The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-01
Virginia 8 Three Johns.
a PATHETIC STORY OF BLASTED HOPES,

The Washington correspondents OF
various prominent journals are telling the
following story of the Virginia triumyir-
ate's struggle for the spoils under this Re-
form administration
A gentleman having raised the question
how the administration came to appoint
Mr.. Kelley as Minist er to Italy, the old
Virginia Bourbon said, will tell you all
about it. After Cleveland was elected.
three gentlemen in our State formed a
little coterie to dispose OF the State pa
tronage. These gentlemen were John
is. Barbour. They arranged that Mr..
Goode should be appointed Minister to
Italy, Mr. Barbour should succeed Gen.
Malone in the Senate, and Judge Tucker
should succeed to the first vacancy on the
Supreme Bench, following Judge Bradley,
probably. There was one thing to inter-
fere with this arrangement, and that was
the prominence of Anthony M. Kelley and
his desire for an office, and the fact that he
was strong candidate for the SenatorShip
1t was finally agreed that it would. be
very fitting thing to have Kelley appointed
to succeed General Mosby as Consul to
China. 1t would be putting a Virginia.
| to succeed a Virginian, and would get
Kelley very much out of the way. Kelley
was written to, and consented to take the
place. 1t was then agreed that Goode and
Tucker should go to Secretary Bayard and
! the President on behalf of Kelley, and that
Barbour and Tucker should go on behalf
of Goode
Accordingly Messrs. Goode and Tucker
| D. 4 49, fcr IyosIn
Mr.. Tucker led off and made q glowing
presentation of the case of his friend
Kelley He told of his Democracy. his
high social position, his great work for and
influence in the party. and warmed up on
the subject of his scholarship. wisdom and
| learning. One thing he named us espec-
/ tally fitting him fer the duties of the i'm
portant Consulship. and that was his
ability to speak French. German and
italian.
At this point the Secretary stopped him
and said Judge Tucker, you have named
exactly the man and the qualifications We
want for the Italian mission. | believe
| Mr.. Kelley is just the man we are looking
/ for for that place. believe I can do still
better for your friend than you ask, and
give him that mission. That would please
you, would it not ?"
"Why, yes" answered Tucker, with
rather blank look, ssof course. Of course
it would be splendid appointment. y
well, then,'' said the Secretary, ''let
us count that as settled upon. and you can
so inform Mr. Kelley"
The gentlemen bowed themselves out
with many expressions of gratitude and
satisfaction. Once outside the depart
ment they paused and looked at each other
in disgust.
'Well, you have played the devil,
haven't you,' said Goode. with some
energetic punctuation marks.
Ppm afraid have,' answered Tucker
luefully.
You laid it on too strong" assented
Goode.
Yes. undoubtedly overdid the mat
ter" said Tucker. II was fishing for a
sucker and caught whale. y
''But what's to become of me?" asked
Gocde. ''They won't appoint Kelley to
Italy and me to Austria; Virginia can t
/ get two such Missions.
'sThat'S sO,' answered Tucker "the
slate seems to be badly busted. Let's go
and consult Barbour"
/ Mr.. Barbour was consulted. AT first he
laughed at the situation Judge fuckers
fervid speech had cotton them into. and
after some thought, asked Goode how the
place of Solicitor General would suit him.
Goode thought it over and consented to
take it. Barbour and Tucker then went
to work and easily secured the appoint
ment.
Now see what has been the result to
those four men. Kelley has been rejected
by Italy and Austria, and is now IN private
life. Barbour has been beaten by Daniel,
who was not at that time considered
seriously as a dangerous man, and will go
into private life at the end of his term in
the House.
Goode will not be confirmed probably,
and so will have to retire, and Tucker is
still in statu quo and will doubtless follow
Mr.. Barbour into privacy.