The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-25
BUCK FOR A PORTFOLIO.
COL JAMES ATKINS BACK FROM
INDIANAPOLIS.


See Gen. Harrison-The Object Of
His Trip to Urge Col. Bucks Appoint
ment to a Cabinet Position-The Lo-
cal OfficessNot Talked About-What
Col Atkins Says About Gen. Long
street-His Views on the Cabinet Ap-
pointments.
Col. James Atkins has returned from a
pilgrimage to Indianapolis. A MORNING
News reporter was accorded a somewhat
lengthy interview with the pilgrim yester-
day. Col Atkins disclaimed having gone
to the hoosier state in the interest Of any
local candidate or candidates. On the con-
trary, he said that it is premature to discuss
these matters now, and the recent statement
in the MORNING NEWS was hardly conso-
nant with the facts.
Col. Atkins admitted that be had contem-
plated the visit to Washington, but be said
that it had been interrupted by a telegram
summoning him to Atlanta. The object of
the call was not explained, further than it
was a draft upon him to do service for the
party.
TO HELP A. Z. BUCK.
At Atlanta the nature of the call was ex-
planned to him. BE was wanted to go to To-
OlaDapOuS 10 see Lne freslQent-elect
and urge the appointment of Col
A. Z. Buck to q cabinet position.
Up TO the time of his arrival at Atlanta
Col Atkins says that he was not aware
where he was expected to go; that he would
not have considered for a moment propo-
sition to go to indianapolis in the interest
of any one for petty local Office, and that
he has not had anything to say about the
local candidates except where the friends
of the candidates have visited him and in
PRODUCED the subject.
Touching his interview with Gen, Harri-
son, Col. Atkins said that after being de-
Iayed by a wreck he reached Indianapolis
on the evening of the 18th. and on the fol-
lowing day he had an hours audience with
the general that at that interview he pre-
sented the claims of Col. Buck as a fitting
republican for any cabinet position other
than Secretary of State orAttorney General:
that the South should be given two cabinet
Offices, and that the services of Col. Buck
in the party and his ability entitled his
friend to recognition.
THE PARTY IN THE SOUTH.
Col. Atkins went on to predict that if
Col. Buck were 50 honored that before the
close of the Harrison administration such
inroads would be made in the south that
the democrats viii be glad to work for the
colored vote.
Gen. Harrison did not consent to the ap-
pointment of Col. Buck, nor did he give any
intimation that he was impressed with the
colonel's argument, and all the encourage
ment the colonel got out of his trip was the
request of Gen. Harrison that Col. Atkins
on his return to Savannah should embody
his remarks in documentary form and mail
them to indianapolis and Gen. Harrison
said that he would review them at his
leisure.
Col. Atkins gathered on his trip, how
ever, some information which may or may
not be very valuable as forshadowIng
the events to follow. In it may be mem
toned that he thinks that those republicans
who are the closest to Gen. Harrison be-
lieve that he is not pleased with the ''bull-
doing attitude of the Blaine republicans
and Blaine press, who seem to think that
nobody but Blaine. did the work of the
campaign"
EITHER SHERMAN OR BLAINE
Col Atkins is inclined to think that those
nearest the President-elect are for Sherman,
and yet are willing to see Blaine provided
for. Col. Atkins himself thinks that either
Sherman or Blaine may be Secretary of
State, and possibly both may go into the
cabinet. He thinks that Sherman, on ac-
count of the reorganization of the national
banks, which will come up during the Har-
rison administration, may accept the Secre-
taryship of the Treasury, but he says
that he has it from a very close friend of
Gen. Harrison that as yet no one has been
invited to place in the cabinet and that
no one republican will be singled out but
when Harrison invites one he will send an
invitation to all whom he may select for his
cabinet and at the same time.
The colonel was asked if Gen. Longstreet
had been invited by Gen. Harrison to visit
him. He thought no such invitation had
been extended.
NOT A LoNGSTREET MAN.
In fact Gen. Longstreet does not appear
to be In the good graces of Col. Atkins, for
the latter says that he thinks Gen. Long
street went on his own motion, and when
he was asked if Longstreet went to see Gen.
Harrison in Col. Bucks interest, he replied
that that could not be. 1t was to be inferred
from Col. Atkins resume of the situation,
that the harmony between the Buck
and Longstreet factions is not
such as can be cut up in
chunks. Gen. Longstreet, the colonel
thought, took it upon himself to 20 to
Indianapolis to advise the President-elect
how to run the presidency, and who should
be appointed TO fill the offices. The colonel's
opinion of ex-Gov. Bullock is scarcely less
complimentary, for he said, Bullock is a
republican who is running little schedule
of his own" The colonel rather savagely
intirnated that Gen. Longstreet had not
Col. Atkins evidently hasn't any abiding
place in his heart for Malone, and he
frankly said that he had little use for him,
or words to that effect.
COULD FILL ALL BUT TWO.
Upon being asked what place in the
cabinet he could recommend Col Buck for,
he said that Buck would make "a good
Postmaster General, Secretary of the In
terror or Secretary Of the Navy. He is not
a lawyer and could not well be recon-
mended for Attorney General or Secre-
tary of State. In fact the
colonel said that he sought to
impress upon the president-elect that his
candidate for a cabinet position, Col Buck,
did not have a national reputation, and it
would be difficult to find such a republican
in the south, but that Col. Buck would be
a worker, and as such would strengthen the
administration, where a man of national
reputation" might be a weakness.
There is to be gathered from the inter-
view between the lines that Col. Buck is
backed by the Sherman influence, and
while few are willing to concede Col
Bucks promotion, the fact that he is
pressed for a cabinet position will smooth
the way to make him the dispenser of OIL
cial pap by an appointment to a local
place. Col. Atkins himself will not
refuse plum if it is rich, rosy and luscious
He has already been suggested as minister
20 Rrazil and In abiding To fha fact ha nd