East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-12-19
SECRETARY NORTON
HAS CLEVER SCHEME
LAME DUCK PARLOR"
FOR CERTAIN CALLERS
New White House Arrangement Made
Necessary by Numerous Applicants
from Congressman Who Did Not
Come Back''-Washington Gossip.

from Congressman Who Did Not
Come Back"-Washington Gossip.
Washington, d. C.-They have
changed the interior appointments of
the white house-the internal archi-
lecture, so to speak-so as to provide
nice, comfortable substitute for the
time-honored navigation of Salt river
by politicians who didn't come back
on November s. One of the spacious
corridors of the executive offices has
been converted into an additional
waiting room, to accommodate an as
tonishingly increased number of call
ers since the presidents return from
Panama
Some astute individual discovered
that about 90 per cent of this daily
crowd who sought the presidential
presence were lame ducks" seeking
some nice, soft berth to occupy after
March 4. Although this is the open
season for jobs. SO many are the
huntsmen and so keen the fervor of
the chase, that the poor hunted berths
are nearly all run to cover.
Naturally the white house is the
preserve where the game is thickest.
Energetic huntsmen frequent the
executive offices faithfully. They do
not intend TO be far away when the
president lets a job loose.
And so it happens that the list of
waiting callers has been eXtraordi-
narily augmented during these last
few weeks. A hundred or so job
hunters made brave showing, but
they have overcrowded the spacious
reception rooms at the executive Of
fices so that the patriots who have
other business at the white house than
chasing down vacancies on the gov
ernment payroll get lost in the shut
file. The 'jobbed" ones didn't like to
rub elbows with the tentative job
less.
So Secretary Charles D. Norton de-
cided on the architectural arrange
ment above described, in order to
separate the sheep from the goats.
Those who call to point out to the
president their fitness for such-and
such a job, and to recall to his mind
their varied services for the party,
are herded into the new reception
room-which is mercy corridor
screened off from the vestibule, nice
ly decorated with chairs and green
palms. This new room has come to
be known definitely as Lame Duck
Alley"
Senator Thomas Carter of Mon
tana, was the first of the clan of the
soon-to-be-j -jobless to occupy the cor
ridor. Senator Depew of New York,
who will be succeeded by a democrat
was another lame duck" among the
first to warm the leather on a chair
in the alley.
Rep. Kennedy of Ohio, who was
swirled out of place by that tidal
wave of November s, has been almost
daily called. Representative Cocks,
who succumbed with Stimson in New
York, has been on the job. Many
other injured members have been
much in evidence.
Bates Was Slandered.
But the saddest blow of all came
to Representative Arthur L. Bates,
of the 25th Pennsylvania district
"breezed' into the executive offices
the other day, still thinking grateful
ly of the 100 majority with which the
of his district had ex-
pressed their preference for him over
a democrat
sorry you weren't elected, Bates"
was the greeting he received from
brother member.
Yes, it was too bad" Joined in an
other.
Il sympathize with you," added a
third.
But was reelected" replied the
astonished Pennsylvania.
''Well, all the news we've read was
that you went down" they replied.
Bates was a bit put out that his
100 majority hadn't attracted atten-
ton, but he went in to see President
Taft.
Bates, 1 certainly shall miss you
next year" condoled the chief execu-
tive. 1T seems too bad to lose you"
But, 1 am reelected by 100 ma
jority" shouted Bates. Every |
where 1 go somebody sympathizes
with me. 1 don't wont any sympathy |
want congratulations
And when Bates emerged, he serv-
ID notice on the doorkeepers that lie
would refuse to be seatd in Lame
Duck Alley"
State Department Luxury.
If some young man, the son of poor
1ut honest parents, has the qualifi-
,ations for diplomatic job and wants
me, he probably can have it by ap-
plying to Secretary of State Knox
md giving the necessary references.
secretary Knox has no objections to
he rich. He himself can afford to
maintain city home, country place
md choose the livery Of his coach
nan TO match the color Of his horses.
3ut one must keep up appearances.
'hlngs have come to such a pass that
he state department Is rapidly de-
'eloping into target for hostile crit
cism as a putocratic institution, not
merely tinted, but smeared all over,
With affluence, like Mr.. Midas. To
alance things, it is necessary to have
few young gentlemen who can con-
istently take up the high cost Of liv-
ng cry and give the touch of healthy
emocracy to this executive depart