Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-11
A PAIR HARD TO BEAT.
TRAITS OF GOV. CLEVELAND AND
HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY.

The Characters of the Two Men Com
bining to the Great Advantage of the
Countrywide President Elects Plan
OfMakinE Appointments as Illustrated
While in the GubernatOrial Chair.
ALBANY, \. Y, Jan. 10.-The flying visit
Of Col. Lamont to Washington has given the
Democratic politicians Of the national capital
the chance 10 catch a glimpse of the man who
will haYe more influence with President
Cleveland than any other dozen men in the
party. Until they have been brought into
immediate personal contact with the next
President, members Of Congress and Demo-
cratic politicians generally cannot fully APP
preciate how ght is his acquaintance with
the personnel OF the party OF which he be-
comes the Official head Probably any mer-
chant who devotes half an hour daily to the
newspapers has as good knowledge of the
men IN the party as had Cleveland two
months ago.
PICKING Up RAPIDLY.
The intervening time of course has given
him a familiarity with he names at least of
the Congressional majority, but were il not
for his invaluable and omni-cient private
secretary, President Cleveland would be like
~ during the first months of his term to give
mortal OfIense to more than one member of
the Democratic majority in Congress by be-
tray Ing complete ignorance Of his impor-
lance. real or assumed. 1t was to supply this
GOV. Cleveland made Col. Lamont his private
secretary In 1883, and It Is for the same pur
nose that he will accompany President Cleye-
land to Washington.
COL. LANIONT'S ABILITY.
Col. Lamont, however. Is much more than a
mere nomenclatOr. lie has for years made
close study Of the personal aspects Of Demo-
cratic politics, and Mr.. Cleveland generally
rests with absolute confidence on his judg-
mcnt Of men, and Of their political conse-
quenCe. The two men stand TO one another,
therefore, in even more confidential relations
than those which ordinarily exist between a
Governor and his private Secretary. The
Secretary Is not only the repository Of the Sc
crets of his chief, bat has been largely instru-
mental IN determining at times his action by
advice based on more thorough knowledge
of men. 1t can be said that no man in whom
Col Lamont has not confidence is likely to
meet with favor in the eyes of the President.
THE SECRETARY'S Observation-Disclosures
1t does not follow. however, that Col. La
mont has actively interested himself in behalf
of any one. On The contrary, Ee has abSO-
lutclv refused time and again actively 10 adj
vOcate the cause OF those who have been his
warm political friends with the Governor. IN
a sense that Is tacltly recognized between
them, Col. Lamont simply exercises the veto
power on Mr.. Cleveland : first impressions.
The Governor Is good Judge of human ma
ture, and underL eatn a calm and somewhat
lnattentIve demeanOr really closely scrutlnzes
the men he meets. Relying on these first I'M
pressicns the Governor has made some APP
pOintments that have surprised the politicians
of the State.
CLEVELAND'S FIRST APPOINTMENT.
One Of the first offices he was called upon to
fill was the position of Superintendent of the
new capitol, an Office created by the Lcgis-
lature with the view that it should be as
signed TO John o. Brien, a leading Democratic
politician and the contractor of the New
York aquejuct. The Superintendent employs
from l,4O0 to 1000 men on the work Of con-
struCtiOn, and the position was accordingly
deemed one Of great partisan advantage
Mr.. Cleveland CHANGED TO hear of some eX-
cellent building done by j. c.. Perry, an
architect and builder, of BinghamptOn, whose
name even was not known outside Of his pro-
Perry was invited by friend to visit Albany
and the Governor. He came and the two had
an hours conversation, in which Mr.. Perry
biUuJly expressed his opinions Of the manner
in which the work should be performed.
A COMPLETE SURPRISE.
Mr.. Ferry returned home. and within a
week his name was sent to the Senate, to the
complete surprise of the Democratic mem
berS. Mr.. Perry's politics even were un-
known. lie was, however, confirmed, and it
is now conceded that the work of cOnstruc-
tlOn has been performed more economically
and in better manner than ever before. In
The same manner VIM. IL. Martha visited
Gov. Cleveland to secure a subordinate posi-
ton in the newly arranged department of
New DIRK harbOr. Mr.. Cleveland talked
with him a short time, and became convinced
of his integrity and ability. He sent in his
name to the Senate for Commissioner of I'm
migration, the chief Office in The department,
I and thus brought on the contest with Tam
many Hail. The President and his private
secretary have admirably supplemented one
anOther's qualities. The President-e elects
tendency toward impulsiveness is counter
balanced by the extreme caution of his private
secretary. In Albany they have become to be
regarded as inseparable.