Daily Democrat.
THE OFFICE-SEEKING MANIA.
The Philadelphia Timet thinks that t
secure a census of the Federal office-holders
would be an easy matter.but the taking
of a census of the patriots who would like
to be office-holders weu'.d be quite another
thing. To the great army of those who
are openly clamorous for position would
have to be added those who are in the hands
of their friends, as well as those who are
as mad a they can be because their friends
haven't suggested their names for a post
office r a foreign mission. If a record
were once made of all the people who want
an office or want to be urged to take one
the result would be surprising. No epidemic
disease ever known in this country numb
ered half the victims of this I tch to be fed
at the public crib.
The Pittsburg Times has been taking a
census of the known applicants for post
masterships in a comparatively limited area
of Eastern Ohio and West Virginia. It
published the other day a list of 1,386 ap
plicants for 200 post offices In the section
named, showing that the active aspirants
number seven to every post office. Assum
ing that the people of Eastern Ohio and
West Virginia are no more willing to be
office-holders than those of any other sec.
tion, and that the Timet' list Is a fair sam
ple of the office-seeking mania everywhere,
it will be seen that not less than 420.000
patriots are willing yes, anxious to 611
the 60,000 postmastershlps in the country.
As there is no reason for believing that
there are less than seven persons willing to
fill each of the other 90,000 places, great
and small, under the government, the sum
total of active seekers for public position is
swelled to 1,050,000, or about one-tenth of
the total vote cast at the last election.
These appalling figures are enough to
drive sleep from the eyelids of President
elect Harrison and rest from all his thoughts
during the next four years. If the figures
don't do it the hungry horde for which
they stand will. Not more than 30,000 of
the 150,000 Federal office-holders fall under
the provisions of the civil service law, leav
ing 120,000 positions to be scrambled for
by nearly a million of applicants, each of
whom will protest that General Harrison
owes his election to the applicant's individ
ual efforts President Harrison's most de
vout daily petition to heayen during the
next four years will be to be saved from his
friends. And as 120,000 offices can't by
any possibility satisfy seven times as many
applicants, it will follow that when the
offices have all been distributed he will ha ye
seven times as many enemies as friends
among them. .
But leaving President Harrison to deal
with the hungry horde as best he may.the
sight of this scrambling mob of place-seekers
Is not a reassuring one to the friends of
free Institutions. The certainty that one
Voter in ten is an active aspirant for public
position and that he will cringe.crawl.bribe,
bully, threaten and if need be conspire to
secure his ends, is not one to be proud of
or thankful for. And the worst feature of
it all is that the office-holding mania is on
the Increase. The one consolation to be
derived from the situation is that only one
out of seven can secure what they are after
and that the other six may continue to be
self-supporting citizens In spite of them
selves. The sir who are disappointed will
doubtless be better off Ir. the end than the
ne who succeeds,as the most helpless and
pitable mortal in the world is the confirmed
office-holder. He is spoiled for anything
else and as the mutations of politics are al
most certain to leave him stranded at some
time, he is in the end worse off than the
street sweeper or ditch digger, yes, even
than the prodigal son after he had spent his
patrimony j for he did become a swineherd,
which is more than most chronic office
holders were ever known to do after being
bounced out of their positions.
Mr. Dillon stated in the Mouse of Com
mons that In 184 5, when the population of
Ireland was 8,000,000, the cost of the Irish
police was 430,000 a year. Now that the
population is under 5,ooo,ooo,lhe police es
timates amounts to 1,450,000. At this
rate of lncrease,whcn the country is entire
ly depopulated the Irish constabulary will
stand England in just about 3,000,000 per
annum.
In view of the fact that more than 5,300,000
voters cast their ballots for Cleveland and
Thurman nearly or quite 100,000 more than
voted for Harrison and Morton why should
Democrats give up the battle for tax reduction
and tariff reform? And why should not Repub
licans, if they really respect the will of the ma
jority, temper their legislation with comprom
ise in difcrenco to popular demand.
A French physician, Dr Flez, mentions
curious apparent cause of left handedness. A
child in a certain family was left handed, and
the second appeared to be so at the age of I
year. It was then learned that the mother al
ways carried her children on her left arm. She
was advised to change, and held on her other
arm the infant, having its right hand free to
grasp objects, soon became right handed. 1
Texas will not divide its territory into more I
States. This is a sensible course for the Texans.
One big Texas will have more influence than
four little States; and one State government can
serve the people quite as well as four, and for
less money. Portland Nevis.
Very well, if this be good for Texas, why not
good for Dakota, out of which republicans are
bent on making two states. It does not require
the discernment to penetrate a mill stone in
order to detect the drift of O'Meara's logic
At the present time one-fourth of all the pop
ulation of the United States is gathered in
towns of 8000 people and upwards and the pro
portion is increasing.' " -
Rknitte Tha fin-., tl.. 1 1 ,
""--" in. HUE-, iiuc ui usuy carn
ages In the Valley just received at Stewart
k Sox's. Prices are remarkably cheap con
sidering the superior quality of the carrl-
anritE "
Superior. That is the name of the
siove at u. w. smith's attracting so much
attention. It is a splendid cook stove.
New raisens, currents, citron, lemons and
oranges received'at Wallace & Thompson's.
