Evening journal., 1910-02-02
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Samuel ]. TiIden'S Plan to
Handle Office Seekers
BY "Holland."

In this column a few days ago told
how President Hayes got rid Of many
Of his callers who didn't know when
to leave, by arousing in them desire
to see at close range the Washington
monument, then in course Of construc-
tion. To-day, owing to the intimate
acquaintance ] enjoyed for many years
with the late Abram S. Hewitt, for
mer mayor Of New York city, I am
able to tell the story of how President
Hayes opponent, Samuel ]. Tilden,
planned to handle the horde of Office
seekers that he knew full well would
descend upon him once he had been
established in the White House.
"As you know" said Mr.. Hewitt,
"all through the Hayes-Tilden cam
paign / was practically Mr.. Tilden's
personal campaign manager, and it
was quite natural for him, suppose,
to tell me from time to time of some
Of the things that he planned to do
should he be elected. He was forever
planning to meet every possible con-
tingency. and it is pretty safe for me
to say that he probably had worked
out IN great detail in his mind long
before the ballots were cast just what
he would do from the moment he be-
came the nations head
We'll, one day when we had a mo-
ment of leisure, he turned to me and
said.
You realize, OF course, that IL
am elected there is going to be a pro-
digious rush Of Office seekers to the
White House?
Yes l replied. there will GER
tainly be a great rush, for you will be
the first Democratic president since
Buchanan's day
That's just it., he replied, and the
fellows who are hungry for ofice win
literally swarm down upon me in
droves But and here dry sort of
expression spread over Mr.. Tilden's
rOuntenance-I think I'll be able to
keep them from killing me, as their
predecessors did Gen. William Henry
Harrison.
AS all of us know, in practically
every section of the country there is
considerable cleavage in the party on
account Of the greenback and silver
Issues, and in several of the states
there are exceedingly serious faction
al disturbances. Now, when the
patronage mongers of the different
factions pour down upon me, Ill listen
quietly to their demands, and when
they are all through I'll turn to them
and say: Gentlemen, believe it is
true that you have in your state two
factions Of our party. Let me make II
plain to you that I do not intend to
recognize or oppose either faction by
making this, that or the other appoint
ment in its interests. On the other
hand. intend to remain absolutely
neutral. Therefore, my advise is for
you gentlemen to get together and
agree upon what you want in the way
of Offices. and then when you have
fully decided this, come to see me.
won't have factional fights brought
into the White House"
THAT added Mr.. Tilden, Is
plan that / feel sure will work, and
relieve me of the great strain Of try
ing to appease all factions with politi-
cal favors.'
81. too, believe that it would have
worked splendidly,r went on Mr. Hew-
it, "and am confident that 1t possi-
bly, would have kept Mr.. Tilden from
dying while occupying the presidential
chair, had the electoral commission
decided in his favor. For he was not
physically strong man, and ! fear
that had he been compelled to handle
the Office seekers in the customary
way the wear and tear on him would
have been too great for him to bear
and the country would have been
called upon to mourn the death of yet
another president killed by those who
hungered for office"
Copyright. 1909. by f. ]. Edwsrds.)
Tomorrow, Mr.. Edwards will tell of
"When the Duke of Wellington, the
Hero of Waterloo turned prophet"