The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-03-21
Place Seekers Are Making Loud
Noise In Washington
PRESIDENT WILSON is DEAF
Democratic Simplicity Pervades Big
White House Atmosphere; Bryan
AT Ham and" Counter
ISnecIal to The Free Press /

Washington, d. c., March 10
Dear Uncle Billy: AS you might well
know, there was an awful uproar the
day President Wilson came out with
his statement that applicants for gov,
eminent jobs, of whom there are still
thousands in the city, must do bust
ness with the heads of the executive
departments and not take up the
valuable time of the chief executive
in which | think he is entirely right
Here was Mr.. Officeseeker who
came all the way from Squash Hol
low, Alabama. He wanted to put
his case straight up to the president
Then came that fatal statement from
the White House which knocked the
hopes OF the oificeseeker TO smith
Greens. 1t really was too bad.
OF course, there were thousands
and thousands who came to Wash,
ington with the crowds of sight
seeing and pleasure-seeking people
who really expected right down in
their hearts to land a government
job of some sort. Many of them will.
But the vast majority will be sadly
disappointed, or | miss my guess.
They are beginning to find out that
job seeking and forgetting are not
one and the same thing.
Mostly From South.
Most of the job hunters came from
the south, which you know has long
been denied the privilege of feeding
from the patronage crib. They ar
rived before the big show March T.
and some of them marched in the
parade I doubt whether many OF
them would march now, if given the
chance. A great many swarmed like
so many bees around the offices OF
members of congress, expecting their
aid, culling some fat, juicy job.
They are telling now about the
man who came to Washington in
the high hope that he would soon
be numbered among the elect. On
his arrival he went to first-class
hotel and straightway engaged a
nodes but altogether expensive room
looking out upon Pennsylvania ave-
nue's fine expanse of urban land
scape. | presume he wished to make
q favorable impression. After two
or three days of luxurious living he
discovered. much to his dismay, that
he had made quite noticeable dent
in his pocketbook, which was becOm-
ing fiat to the touch. Funds were
getting low and accordingly he
sought cheaper quarters. When last
heard of he was eating internationally
in the lunch rooms scattered along
the main thoroughfare leading from
the White House to the capitol, re-
plenishng as best he could his fast,
disappearing stock of small change
by an occasional short loan" from
the kind-hearted member in whose
district he lives You will find lots
of cases just like this one.
Hang Out Near White House.
A few of the more persistent job
hunters are still perched within sight
of the White House, the Mecca OF
| their hopes. waiting, like MicaWber,
"for something to turn up The
White House policemen, who are on
the job night and day, and the
| "keep-off -the-grass" signs, always in
evidence, are not very encouraging
spectacles to bolster up the wither
| ing hopes of the faithful The great
IlldJOGlly VI TIE dllly VI poliIiSai Jop
seekers, that is those who are still
| in the city, are now knocking at the
doors of the executive departments
just ''for brief interview" with the
cabinet head, who is now 'the man
! of the hour SO far as the distribu
! ton of the plums is concerned 1t is
| great game, this game of job hunt
Continued on Page Two.