REAL ESTATE SALES.
As recorded In the Recorder's office for
Linn county, Oregon :
Wm E Bplcerto II C Hardman.piece
of land at Spicer $ 382
II Bryant to Samantha E Coffelt,
28 y acres, 11 w 1 165
Geo W Miller to Wm II More, 80
acres, 13 w 2 320
Oregon to Thomas Arnold, 106.0c
acres, 13 w 1.... I33-69
W H Goltrato Cornelius Raifsnider
160 acres, 12 w 3 5250
A 1 uonnerto William Conner. 70
acres, 10 w 3 1400
oam 1 isixon, ex r ni j costello, 444
acres, 14 w 4 6771
William L Jones to John T Jones,
3.04 acres, 10 w 3. . 75
We Want, Your butter and eggs and
will pay you either cash or trade for it.
Brownell & Stanard.
Skates A full line of new skates just re -ceired
at Stewart & Sox's. Just the things
for Chrismas presents for the boys.
: Holiday . Delicacies. Picketed pigs'
feet, smoked herring, Swiss cheese and
limburger cheese just received at the Will
amette Packing Co.'s store.
All kinds of woolen dress goods are 25 per
cent cheaper than they were a year ago. Our
storlc is all fresh, consequently we can give
yery "ow prices.
W F Read.
Wide Indigo Prints. A large invoice
of the above goods has been received, and
will besold at reduced prices. They are de
sirable patterns and are a bargain.
Samuel E. Young.
M. J. Monteith's, at S. E. Young's old
store. Goods at your own price. Must
be sold.
If yon wsnt a clean and fine im rle ik r
u. uwfjH uuuie mui wnice jaoor ciga
For sale by most cigar dealers and at
Joseph's factory.
Holiday
Gr O OB S
AND
Artists'
TSZ A. T EBI ALS
AT
DR.CUISS & SONS.
1
CLOTHIG
For Fall and Winter
-AT-
L E, BLAIN'S.
Rubber Coats and Boots, Shoes
OVERCOATS, Fine Assortment,
Pea Jacli('.s--(1iinciilla, Astracliaii
Pull Line of Duck Suitings,
ALL GRADES WOOLEN OVER SHIRTS
Big Stock Cardigan Jackets,
HEAVY MERINO AND ALL WOOL UNDERWEAR.
Winter Gloves and Mittens
ALL WEIGHTS LEATHER BOOTS AND SHOES.
UMBRELLAS, HATS, ETC.
LHt bat not least a large stock of CLOTHING AND FURNISHINGS
Xt-JE2 3ESX. A.Xlni
RECEIVED FOR THE HOLIDAYS
NEW SMYRNA RUGS AND PORTIERRES.
NEW TARLE COVERS.
LINEN TABLE SETS, NAPKINS TO MATCH,
A LARGE ASSORTMENT OF LINEN AND SILK HANDKERCHIEFS.
FINE LACE HANDKERCHIEFS.
TRUNKS AND VALISES.
SILK DRESS PATTERNS.
COLORED AND SILK WARP HENRIETTAS.
SILK UMBRELLAS,
Boot and Shoe Department.
LADIES AND CENTS FANCY SLIPPERS.
LADIES AND CENTS FINE SHOES.
MISSES AND CHILDRENS FINE SHOES AND SUPPERS,
FELT SLIPPERS OF ALL KINDS.
CROCKERY DEPARTMENT.
CHOICE NOVELTIES IN DECORATED GHINA-
TEASETS.
FRUIT PLATES AND SAUCERS.
DECORATED BEDROOM SETS,
LAMPS,
SALAD BOWLS-
FANCY PITCHERS
FANCY CUSPADORES
CAKE DISHES
AND A LARCE ASSORTMENT OF NOVELTIES IN CHINA FOR THE HOLDAYS-
Samuel E. Young.
Albany, Oregon.
BARGAINS !
Jftrat-oiass good, at bottom prices is wat the publio wants. These I hire
at my Btore in this city. Bought at Bankrupt sales I can sell my stock of
General Merchanise
consisting of dress goods, gents.furnishing goods, clothing, etc.,
AT COST.
( CaehJ&r'goodeJwill be J.aid for all kinds of countryjproduce.
G W SIMPSON,
Albany, Oregcs.
A. J. ROSSITER.V. S.
Qraduata of Ontario Veterinary
uouege,
Is proparod to treat diseases of all do
mestlo animals on iciantlflo principles. -Residence
and office two doors east of
opera House, Albany.
OR. C WATSON M ASTON
Physician and Surgeon.
Office opposite the'Democrat Office.
STOCKMEN AND FARMERS
READ
I hereby oertlfy that Dr. I, N. Woodll
oMBoccessiuuyoperatod on my nasi"
For f nrthflr rafinrnn tn VAivawt 'in rlif'
Ings Inquire of Wm. Peterson, DaV JJ
terson, Lebanon t John Hard man, all1
moivenon, Albauy; Sam Gaines, k
Wm. Foster. Prinnvlll.. I nnuitlea TSttt'
Inary medicine in Albany and ooontrj
surrounding. Office and residence 000
6th and Washington Sts. .
. Veterinary Surgso