The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1912-12-09
HALF A MILLION
PLACE SEEKERS
Democrats In Washington Are
Swamped With Applications.
THOUSANDS WRITE TO CLARK,

Busy Debating Replies to Eager Pa
triots, and In One Case There Are
loo Persons Who Yearn to Fill
Thirty Postmasterships.
A deluge of demands for opportunity
to serve the government-with proper
emoluments-is sweeping over the ad-
vance guard Of Democratic congress
men in Washington. Thousands Of
letters asking for government employ
ment have been received, and the SEN
ate and house postofices are working
overtime handling the mail.
Speaker Champ Clark is keeping
four stenographers busy debating re-
plies to applications for positions I'M
der the incoming administration.
While the speaker has received a
greater number of applications than
/ any one else. there has been no lack
| of letters to other members of congress
who have reached Washington.
Are at Wilson's Service.
Nearly half a million men, 1t Is rough
ly estimated, are not going to see Wood
/ row Wilson fail In his administration of
| the affairs of the United States if they
| can help 1t. They are willing to sacrifice
themselves upon the altar Of patriot
| ism, even II they are compelled to ac-
cept jobs at salaries ranging from 500
to $4,000, in order to help him out of
the tight hole he is in.
The result is hat some of the leaders
OF congress are bordering on prostra-
ton.
w. r. Smith, representative from
FL Paso and other towns embraced in
the western part of Texas, received a
burning letter from one of his constitu-
ents, saying:
Dear Representatives think that 1t is
a good time for Democrats to be loyal to
their party even though 1t involves some
personal sacrifice. / have a good busi-
ness and am In good circumstances. but
4 am willing to go the limit to serve the
party. II you want, I will be willing TO
accept q position as assistant secretary
OF the treasury or something like that.
Waiting to hear from you, etc.
LOO Applicants For 81 Places.
Representative Smith will have it in
his power to recommend the appoint
ment of thirty-seven ~postmasters in his
district. For the thirty-seven positions
he has on file exactly 1904 applications.
This means that there will be 1857
disappointed citizens.
Texas was one Of the original and
most steadfast Wilson states in the
primaries, and that is why, probably,
there are so many patriots In that
state. Representative Henry, who rep
resents Waco and other cities in cen
trail Texas, will have the power of rec
ommending the appointment of eight
cen postmasters, and he has received
1,100 letters of application.
Morris Sheppard, the newly elected
senator from Texas, has been compel
led to put one secretary, an assistant
and four stenographers at work an
swering the applications for Jobs that
have come from his constituents who
are willing to serve the country and
break a leg trying to do 1t.
Senator Culberson Of Texas received
the following letter.:
Dear Sir Since the Democrats have
been elevated to full control of the gov
eminent / assume the party Is ready to
enter upon full government functions, and
! am willing to do my share by taking the
postmastership OF this town.
Asks Bailey For Embassy.
Senator Bailey, retiring senator of
the same state, received the following
letter:
I Ia thought over the matter at some
length and would not mind being appoint
ed to some nice Enthusiastically In a near
by country. Kindly notify me IL 1t Is all
right.
w. b. Jayne, secretary to Senator
Bailey, notified the applicant that,
while the salary Of an ambassador
was very good, the incumbent usually
found 1t necessary to contribute from
his W pocket an amount equal to the
salary In order to keep up appearances.
Senator Pomerene Of Ohio received
a letter from a Missouri Democrat,
briskly requesting a list Of all the
places that would be at the disposal Of
President Wilson, indicating that he
would make a choice when he and his
wife were at leisure in the evenings.
A. Mitchell Palmer, representative
from Pennsylvania, finds that there
are any number of Democrats whose