The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-12-22
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
Cabinet Talk and Principal Topics Of
the Times.
[ Special to the KEYSTONE, |

Inc material out OF Wh1cn the
next cabinet is to be built continues
to be the most absorbing topic for
discussion among all classes who
take any interest at all in the COM
ing administration. Mr.. Blaine is
the man most talked of for Secre-
tary of State, but some OF his IN
innate friends say he will not go
into the cabinet in any position.
They say that President Harrison
will offer the position of Secretary
of State to Mr.. Blaine, but it will
be declined. It is we'll known that
Mr.. Blaine's health is not at all
good, and he does not feel that he
has the physical strength to fill an
executive Office, nor does he want,
in his present state of health, to
become the chief object of interest
to office-seekers. He desires to live
quietly in this city for the winter
without taking upon himself any
public duties. Mr.. Blaine has
rented his own house for another
year, and is fitting up much less
pretentious establishment, which he
will occupy early in the new year.
1t is reported on good authority
that Mrs. James G. Blaine, Jr., is
going on the stage. Before she
made the unlucky runaway match
with young Blaine which has re-
suited so disastrously for her do
nestle happiness, she was offered
an engagement by Nine. Modjeska
who was her intimate friend, and
who believed the young girl pos
sessed dramatic ability of high
order. Unfortunately the hand
some, fair-haired girl broke that en-
gagement to marry young Blaine.
Now, being entirely dependent on
her own exertions for a livelihood,
and with a baby boy to support, her
thoughts naturally revert to the
stage. It is said she has received a
very good offer, but from whom is
not made public. 1t is said that
she will make Chicago her home
for the present.
Another piece Of cabinet gossip
places General Longstreet at the
head of the War Department.
When General Longstreet was in
Indianapolis short time ago, he
was the recipient of distinguished
attentions from General Harrison.
General -Longstreet is the most.dis-
tinguished Southern republican of
confederate antecedents in the
South, and the most distinguished
ex-confederate living, and since
Lees death he has been recognized
as the head of the old confederate
service. He has written a history
of the confederacy, which will go
into print in a short time. 1t is
believed that in recognizing him in
this way, General Harrison will
give the South greater reason for a
more liberal estimate of the repub-
lican party in the North, and that
it will help both democrats and re-
publicans in the South and start an
era of better feeling. 1t is under
stood that General Longstreet will
take the Secretaryship of War in
March, and will resign it at the end
Of the fiscal year, in July, to give
the remainder of his time to the
publication of his book. He is over
70 years of age, and beyond the
honor attaching to the position,
does not care to hold the office.
He would, therefore, be very willing
to give it up early in the year, and
allow some younger man to take it.
The subject Of calling an
EXTRA SESSION
Is discussed much among republi-
cans, as it becomes more certain
that their majority in the next
House, if they shall have any, will
be very small When the subject
of an extra session was suggested
to one of the older Senators, he
said: II hope that General Harri-
son in thinking about this, will not
| forget that the other General Har-
rison called an extra session o1
congress and that that extra session
wrecked the Wing party"
There is superstition among
the older politicians that an extra
session Of congress generally means
mischief to the party which calls it
But many of the younger men who
are not familiar with the history O
extra sessions, or with the conse
quences that have sometimes fol
lowed in their train, have been very
persistent in their demand tha'
President Harrison shall cali al
extra session. It is not though
that General Harrison will be cage
to get the two houses together sc
soon, but it is believed that he vii
defer to the advice of party leaders
One Of the reasons given for call
ing an extra session is that the ter
ritories may be admitted in season
for them to hold elections mex
summer and send their representa-
tives to congress here by autumn
1t is thought, too, that the recen
! vote Of tho nnnnln chnuc tho