Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-02
ROSCOE As SECRETARY OF STATE.

NEW YORK, September The Suns
Albany correspondent furnishes the
following interesting gossip to that pa.
per:
.If Garfield dies, what will Mr.. Conk-
ling dol" asked friend OF the ex-
Senator yesterday.
"He will he the power behind the
throne Of the new Administration"
"Will he go into the Caoinet?"
81 think not. l think be would pre-
fer not to 90 into the Cabinet. What
good would it do him? He could only
entertain and write to foreign countries.
1t is not in bis iine."
"But," suggested, "a good many
Secretaries of State have been Presi-
dents"
mot by what they did as Secretary Of
State. Jefferson was Secretary of State,
but it wasn't that that made MIN Presi.
dent"
80 was an buren,.
"Yes. But Conkling is not Van Blu.
rem, nor Arthur Gen. Jackson"
"Do you think Arthur would retain
the present Cabinet?"
"Yes. | should, I think, if I were in
his place"
"Do you think that they would re-
main?"
II think they all would but Blaine.
I think il were in Blaine's place
should resign at the end OF three or four
days"
"Whom would Arthur appoint?"
Hamilton Fish,"
Then | sought an enemy OF Senator
Conkling, and Of him / asked, What
would happen in the event OF Garield's
DEATH"
at is a question whether Arthur is
big enough to carry out the policy OF
President Garfield. II he does, you will
see it. II not, you will find him ap-
pointing Conkling Secretary Of State"
"Wouid ConkIing accept the office OF
Secretary of State?'
81 don't know; il he is wise he will
decline the office; but he is likely to be
fool enough to accept because Blaine
has held it,"
Then l sought another friend OF Conk
ling's, who said;
"When Arthur comes in look out for
some things, one OF which will be Conk.
ling's appointment as Secretary OF State"
"Would Conkling take the Officer"
"Yes, OF course he would. What ,Hal Q !
you think he wouldn't as we'll as Blaine.
who resigned Senstorship for it?
There is an impression abroad that
Conkling is free from ambition. They
reckon without their host who entertain
that idea. He is as ambitious as Blaine
or the rest. He wants to be in power
to exercise power and distribute patron
age. No Vie President ever came in
that did not make decided change in
the government. Do you think Arthur
is the exception to the invariable rule OF
Vice. Presidents
"But no Vice President ever came in
who made successp
"That is true. But what do you
make from that? Tyler was elected in
the hard cider campaign as follower of
Harrison, and when Harrison died it
was natural that the people should be
disappointed. Fillmore came in at time
when the: excitement growing out OF
slavery was immense. He was natural
Conservative, and acted accordingly.
johnson came in at the end Of the war,
and tried to carry out Lincoln's policy,
retaining Lincoln's Cabinet Now,
which OF the Vice Presidents would you
pronounce the greater failure"
ANDREW Johnson"
Gust 80. And yet he tried to make
another mans policy his own"
"Do you think Arthur would better
from his example" }"
"No; but he might retain the Cabinet."
"Yes, he might, but he won't. No,
sir. Look out for changes, and among
them look out for Conkling's appoint.
ment as Secretary OF State"