Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1883-05-10
How Gresham Got There.


the present time no one has been able
to answer it. Quite number of con.
lectures have gone out, among them,
that General Grant was the first to sug-
gest the name of the new cabinet Off
Ger to the president. l learn, to-day,
from highly reliable source, the true
story which led to the appointment of
General Gresham. Several days after
the burial of Judge Howe, Colonel
Foster of Indiana, the new minister to
Spain, called upon the president and
said: "Mr. President, Judge Gresham
of Indiana will send in his resignation
of the district judgeship next week, to
take effect the 1st of May"
wv hat is he going to resign forP"
asked the president.
ellis salary is insufficient for his
needs. He proposes 10 enter the law
firm of Mcdonald & Butler at Indian
apolis. He hopes to make $4,000
year by practicing law"
While Colonel Foster was talking the
president appeared to be much in
terested, though he was evidently
thinking about what he proposed to
say.
Colonel Foster continued What |
desire to say, Mr.. President, is this: In
case General Gresham does not succeed
at the law as he expects, can you give
him any assurance that, should
bench vacancy occur, say Judge Drum
mond's for instance, you would ap-
point himp General Gresham is man
of great ability, and l would like to
see him do we'll"
what Mcdonald is it that he is 90
ing to practice law with? Senator Nc
DonaldP" asked the president.
eyes, sir"
The president got up from his chair,
walked about, ran his hands down in
his pockets as is his habit, came back
to where Colonel Foster was sitting,
and, facing him, said:
GLOW would Gresham do for post
master general?"
"Do!' exclaimed Foster. ''Why, he
would do splendidly. He is the very
man for the place. You could not
make better appointment"
would he accept it?' was the next
question of the chief magistrate.
81 think he would" was the answer.
Where is he holding court this
week?"
"At Evansville, Ind"
Telegraph him at once that | will
appoint him postmaster general if he
will accept it. Send me his answer i'm
mediately. The more | think about
Gresham the more | am convinced he
is the man | want"
Colonel Foster Immediately tele-
Crra 4 Io ho
course of an hour received a dispatch
about as follows: "Will accept the po-
sition, but suggest that official notiiica-
ton of my appointment be sent me
through Harrison"
This was done as requested, Senator
Harrison telegraphing General Gresh-
am from Indianapolis that the presi-
dent had appointed him postmaster
general, and the secretary of state had
already signed his commission. Itwas
thoughtful and considerate in General
Gresham to suggest that the courtesy
OF the official notice of his appointment
be accorded to Senator Harrison, es-
pecially when it is remembered that
the personal relations of the two In
diana republican bosses are far from
pleasant,
Col. John Foster, who indirectly
brought about the appointment of Gen
eral Gresham, is considerable of man.
be is an ardent republican, man of
great energy, of decided ability, and
highly educated. He has done more
for the republicans in Indiana with this
administration than all the other re-
publicans combined. The president
within the last year has more than
once consulted Colonel Foster on mat
ters of great pith and moment" and