The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-06
Belief that the Appointment Would Prove
Satisfactory to Democrats, Not Only in
Indiana, but Throughout the Nation.
Possibility that New Financial Plans
May Be Sprung Upon the Country.
Good Results Expected from the Seedlings
Given the House-The Pension of Gen.
Hunters Widow-0ther Capital News.
MDoNALD AND THE TREASURY.
Renewal of the Gossip that the Ex-senator
Is to Succeed Mr. Manning.


Is to Succeed Mr. Manning.
Special tc the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, July 5.-A new impetus was to
day given to the gossip which has. for some
time, been quietly spreading here to :he effect
that ex-S Senator Joseph E. Mcdonald, of Indiana,
will succeed Secretary Manning. 1t has been re-
marked frequently of late that Mr.. Mcdonald
was spending more time in Washington than his
law practice required, and that his visits TO the
White House were rapidly increasing and length
ening. This mornings National Republican has
o lot of gossip on the subject of Mr.. Mcdonald
taking the treasuryshp portfolio, and indicates
that tacit understanding has been arrived at
that he will do So 1t quotes a prominent Indi
ana Democrat as saying: Il nave no direct iE
formation on the subject of Mr.. Mcdonald gciag
into the Treasury. but facts point that way. In
the first place Mr.. Mcdonald does not deny that
he has been spoken to by the President about
entering the Cabinet When questioned this
point he turns the matter off a joke, but does
not deny Then, there is something suspicious
in his recent enthusiastic Endorsement of the ad
ministraton. This might not surprise people
here but out in Indiana, when it was heard that
Mcdonald had praised the Presidents course,
body at once said there was something In
it. Why? Because, ever since the Chicago con-
vention, Mcdonald has been a typical Indiana
sorehead During the whole of the first year of
the administration he seldom referredto matters
at Washington. and, when he did, it was with
contempt He never came near the Capitol,
never sought any favors for his followers, and
posed as sour malcontent. His sudden con-
version dates from the time when reoreaniza
tlon of the Cabinet was talked Of. Tho frequent
visits to Washington began about the same time.
Whether these merely coincidence, or
whether the facts hare an intelligent
connection, I am, of course, unable to say; but
do not believe in such condolences. Mr..
Mcdonald has given up all hopes of getting
back to the Senate in the immediate future. He
knows Indiana will go Republican this fall and
will re-elect Senator Harrison; nor does he hope
any longer to be a Democratic candidate for the
presidency; so it is my opinion that he has made
up his mind to attach himself to the powers
that be and thus get back into political circles
in Washington
This afternoon the Journal correspondent
talked to a number Of Indiana Democrats, and
they all expressed belief that the ex-senator
would go into the Cabinet. and all thought it
would materially strengthen the administration,
not only in their State, but throughout the
country. Almost everybody con sedes that there
will be change in the Office before October,
and many say it will be within month, as it is
notorious that Secretary Manning does not want
to come back here again, and is anxious to get
out of the Office. Friends of the President
here it is said, suggested the name of Mr.
Mcdonald to leading Democrats in Congress and
in New York. and it has been favorably re-
ceived. There is no doubt that he will please
his party in every part of the country.
Representative Scott, millionaire banker
and manufacturer of Pennsylvania has been
figuring to succeed Mr.. Manning, but his Sc
lection would be without political sense and an
out-and out surrender to the banking element
and gold bugs 1t is argued for Mr.. Mcdonald
that he occupies the popular position on the
gold, silver and banking questions, and is a
sound inancier, while his selection would wheel
Indiana into line for Cleveland in 1885, Hoosier
Democrats, in speaking of Mcdonald for the
secretaryship. always remark that "in event the
next LegislSNlre is Democratic Mcdonald will
not waive his chances for the Senate by being at
the head of the Treasury Department