New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-04
GOSSIP FROM THE CAPITAL.
Mr.. VILAS-HIS RURAL INNOCENCE AND
SUDDEN CHANGE OF HEART.

SUDDEN ChANOE VI
frpoN THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE!
WASHINGTON, June 3.-"When MIR. Cleve-
lands Postmaster General to Washington three
months ago." said welknown public man to me to-day.
"he suffered from the disease known in vulgar parlance
big head lie has somewhat got over II now, OUT i'll
the beginning, tell you, 1t was simply AWFUL he ap-
peared think that he doing grand thlnB WHICH ho
snubbed Senator'S Members of the House were teateu
by him with condescension which made them FURIOUS
As for ordinary folk, they expected TO
stand awe-sruck in the presence of the Postmaster
General. But, as said, Mr. Villas mas
learned something since then. AT any rate. he Is l-
proving II he still considers the fat of being member
of the Cabinet as emitting him to lodgings among the
clouds he does show in his treatment OF his fellow
MORALS as plainly as he used to-"
In Justice to the person who thus dscoursed upon the
General ought to say tnat he is not ana
never was applicant for Office In what ne saiu ho
was simply echoing the opinion which hundreds Oh peo
pie who came into contact with MT. Was sinoo
his arrival in Washington have expressed Assuming
that Mr.. Vilass manners proceed from nothing worse
than lack Of tact it is TO see that his conduct
in this respect is extremely foolish and shortsghted'
Already have heard than one erot congress
express the hope that the PostmaterGencra may
appear before them next winter with the request LOT al
appropriation 1t is what the fate OF that re-
quest will be If there Is any considerable NUMBER OF
Senators and Representatives. in the same happy frame
Of mind as those gentlemen were In whom M Was
thought fit to snub and insult
Mr. vas's lack of TACT after ALL is not so surprising
when one considers the training that he received before
he became a member of the Presidents Cabinet me
greater part his life had been spent in small country
community where he led sort Of humdrum existence,
relieved only by occasional visits 10 such business
centres as Chicago Louis His law practice rarely
carried him hey ond the limits his State. His
post as lecturer at institution OF learning
certainly gave him opportunity to acquire by
contact with people In other and larger helds 'hat
broad knowledge OF and familiarity with affairs
which are essential in official called upon TO direct
the vast business of the Post Office Department In
small community like Madison Mr.. Niass talents found
ready recognition The post OF village orator
had been acceptably filled by the young lawyer as IT
probably had by scores before him. No President how:
ever HAD ever thought OF calling them into his Cabinet
because of their accomplishments In this particular d.
recton Villas 1t is true. presided at the Democratic
Convention OF last year. He also was the chairman OF
the committee which informed Governor Cleveland OF
his nomination. But nobody until them and indeed not
until his sent to the Senate on March D. ever
suspected that Mr. Villas had within him the materials for
aCabuet officer ana PostmasterGeneral Has he fulfilled
the expectations which the President and his friends
harbored when they determined to 3ner p2riGmo TO
answer that que pn All know is that al least Que
OF his colleagues the Cabinet has very poor opinion
expressing Ills opinion among small circle OF ntnates
II there is 10 be rupture IN Mr. Covclands cabinet as
III
authoritative dcnials by the party organs Mr. Bayard
Will not be the only cause which led toit.
once at the head of the Post ONCE Dopartment-the
first instance, believe record III which man With
out previous experience in Office called 10 seat IN
the Cabmet-installed, say in his post Mr. Villas
seemed In danger OF losing MS mead me aauIhtoh re-
ceyed by Cabinet officer at the hands OF those hccus
toned him for their own purposes Threatened 10
upset Mr. Nias's reason Senators were snubbed; Con
cnt officers grown gray III the service OF me
Department insultcd. TO tell the truth, think the
President Jared little better But as 10 the com
crowd they were fortunate indeed they could make
their into he awful presence of the POstmaserenef
al At the hotel which the man honored by his pres
eucc no was permitted during the dinner hour 10
occupy The table that he had chosen, until the
all the other tables had been occupied Whlle
apart by the for that purpose the Post
masterGeneral sat In solitary spcndor In the dining
hall where could approach him and he could only
be seen. When however. Mrs. Villas attempted 10 re-
tnfn the calls paid her people living In the hotel
they are mostly the families OF Army ana navy
ofncers-by simply leaving her cards with the CLERK
different mail boxes she stirred up hornets nest com
pared with which the rural diosyncrases OF her nus
band nothing II was then that the wives OF te
whom Mr.. Villas had snubbed ana snafled AT began
TO compare and TO take council with Their nus
bands The like OF 1t was never seen or heard or a
social threatened, the consequences OF when
there came a change Mr. VIlass heart Suayty aud
politcness took the place OF discourtcsy aud rude
ness which. let DO chaiiiably supposed
the new-nedged Postnaster-Gcnern mstOok for the
perhaps OF which the people have heard so much atey
and according which was promised the Governments
should he run.
IL would useless to speculate upon the reasons Tor
the gratifying change In the conduct OF the Postmaster
General. Ii has to- pass, let that be suncient
is striking of with much ncatDess ana dispatch
just now may feel grateful for 1t.