Evening journal., 1888-12-15
HARRISON IMPATIENT.
He Will Neither Confirm Nor
= Deny the Blaine Rumor.
BLAINE ALSO REFUSES TO TALK.

Hands with 1000 Hoosiers.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec 15-The most pro-
nounced excitement that has occurred here
since the election was caused by press dis
patch announcing that James G. Blaine had
been rendered aud had accepted the secretary
of states portfolio, the announcement being
accompanied by interviews with some of the
Maine statesman's friends, in which they
said they had no doubt of the truth of the
report Among Harrison's personal friends
there was considerable doubt as to the truth
of the reporR but no one could say that it
was not so, and some went 50 far as to assert
that it was but natural that Blaine should be
called into the cabinet
A copy of the telegram stating that Mr.
Blaine had been offered and had accepted
the position Of secretary of state was taken
to the residence of Gen. Harrison and was
handed to Private Secretary Halford with
the request that the president-elect should be
asked If there was anything that he would
be willing TO say about it After reading
the telegram Gen. Harrison came from his
library with the dispatch in his hand and re
marked
~ thought it was understood that wns not
TO be interviewed l have stated repeatedly
to representatives Of the press that | would
have nothing 10 say at any time in an inter
view. Special correspondents have come to
me with questions that in one or two in
stances | have not even permitted them 10
ask, and have said time and again that i
would not talk upon any ssbject for publica-
tion. / supposed that it was understood and
II ii is not want it thoroughly understood
all round that cannot and viii not allow
myself to be placed in tho position OF either
affirming or denying any report that may be
put in circulation by newspapers Even If
they should be true / would have nothing
whatever TO say about Them
"But this report is of such an extraordi-
nary nature that
"lt makes no difference what is tho nature
Of the report, or through what channel il
comes cannot allow myself to be troubled
with questions about such things. II
should say anything once would be ex-
pected TO again, and you can soc what il
would lead to. ] might as well undertake
TO keep the public informed as to what l
have in mind, and it would amount to that
should take up tho newspaper reports
every morning and say this Is true or that is
not true. You gentlemen may go on with
your speculation as 10 what you think will
be done, but / must not be asked to confirm
or aeny the reports that are put in circula-
ton / say this in all kindness, but / hope
Il win be understood all around that / will
not allow myself to be placed in the position
Of determining the trustworthiness OF any
report no matter how important or from
what source it comesn
The vice president-elect was so i'll all day
with sore throat and bad cold that he was
not able TO go out In the morning he was
feeling so badly that Dr. o. S. Runnells, the
loaIfrfv IL L.
the morning Mr. Morton was feeling so
much better that Mrs. Morton, Mrs Harrison
and Mrs. Mckee attended tho reception
given by Mrs. Allen in honor OF Mrs Morton.
Ex-Congressman w. ID. Washburn Of
Minnesota, arrived here accompanied by
John M. Underwood, member Of the leeis-
lature Of that state Mr.. Washburn called
on John G. New at once, and the two then
went out to see Gen Harrison Mr. Wash
burn says he wants nothing, and that his
state does not expect to be represented in
the cabinet He thinks that Gen. Harrison
win deal justly and honestly with the south
and with the entire country.
AUGUSTA, Me-. Dec 15-Mr. Blaine was
asked If it was true that President-elect Har-
rison had offered him the position OF secre
tary Of state, and that he had accepted It.
Mr. Blaine said he had heard the rumor. but
Manley, chairman Of the Republican state
committee, said: "No one knows ANYTHING
about the matter here, and we should prob
ably know 1t if anybody did l think YOU
might safely say it as an absolute fact that
It is not so. While do now and always have
believed that the position will be rendered 10
Mr.. Blaine, and that he will accept, / know
that it has not been done This is simply
my own private opinion, and is not based
on anything that Mr.. Blaine has told rne.n
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 15.-The almost con
tinuous presence OF callers at the Harrison
residence has practically deprived Harrison
and Morton OF each 0ther's society, and little
private conversation has taken place between
them, except when they have been out walk
ing together East evening the two separ-
ated themselves from the visitors and took
long walk in the northern part Of the CITY.
They strolled about for nearly an hour. and
both appeared TO be lost 70 everything ex-
cept the topic Of conversation
Last evening the president-elect and his
guests dined with DR., Allen, and a few mo-
ments before ) o'clock they came down To
Iomiinson hall, where public reception was
held Mrs Morton did not attend, being
taken suddenly i'll A crowd OF 5. 900 people
had collected on the streets near the han.
and tho police compelled them to fall into
line and thus march into the hall.
Mrs. Harrison stood the strain on her hand
for forty minutes, and then retired and left
the general and Mr.. Morton to the tender mer-
cies Of the 600 who were yet to come. Many
OF the people fingered around the hall after
shaking hands with the two gentlemen. lint
the majority left the hall at once. 1t is esti-
mated that 900 persons passed through the