St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-14

party In January, 1888, he became private
secretary to Gov. Cleveland, and was
also made military secretary, with the rank
OF colonel His knowledge of public men,
and particularly with political events and the
currents OF political opinion, have made him
very useful to the executive, and these quail
ties will render him even more valuable in
The larger sphere which he is to fill as private
secretary of the president. Col. Lamont is q
gentleman of fine attainments and agreeable
manners, and there can be no doubt that in
the White house he will largely increase the
popularity which he has won at the capital of
the Empire state
Ordinarily the private secretaries to the
president do not rank high, so far as in
fiuence is concerned. 1t is generally sup
posed by the public that the private secretary
is an official whose
PRINCIPAL DUTIES
consist in protecting the president from i'm
portuning and unimportant callers. But, in
reality, the average private secretary in the
White house has very little to do outside of
the routine found in managing the CORE
spondence of the executive mansion. Pub
lie men who go to see the president are not
inclined to spend much time with middle
men, however talented they may be. Sena
tors, leaders of the house and diplomatic
people, when they go to see the president,
always insist on a personal audience. Prom
inent politicians, when they come here from
their states, are not fond of being kept wait
ing in the private secretary's room. There
has been, however, no private secretary who
has come to the White house for many years
who has had the wide political experience of
Col. Lamont. He has Ceveland's confidence
to remarkable degree. He has been
HIS CLOSE ADVISER
and has, for a long time, been taken into
his confidence. At Albany, however, the
situation is much different from that at
Washington. There, Lamont was practically
Cleveland's only adviser Here, Cleveland
has seven counselors who will see him every
day of his life, five of whom are very prom
inent, influential men. In addition TO these
counselors, the Democratic leaders in both
houses will have access to him, and will
insist upon giving him advice. No presi-
dent can escape this, unless he should cut
loose from his party. No president would
dream of doing that unless impelled by very
extraordinary circumstances. Tyler, who
cut loose from his party, thought that ne
could form new party, not realizing that
parties are not made by politicians, but by
the people Johnson got out with the party
that elected him. The only result that fol-
lowed was an absolute loss of influence.
An administration that hopes to ac
complish practical results must stand well
with the people that contributed to its cleo
ton. 1t is understood here that some of the
Democrats who represent the revenue reform
element are very much opposed tothe Tilden
influence in the new administration. These
gentlemen have prejudice against Col.
Lamont, on account of his former connec-
ton with Tilden, and because it is believed
that he still has confidential relations with
him. This prejudice may be very easily dis
posed of, as | understand that the new pri-
vate secretary is
A VERY DIPLOMATIC AND ADRoTT POLITICIAN,
who has much more skill In creating friends
than the average men of his age. He does
not believe in making needless enemies.
His present position is one that will try his
ability. II he can maintain his influence
and close relations with the president in the
face of the counter influences that will sur
round Cleveland here, it will show
that he has very marked ability
a sa politician and a diplomatst.