Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1892 — WHERE THEY WORK. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHERE THEY WORK.

METHODS EMPLOYED AT NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS. Booms Tliroiiced with Callers—Many ol Them Are Politely Shown the DoorOnly a Pew Allowed to Bee the Big Officials. The Two Headquarters. Kew York correspondence: The Republican and Democratic : national headquarters in New York I City now present scenes of great | activity, Both headquarters are lo- | cated on Fifth avenue, New York, the swellest thoroughfare in town, a mile apart. The Democratic camp is on the east side of the avenne, at 138, between Twentieth and Twenty-first streets, and the Republican on the west side of the avenue. Glimpse at the Political Workshops* 'Each of the national committees occupies a big brown-stone building, formerly utilized as a residence by some of the wealthy aristocrats of fashionable Fifth avenue. The two buildings are very similar in their general appearance. There is in each a big broad hall, which the visitor reaches by climbing brown stone steps which lead directly up from the

sidewalk without the intervention of that delight of the resident of dtles where ground Is less expansive, a front yard or lawn. Ground Is too valuable on Fifth avenue to give even a plot as big as a blanket for lawn purposes. Therefore the door of the

big brown-stone buildings open directly onto the sidewalk, and the passer-by may glance into the windows and get a glimpse of the political machinery in operation on the inside. It is only a glimpse, however, that he gets, for most of the actual work is done in retired

potions -of -the buildings, either on tba, or third floors, or In rooms further back an®" 1 rfehdved from the public view. Both of these headquarters are curiously partitioned off by big wire screens Intended to keep the cqrious public from invading the privacy which officers and employes must have, not only in their conversation, but in their desk-work, correspondence, memoranda, etc. At each headquarters a part, or all, of the first floor is given up to the public and to those whose business brings them often to the headquarters, while high wire screens, guarded by experienced doorkeepers at the foot of the stairway, p event uninvited visitors or curious observers penetrating above the first floor. The front room In each building, which formerly served as a parlor, Is now fitted up as a sort of general reception room for all callers. The floor is covcred with matting, or oil-cloth, a big table in the center la filled wit!# newspapers and writing material, chairs arc arranged about

the side of the room, and an assistant sergeant-at-arms officiates in this |room, receiving all callers, learning their business and facilitating its transaction, or getting them away by some tactful scheme in case the caller

seems unlikely to be a welcome caller to the individual with whom he desires to come in contact. Callers Must lie Patient* These rooms are always crowded during the business hours of the day.

The average caller who wants to see the chairman or secretary, or any other member of the National Committee, may think himself lucky if he gets an audience with him within an hour of the time he called. A gentleman, speaking of this difficulty, remarked to your correspondent that he had visited the headquarters of one of the committees in response to a request from a prominent member of the committee, waited all of one day without being able to see him, and waited three hours on the second day before gotting his turn with him. Other politicians of prominence, who come hundreds or even thousands of miles to consult the committee officials on important business, are obliged to wait hours and even days before seeing them. Hence the necessity of a spacious reception room, a large supply of literature to amuse the waiting visitors, and an assistant sergeant-at-arms with rare ability as a prevaricator. After the visitors have tired themselves out with reading the newspapers, listening to the excuses which tha ..able assistant sergeant-at-arms is able to devise for their amusement, and counted the rows of brown stones in the fronts of the opposite houses, they have the opportunity of leaning back in their comfortable chairs and studying the features of the fat cupids which ornament the ceilings of these once elegant parlors: At the Republican headquarters the room adjoining the front parlor is partitioned off with wire screens into a number of departments where Ser-geant-at-arms Swords and several clerks and secretaries operate, while

&t the Democratic headquarters the back parlor is utilized as a writingM>om and consulting-room for callers.

Boom for the Press. At the Republican headquarters the big diping room, which opens off the back parlor and also off the hall.

'is the office and workrpom of Secretary McCopias. At the Democratic headquarters the dining room of the house, which corresponds in location to the one already referred to, is utilized for newspaper headquarters. Here the press agent of the committee furnishes to the newspaper callers, whose name is legion, sundry bits of information calculated to cheer the Democratic heart, carefully written out on slips of paper and manifolded so that all wbfl will may make use of them. ■ Ttjis work is performed at the Republican headquarters in the front basement room, where the newspaper callers are duly entertained and fnrnished with such choice information as will lead the public to belieye that Republican success is assured.

