The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-12-04
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weekly Collection About The Ma
tiOnal Capital.
A SOCIAL WAR.

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Donald. Zach have had a strong body of adj
herents and the war has sometimes become
quite bitter Mrs. Hendricks has had the adj
vantage of superior wealth and the superior
political successes of her husband, with good
deal of assumed superiority of ancestry. On
the other hand, ex-senator Mcdonald is gen.
orally considered ADLER, and is certainly more
popular than cx-Gov. Hendricks, and his wife
is much the more brilliant and attractive OF
the two ladies' It is popularity believed that
Mrs. Hendricks influence has prevented Gov.
Hendricks from giving way two or three times
and permitting Mr. Mcdonald to come to the
front where il was the strong desire of the
Indiana Democrats to put him. This was no.
tably the case in 1880 when there was little
doubt that the Democrats would have pre-
ferred Mcdonald to Hendricks as the Vice
Presidential candidate, and this inclination
was made manifest during the progress
of the convention; but ex-senator Melon
aid felt that 10 accept such a nomination, or
to permit his friends TO talk about it, would
be disloyal to the man whom he had entered
the convention to support so he magnani-
mously refused it, and Gov. Hendricks declined
all hints of the desirabilty of his getting out
of the way and permitting Mr.. Mcdonald to be
presented as candidate.
1t is believed now that this warfare will ex-
tend itself TO Washington. Hendricks is a
cold, rather dull, and very grasping man, who
reaches for all that is in sight. He mas an ex-
aggerated idea of his own Importance, and be-
lieves that it is his personality rather than
Cleveland's that carried the ticket through, in
consequence Of which he is going TO assert
himself. II manifested this disposition when
he was on the ticket with Tilden in 1876, but he
found that he could not play that game with the
strong-willcd Old Sage of Grammercy Park, who,
It's said, informed him very curly that he must
either get on the platform or get off the car.
Mr.. Hendricks, undoubtedly, Will not be con-
tent 10 play the insignificant part which is
allotted to Nice-P Presidents, but will attempt to
be prominent figure in the administration.
OF course. Mrs. Hendricks shares very strongly
in this ambition, and since Cleveland has no
wife, she has strong aspirations for the position
of first lady in the land but the Mordecai at
her gate is the rumor of a great probability
that President-elect Cleveland will call Mr..
Mcdonald into his Cabinet This will make
Mrs. McDonad's social status quite equal to
that Of Mrs. Hendricks, and as Mr.. Cleveland
in all probability will be President in all that
the name implies, his Cabinet Ministers will
occupy a position of a great deal more dis
tinction than the gentleman whom the law has
placed in the position OF his successor in the
event of his death or incapacity. Any way,
tie matter is important enough to stir up
Washington society rather profoundly.
sERG'T BRAINARD NOT APPOINTED.
The President has been subjected to consid-
cradle adverse criticism on account of his re-
cent action in appointing as Second Lieuten-
ants in the Army TWO young men from civil life
The law provides that commissioned off,
GERS after 10 years of service who pass the
required examination and are otherwise quail
fed, may be promoted by appointment. There
are now $500 men in the Army who have
served more than 10 years, and it is felt by
many that competent deserving ones among
them should be first rewarded by official favor.
Among those most strongly urged by army Off
GERS and Others for one of the recently existing
vacancies was Sergt Brainard, whose faithful
devotion to duty as a member of the Inflated
Greely expedition to the Arctic regions, won
the admiration of the world. His fitness is
unquestioned. But the President appointed
step-son OF Attorney General Brewster and W.
w. Wright, Of New Jersey. The appointment
of the latter is looked upon with especial dis
favor in Army circles: Wright entered the
Military Academy at West Point as a cadet in
1882 At the end of the first year he failed in
his examination, and under the rules would
have been discharged as deficient had he not
been kindly permitted to resign. Now, by this
appointment he will be the senior in rank by
two years OF the members of his class, who,
after earning their commissions by completing
the coarse of study, will graduate in 1886.
THE WASHINGTON SEASON"
The White House has been put in prime
order for the social season. No extensive
changes or repairs have been made during the
past Summer. Indeed, none were necessary,
as large amount was expended year ago in
the way of carpets, freScoing. and other inte-
rior decorations. The large carpet in the his
tOric East Room, which was taken up in the
early Summer, has just been relaid. If the
truth must be told it looks rather shabby, but
1T was thought Uncle Sam could hardly afford
TO get new one this year. The White House
has been thoroughly cleaned, scrubbed and
busted from attic TO basement, with a few
touches here and there of paint or varnish, and
is ready for the reception of guests The Win
ter will be continual round OF social gaieties
The season, which will eliminate in the great
Inaugural Ball, promises TO be a very lively
one.
TURKEY DAY AT THE CAPITAL.
Washington people entered into the festiyi-
ties of Thanksgiving Day with even more than
usual zest. Pres. Arthur worshiped in the
morning at st. Johns (EpiscopaD church, and
in the afternoon gave thanks for his turkey at
the Presidential cottage at the Soldiers Home
1t is not difficult TO understand why the Demo-
Gratis enjoyed the festal day. They felt that
they had greater reason to sing the long meter
doxology than at any time in % years. Many
Republican Department people were thankful
that, after all, things might not be as bad as
they seemed when the returns came in. They
gave fervent thanks for the Civil Service law,
which will enable many Of them to continue to
live upon the milk and honey of official life,
and draw their monthly salaries from the big
piles Of money In the vaults Of the Treasury.
CONGRESS BEGINS.
During the past week Members of Congress
and others who, from duty or inclination,
spend their Winters in Washington, have been
daily arriving by hundreds. The last session
of the 4SLh Congress opened on Monday, with
a very full attendance. Little was done on
that day except TO receive the Presidents an
nual message and the various Departmental
reports The session will be a short one, clos
ing by statutory limitation with the Sd of
March next. There is very large amount of
business, much of it important to the public
welfare, left over from the previous session, but
not one in 20 Of the pending bills will become
laws. There are more than 1900 private bills
on the calendars, nearly all of which are for the
relief Of individual soldiers of the late war in
the way OF granting pensions and pay-claims of
various kinds. Nearly all of these are merito-
rious cases, which should be acted upon
promptly. The money has been fairly due
these men for 20 years, and many are in sore
need OF it, but the mills Of Congress, like those
of the gods. grind slowly, and most of them
will have 10 wait, with that hope deferred
that malleth the heart sick" 1t is pot likely
that Congress viii spend any time fooling with
the tariff this Winter but it is not generally be-
ieved that very much will be done besides
passing the necessary appropriation bills. The
session will be considerably interrupted by
the usual holiday recess the opening of the
New Orleans Exposition, the dedication Of the
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