The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-02
HIS FIRST IMPRESSION.
People Should Be at Their Best when
They Meet Mr.. Cleveland.
From the st. Louis Republic.

they Meet Mr.. cleveland.
From the ST. Louis Republic,
WASHINGTON, July 2S-Saida prominent
public official the other day: President
Cleveland is the most impressionable man l
have ever seen in high office. BY that L
mean that he either quickly forms a
liking for people he meets, or else he
takes dislike just as quickly. BY this
do not conclude that when he happens
to fancy man that fact is bound to secure
an appointment for the applicant. he
does not make his appointments that way
couldn't afford to, in many cases-as he
pays due attention to the backing an apph-
cant may have. But the point | wish to
bring out is that some of the most proml-
nent men connected with the present ad-
ministration were decided upon for posi-
tions, sooner or later, the very first time
Mr. Cleveland had square talk with them.
You will remember that he had never met
Secretary Villas until that gentleman, In
his capacity of chairman of the notification
committee, called upon the then Gov Cleve-
land at Albany in performance of the duty
imposed by the convention. Col. Villas, as
he was then Familiarity called, had never
held any important offices, and was prac-
tically unknown politically outside of Wis
consin and neighboring states. He made
quito reputation in an oratorlcal way at
st. Louis a year or two before the national
convention at the banquet of the Army of
the Tennessee, and this probably led to his
selection as permanent chairman at Chicago.
mo sooner had the president met Col.
Villas than he took fancy to him, and two
or three more meeting, resulted in the offer
of a cabinet posision. When it was first
talked of, few of the old time democratic
politicians believed that Col. Villas would be
appointed. They argued that he had never
figured extensively in politics in Wisconsin
even, much less in a national sense, and that
there was nothing to be gained by going
to a republican state for a cabinet
officer. But they were mistaken. Col.
Villas made a splendid Postmaster General,
even though he is not so popular with the
politicians as Gen. Stevenson of Illinois,
who is prime favorite with the senators
and representatives. Mr.. Cleveland found
Mr.. Villas such an excellent executive
officer that he promptly transferred him
to the interior department when Mr. Lamar
was appointed a justice of the supreme
court"
Another instance of this kind" the
official went on to say, twas the quick
fancy the President took to Mr.. Don NJ.
Dickinson of Michigan, the present Post
master General. 1t was quite similar to
the case of Col. Villas. The first talk the
President had with Dickinson impressed
him with the Michigan lawyers ability,
Judgment, energy and political shrewdness,
and he did not wait a moment when he
had a chance to bring him into the cabinet
Mr.. Dickinson reciprocated thoroughly the
Presidents feelings, but he was reluctant to
leave Detroit and his big law practice; and
he would ndver have done this for anyone
but President Cleveland I am satisfied. Mr.
Dickinson was willing, though, to sacrifice
his own interests when the President seemed
so anxious to have him in the cabinet. He
is, perhaps the best politician in the present
cabinet by long odds
THE President took just as great fancy
to Mayor Francis as he did to either of the
gentlemen named above, and | know that
if Mr.. Francis were willing to accept any
big federal office that might happen to be
vacant Mr.. Cleveland would be only too
glad to number him among his federal ap
pointeeS. But of course the accomplished
young mayor of st. Louis has never had
aspirations of this kind, and can hoe his
own row politically in Missouri, and just
now the politicians are watching with in
tense interest his great contest for guber-
material honors in one of the foremost
states of the union. The President re-
marked just after meeting Mr.. Francis the
first time
"'I never met man who impressed me
more favorably on first acquaintance
Another man who took Immensely with
Mr.. Cleveland is Judge Browning of Benton,
ILL.,, who was pressed last winter by the
Illinois democrats for the land commits
sioner. The president wanted to appoint
him, but political reason stood in the way !;
that is, there was such strong pressure for
an Indiana man, and Mr. Stockslager then
being the acting commissioner, the presi-
dent felt bound to give this place to In
diana
Knowing Ones" the laxative, but in
teresting official concluded ''assert-but
mark you. | know nothing about this-that
the Presidents impressionable nature had
much to do with his rather sudden deter
mination to be become Benedict. Nobody
ever thought after he asked his maiden sis
ter, Miss Rose Elizabeth. to become mistress
of the white house, that such a confirmed
old bachelor, and one who had never been
known to be in the least susceptible, would
so late in life venture upon the matrimonial
sea. 1t got to be somewhat
monotonous at the white house, and
mother were on visit to the
executive mansion, the President no doubt
suddenly made up his mind that he would
ask his ward to become his wife. Intimate
friends of all the parties have intimated to
me that when the bachelor President first
proposed, the fair one actually thought it
was joke. 1t seemed really odd in view
of the fact that the present mistress of the
white house was so young, and had always
looked upon the President as a sort of uncle
and guardian. The fancy to become ben
edict took possession Of the bachelor Presi-
dent all at once, and like all prosperous mon
who marry late in life, he preferred youth
and beauty"