The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-03
CLEyELAND's ADVISERS.
How Lamar and Garland Were Offered
Places in the Cabinet.

How Lamar and Garland Were Offered
Places in the Cabinet.
Washington Special
A personal friend of the Secretary of the In
terror tells an interesting story of how two mem
bers of the Cleveland Cabinet were made. The
same Congress that saw the present Secretary
of the Interior seated as a member of the
House, found General Ransom knocking at the
doors OF the Senate claiming admittance as a
senator from North Carolina, with Mr.. Abbott,
the former senator from that State, dsputng
his right to enter, because, as Abbott alleged, a
majority Of the members of the
North Carolina Legislature who voted for
Ransom were disqualified as members
by the provisions of the fourteenth amendment.
The would be senator and the member from Mis-
sissippi were thrown together and became quite
intimate. and this intimacy was continued after
General Ransom obtained his seat Senator
Bayard was then one of the Democratic leaders
and stood in the party ranks next to Senator
Thurman. Bayard was the especial champion
of Ransom and became his earnest friend,
using every effort in his behalf. Thus the chain
was established with the links of Bayard Ran
som and Lamar
During the stormy DAYS of the Forty fourth
Congress, when the electoral count was being
made, Ransom established a new chain to
the future Secretarys gratitude. Mr. Lamar
made, near the close Of the session, one of
by the electoral count This speech was made
late at night when some of the members had
been to the restaurant more frequently than was
good for their mental powers There was one
member who has since passed away, and whose
name will not therefore, be used, who was
drunk. exceedingly drunk. He heard Lamars
speech, and so did Senator Ransom, who had
come over from the Senate for that purpose. AT
its conclusion. Lamar and Ransom walked into
the room back of the Speakers stand and sat
down. The drunken member, enraged at Lamars
speech, swore he would kill him, and going to
where Ransom and Senator Lamar were seated
called the latter traitor to his party, and draw
ing pistol, presented it to Lamars breast. La
mar did not see it, but Ransom did, and, Selling
the drunken man, whirled him round and
pushed him toward the door Lamar caught the
situation and drew his pistol, but said II will
not shoot him. his back is towards me-" This
event bound Lamar still more firmly to Ransom.
The latter in the meantime, had become a
great friend of Garland's, as bad also Lamar. In
fact, Garland's genial nature made friends Of all
who came in contact with him, and his ability as
lawyer and debater pushed him rapidly to the
front rank among Democratic senators. Ran
som was personally popular with senators of
both sides. Senator Ransom, a member of
the national Democratic committee, was in New
York good deal during the last campaign. It
was he more than any other who insisted upon
placing Senator German at the head of the ex-
ecutive committee during the canvass. The
Sage of Greystone and Gramercy said to one Of
Cleveland's intimates, and it was repeated to
Cleveland: II consider Ransom to be the wisest
broadcast minded, most sagacious and liberal of
any of the Southern politicians OF course
such an opinion. from such a source, had
great weight with Mr.. Cleveland, particularly
when he knew that Senator Ransom had
taken the initiative in the steps which brought
John Kelly and Tammany to the loyal support
of the ticket. When Congress met Senator Ran
som went quietly to work to help his friend.
He knew that in all human probability Senator
Bayard would be Secretary of State, so he COM
menced getting Endorsements from the South for
Senators Lamar and Garland. Every Democrat
recognized the fitness of these gentlemen, and
there was no difficulty in procuring proper in
dorsements. These were laid before the Presi-
dentelect. and urged him to ask interviews, first
with Senator Lamar, and then with Senator Gar
land. Prepossessed in their favor by Senator
Ransom's praises, and the Endorsements they
had, the President-elect was delighted with the
gentlemen when he met them and heard their
utterances, and while Cabinet-makers were ex
plotting their deeds Senator Ransom got in his
work. To-day there is man stronger with
the administration than Senator Ransom.