Upstairs, where comparatively few people penetrate, the grand moguls of the committee, chairmen and their private secretaries, working members of the committee and their aids, have their desks, and are hard at work. Each of the rooms is filled up with all the necessary office paraphernalia, Including tppewriters and the stenographer attachment. Easy chairs and sofas are also here, so that either of the chairman can lie down if they hear anything during the campaign that makes them tired. Messrs. Harrity and Carter both have well-fitted private rooms off of each of their main offices, beyond the threshold of which yery few go. It ij in tlpese rooms they meet tneir party leaders in strictly private confab. The man who wants to see them must send his card and take his turn, and unless his business is very important he must make his call brief, and talk straight to the point. Each man has his own sphere of action. One has the question of organization of clpbs, another lias charge of campaign speakers, another has the superintendence of the preparation of the literature with which the “campaign of education” is to be carried on, the treasurer has charge of the distribution of funds, the finance committee has the more important work of raising the funds, and so the work goes on, each man with his corps of assistants in general charge of his particular field, but all consulting one with the other, and all together on general questions of policy and general lines of work'and the development of the campaign. Neither of the two leaders of the opposing national committees was known outside of his own State when the last Presidential battle was fought. Both are young men, and in their youthful vitality and energy possess a valuable campaign equipment. In manner and physique they are in striking contrast. William F. Harrity, the chieftain of the Cleveland and Stevenson campaign, is a titan, with a tall, well-built, and lithe figure, curly dark hair, and a pleasant face. He won whatever fame he has as a campaign manager in the political battles in Pennsylvania. Chairman Thomas 11. Carter, of the Republican National Committee, is physically a noticeably small man in comparison with the strapping leader of the Democrats. His nature is phlegmatic, and at 37 he looks older than his years. He was not conspicuous in national politics outside of Montana until he appeared at the Minneapolis convention as a leader of the Harrison forces. He has the reputation of being very pleasant and affable with his intimates, and is courteously polite to strangers.

The Demorratlc Staff. Chairman Barrity’s executive staff is made up as follows: 8. P. Sheerln, secretary; M. F. Tarpey, of California, Alameda, Cal.; Charles S. Thomas, of Colorado, Denver, Col.; Carlos French, of Connecticut, Seymour, Conn.: Samuel Pasco, of Florida, Montloello, Fla.; Clark Howell, Jr,, of Georgia, Atlanta, Ga.; ,T. J. Richardson, of lowa, Davenport, Iowa; Charles W. Blair, of Kansas, Leavenworth, Kan.; Thomas H. Sihrley, of Kentucky, Louisville, Ky.: Jameß Jeffries, of Louisiana, Rapides, 1.a,; Arthur Bewail, of Maine, Bath, Jlc.; Arthur P. Gorman, of Maryland, Laurel, Md.; Daniel J. Campau, of Michigan, Detroit, Mloh.; Michael Doran, of Mlnnosota, St. Paul, Minn.; Charles B. Howry, of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss.; John G. Prathor, of Missouri, St. Louis, Mo,; Alvah W. Sulloway, of New Hampshire, Franklin, N. H.; Miles Ross, of New Jersey, New Brunswick, N. J.; William F. Sheehan, of New York, Bnttalo, N. Y.; M. W. Ransom, of North Carolina, Weldon, N. C.; Calvin 8. Brice, of Ohio, Lima, Ohio; Samuel R. Honey, of Rhode Island, Newport, R. X.; Holmeß Cummings, of Tennessee, Memphis, Tenn.: 0. T. Holt, of Texas, Houston, Texas; Bradley B. Smallev, of Vermont, Burlington, Vt.; Basil B. Gordon, of Virginia, Sandy, Va. Chairman Dickinson’s associates on the campaign committee are; William C. Whitney, of New York: Calvin S. Brice, of Ohio, Lima, Ohio; A. P. Gorman, of Maryland, Baltimore, Md.; William F, Sheehan, of New York, Buffalo, N. Y.; B. B. Smalley, of Vermoht, Burlington. Vt.; M. W. Ransom, of North Carolina, Weldon, N. C.; B. T. Cable, of Illinois, Rock Island, Ill.; E. C. Wall, of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis.; Josiah Ouinoy, of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass.; William F. Harrlty, of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. Republican Managers. Chairman Thomas H. Carter is the head of the National Committee of nine members, with a Vice Chairman and a Treasurer and a Secretary. Of all of them, outside of Treasurer Bliss, ex-Congressman Lewis E. McComas, the Secretary, is the best known to New-Yorkers. This is Chairman Carter’s full Board of Councilors: Vice Chairman, Michael H. De Young of California; Treasurer, Cornelius N. Bliss of New York; Secretary, Lewis E. McComas; Executive Committee, J. S. Clarkson of Iowa; Garrett A. Hobart of New Jersey, Joseph H. Manley of Maine,, Samuel Fessenden of Connecticut, Henry C. Payne of Wisconsin, Richard C. Kerens of Missouri, William O. Bradley of Kentucky, William A. Sutherland of New York, John R. Tanner of Illinois, W. J. Campbell of Illinois

HEADQUARTERS OF THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE.

RECEPTION ROOM, DNMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS.

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS.

RECEPRION ROOM HEADQUARTERS.

CHAIRMAN HARRITY’S ROOM.