Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-02
Some OF the ScaDesoats.

Chicago Tribune: The postmortcm
examination Of the Cleveland admins
tration, which has been kept up since
election, is bringing out some scraps of
| history which are interesting. The
latest contribution to the subject is the
statement that Whitney alone of all the
cabinet officers opposed the presidents
tariff message, and that he had a quar-
rel with Villas over the matter. Persons
| who are supposed to know say it is q
| fact that Whitney stood alone in his op-
| position and that he did entreat the
| president not to send the document to
congress. But an adviser of Mr.. Glove
land who was even more powerful than
whitney took the same stand and was
overruled. This was Colonel Dan
Lamont. The private secretary
thought it was bad politics to raise the
issue on the eve of the presidential
election. He is keeaer Judge of men
than Cleveland, and at the outset he
undertook to discount the gushing
praise which Villas, Dickinson and
other leading democrats in the west
We're showering upon the president.
Lamont had seen enough of Villas to
know that his leadership would never
carry Wisconsin. Dickinson, he looked
upon as an enthusiast whose Judgment
was worthless. But Mr.. Cleveland was |
infatuated with the idea that he would |
make tremendous break in the west, |
which would more than compensate |
Tor the possible loss of New |
I ork and other eastern manu-
featuring states. The two cabinet Of
hccrs were sure he could rely on their
states. Sterling Morton pledged Ne
braska if the issue were made rad
lcal enough. Half dozen democrats
OF national reputation vouched for Iowa
and Minnesota. Illinois was carried by
Springer and Townshend, in their
minds. With talk of tins kind ringing
IN his ears, it is hardly to be wondered
that the president took the plunge.
The debate on the Mills bill opened his
eyes somewhat, but his confidence was
not shaken. All through the campaign
the widest stories were told
him about the great possibil-
ties In the west, and he be.
lieved them. Lamont didn't. He thought
at one stage of the canvass there might
be fighting chance for Michigan, but
IN the end he gave this up aud based
all his hopes of Cleycland's recollection
on tremendous majority in New York
CITY. His judgment has been vindi-
Gated and his friends say he stands
higher than ever in Mr.. Clcveland's
IDEAS OF him as n political prophet
This may be some balm to him for the
strained relations he bore To his chief
during critical time. IL is certain he
does not think it necessary TO conceal
his contempt for some members of the
cabinet.
1t is said hero hat the real author Of
yhe tarltf message was Mr.. Manton
Marble. For twenty years Mr.. Marble
las been eager TO force talif reform
nto politics us n distinctive issue. Mr..
Marble lald before the president his
lraft OF message such as he advised.
This was the origin of the much dis
'ussed document winch, in the opinion
u many persons, settled the presiden- I
iial contest AS translated to congress
here were some changes from Mr.. t
larble's composition, but the main q
calures were preserved, and in some .
i the idiomatic expressions the OK q
ditor's style can be easily recognized.