The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-15
GEN. BLACK AND MISS SWEET.
The Dishonorab;e Partisan Reasons that
Called Out the Request to Resign.

The D1snOnOraDA0 Eart1San Reasons GnaS
Called Out the Request to Resign.
Washington Special to New York Times.
An Illinois Democrat now visiting in this city
furnishes an explanation of Pension Commits.
sioner Blacks Geographic demand for the resig~
nation of Pension Agent Ada Sweet, which ID
interesting and which bears the marks of
plausibility, if not probability. like the late
Commissioner Walter Evans, who made the
grave mistake of beginning work in the Internal
Revenue Office with an AK, General Black has
made the mistake, ascribable, perhaps to gnor-
ance of his powers and duties of attempting to
remove an officer whom he describes as honest
capable and satisfactory. The reasons given
for his course are political and complicated.
Before the Illinois State convention met, in July
last, General Blacks name was frequently men
toned as a candidate for Governor. When the
convention met at Peoria, it was found that
Carter Harrison had large majority of the del
egates. General Black. among his personal
friends, had been bitterly opposed to Harrison.
secure an election as delegate at large to the
national convention. He was q strong Nc
Donald man, while the State was strong for
Cleveland. To get to the national convention
he needed the assistance of the Harrison people,
and it has been asserted that in order to succeed
he was induced to promise that if chosen he
would make speech nominating Carter Harrison
for President The proof has not been made
that this dicker was effected, but General Black
went to the convention as a delegate at large,
and forgetting that he had denounced Harrison
as demagogue, presented him in eugolistic
speech as the candidate of Illinois.
The gentleman VINO tells this story says that
Black and Harrison have since been working to-
gether. Both gentlemen have been aspiring to
the United States senatorship. A short time
ago, when Harrisons chances disappeared, it
was reported at Springfield that the Cook coun-
ty delegation in the Legislature would support
Black for senator # Miss Sweet. was removed
ard Mrs Mulligan put in her place. The city
election was coming on in Chicago Harrison
needed all the support he could get to make him
mayor. He was very anxious to get strong
Irish vote. Word was sent to Washington by
Carter Harrison intimating that if the removal
of Miss Sweet could be made before tho election
it would be reciprocated, when break occurred
in the Legislature by the transfer Of the Cook
county vote from Morrison to Black. The de-
mand for Miss Sweets resignation, accompanied
by compliment for her faithful services, was
sent by telegraph. 1t was not to take effect for
three month so that the necessity for asking the
resignation by wire appears to have been justi-
fed by some extraordinary exigency. The mails
would have taken it in twenty flour hours, but
they would have brought it to Chicago about
Monday instead of Saturday before the election,
too late to produce the desired effect upon the
susceptible Irish voters.
The question is asked by the Illinois gentle-
man who tells this story whether General Black
has not tried to break down Morrison's column
in the Legislature and whether he has not only
used the Pension Office to advance his cause,
but, at the same time, has sought to disorganize
Morrison's friends in the Legislature. 1t is even
asserted that he has discredited Chairman
Oberly's standing with the administration, while
Mr. Oberly has been welcome and frequent
visitor at the White House. The ingratitude Of
this is apparent, if the assertion is true. when It
is known that Pension Commissioner Black owes
his appointment to his present place principally
to Mr. Oberly. The attempted removal OF
Miss Sweet now that the election is over, ap-
pears to have been abandoned, the political me-
cessty for it having passed General Black's
friends are unwilling to believe this story, and
some of them who have heard it are prepared to
make an indignant denial of it.