The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-04
oFFTCF-SFT.KERS.
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OFF1CF-ST-TKERS
One of the most pathetic and touching side
lights on the Congress OF the United States is
the army of Offices that vast horde of men
who flock to the nations capital to convert into
a means of livelihood their loyalty to party and
fealty to candidate.
For almost generation thousands upon thou
sands OF men have been voting the Democratic
ticket because OF an inherent conviction that the
principles or that party were right and best for
this country. But the fortunes OF elections and
circumstances were against them Last fall the
almost many men in the Senate as the Repub-
leans. Each and every Democratic senator and
representative has a certain amount of patron.
age, OF positions to which he can make appoint.
ments. but 1t is nothing like sufficient TO satisfy
more than one-fftieth of the demands for Jobs
made upon him.
The ofice-seeker, be he Democrat or Republi.
can is pitable in the extreme His life is little
less than tragic Ills favorite candidate for
whom he has worked SO long and so earnestly,
having been elected to a senatorship or position
in the House. he arrays himself in his best
clothes, purchases n ticket from some remote
part OF the country to the nations capital. and
calls at the capitol silk-hatted frockcoated
goved and caned, and has an interview with
my congressman" He asks for position and
Is promised that all that can be done for him
will be done. Exuitant over the prospects he
IN ,-,v- bato -
near his" congressman that he may be easily
at hand when the good news is ready to be re
ported.
Day in and day out he journeys to the capitol
or "buttonhoies7 the congressman or SEN
ator in a hotel lobby, TO learn the latest
about mis- prospects. but"th position does
not materialize. AS time wears on his
nutef bii ffrreatenx7 10 wipe Ar the money
he has with him. He begins to walk instead of
ride to the capitol His silk hat becomes seedy,
his frock coat becomes shiny, out of press. worn.
and assumes a greenish hue. lie can no longer
pay the large hotel bill He takes small room
in an obscure boarding house.. purchases a gas
stove on which TO cook his eggs and brew his
coffee. Laundry is luxury to him. He buys a
celulod collar. He cannot spare the money to
have his shoes polished lie greases them.
Although the congressman tells him to be pa
tient and wait while longer, his hope begins to
wane. and he wishes to return to his home, but
he lacks the money with which to purchase the
ticket, Soon the day comes when he must ask
the congressman for money but not fc- railroad
fare--for food for rent and clothing.
And all this time he has been encouraged By
the congressman. who realizes the obligation he
la under TO the offee-seeker, but the lawmaker
either has tried to get the position for him and
failed. or. is too pitiably often the
case. he has forgotten about the coustit-
uent and the latters Just claim for po-
siton. As the applicants stay in Washington
lenethens and his hope diminishes, he becomes
more demanding and points out the many favors
he has done the congressman. The result OF this
is that whereas the candidate was once glad to
grasp the hand of his faithful supporter and
worker. he now shuns and lodges the logging
offce-seeker and when the latter calls to see him
sends out word that he Is too busy
They die In great numbers in Washington
every year, these ofncs-saekers, from suicidal
bullets starvation and lost hope. and their cpl.
taph in the newspapers Ia invariably. He died
looking for government Job which never ex-
listed"