces $
lat ne win unite the. salary and the work of !.
e chfefship in the division in which
,huyIer works and Judge of the merit of II
% he of | \
s iabors.
o O'Mara's sighting record OF SchuyIer's Il
rvices is taken from its pigeonlole. Judge | a
heat expresses his disappointment and n
h,yIer nicditates that IL Is hard to recon-
Ie himself TO the thought tha; o Mara and
s gambling partner sttil had influence Il
ougil to make him suffer. =
In Informing Schuyler that some one else =
d been selecte1 as division chief. Ny