The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1907-04-27
HIS LUCK TURNED.
DISCOURAGED OFFICE SEEKER
FINALLY WON OUT.
On Eve of Leaving Washington in De-
spair His Chance Came-Clever
Remark That Cinched
Position.

Speaking about the fortuitous ana
unseen events in life which ofttimes
appear to control our desdnies ana
certainly do control our movements
for better or worse, | am reminded
of little story of Washington life,
said an official who occupies posi-
ton in the upper line of government
preference to a group of corresponds
ents who were exchanging similar
stories in one of the committee rooms
of the capitol.
Several years ago | came to Wash
ington looking for a p .itical position,
which at that time was not so very
difficult to get with good backing. This
| had, but it seemed as though fate
was against me in everything | at
tempted. | was turned down all along
the line, and though | was finally
willing to take a position of less de-
gree than the one | had originally
sought, as used to be the case here,
as old timers will recall, | failed with
equal regularity to secure even SO
luuCH DIS lOOh-lu any Nlltlt'
There was one position close to
the head of one of the departments
which | was particularly DESTROYS oil
obtaining. A friend of mine had it In
his power to secure this place for me
had he elected to do so, but as friends
often do he failed to recommend me
One night, discouraged and disguised
intending to leave town for home the
next day, | stopped in the cafe of one
of the uptown hotels for the last
nightcap in the capital, though 1t Is
seldom that | indulge in the red fluid
that cheers the weary and discour
aged.
AS | turned to pay my check my
friend ran into my arms.
Here, he cried, somewhat eXcit
eddy, i have been chasing you from
your lodgings all over town. | vii
admit to you now that the reason
why | would not recommend you tC
the old man (meaning the head of the
department In which | wished to oh
tain foothold) was because ! wished
another friend of mine to have the
| place. He has not treated me right
| SO ! am going to recommend you t
the old man; he is upstairs now, anC
the decision is to be made tonight
| Come along, he must see you.
"As a man in trance | was led t
the elevator and later found mysel
in the private room of the cabinet OF
flcer. lie was very blunt and out
spoken man, but square one. liz
! listened quietly to the complimentary.
remarks concerning myself made b,
my friend, at the same time takinl
me in and reading me through like
book-he was wonder at sizing u
other men. When my friend finishe,
eXtolling my capabilities and virtues
half of which guilty knew | did no
possess, the great man said briefly:
You are probably the right ma
for the place, but | don't like you
hair
My hair-whats that got to d
with my capabilities for the place.
calculated in establishment
81 have a prejudice against me
who part their hair in the middle tn
cabinet officer rejolned with some al
perity, though not unkindly.
My friends face fell. But | ha
received too many hard knocks to le
my wits fail in that crucial momen
was in for defeat, perhaps, ono
more; but this time | kept my nerv
with me.
"'Well, Mr.. Secretary | answers
with equal bluntness, If you had tn
few hairs on your head che was yer
BALD that | have on mine, you, to-
, might care to show those left to ii
best adyantage-that's why / pa
them in the middle
The great man smiled, arose, e
G tended his hand, and babe me
come to his Office the next day ar
be sworn in, at the same time mu
muring something about all rul,
have their exceptions And but f
that last, sad farewell nightcap ov,
the bar of that hotel on that fatef
night ! would have been grubbir
the stumps out home today"