St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-31
ELKINS' GRIP.


Gen. HARRISON is having hard time
with his West Virginia Republican
friends, on account of the popular be-
lief in that section that STEPHEN B.
ELKINs is to have place in the cabi-
net and to be accredited TO that state.
Some time ago the GLOBE gave its
reasons for believing that Mr.. ELkINs
would 90 into the cabinet, but the
cabinet makers generally ridiculed the
idea. Lately, however, it has dawned
upon them that there was some fOun-
dation for the GLOBES predictions.
Mr.. ELKINs enjoys more intimate re-
lations with the president-elect than
was popularity supposed, and from some
movements that have recently been
made at indianapolis, the inference is
very clear that ELKINs stands closer to
the throne than the other cOurtierS de
sire. Ex-senator HENRY q. DAVIS, of
West Virginia, who is Mr.. ELKINs'
father-in-law and business partner, took
run out to Indianapolis the other day,
presumably by invitation of the presi-
dent-eleet. At any rate, when DAVIS
~ POo iIohi VIZ NtSils A1<hAbh7
SONS carriage was at the depot in wait
ing for him. and he was driven straight
to the HARRISON mansion, where he
was cl0seted for two whole days with
the incoming administration. When
DAVIS left indianapolis his face was
Wreathed in smiles. and he was over
heard to remark to a friend on the train:
81 have fixed it all right" Then few
days later great host of indignant West
Virginia Republicans swept down upon
indianapolis to protest against Demo
crat like DAVIS being allowed to tamper
with the administration. The chair
man of the state Republican committee,
the member of the national Republican
committee, the editors of the leading
Republican papers in the state, and
nearly all the old Republican war horses
were included in the protesting West
Virginia delegation. They were mad
as hornets when they got to Indian
apOliS, but they were still madden when
they left. They sent messenger no to
the HARRISON mansion to inform the
president-elect that they were there,
and what they had come for. A mes
sage came back that they would
have to wait over another day
if they wished reception. When the
next day came they were granted al in
terview which lasted just fifteen minutes
by the watch. They improved the
time by telling Gen. HARRISON that
ELKINS is not ana never has been
citizen Of West Virginia, and that he
had never been identified with West
Virginia Republicanism; that his father
in-law, DAVIS, had been elected to the
senate as a Democrat, and that since
his retirement he had quit the state.
For these and other potent reasons
they asked that the SimOn-pure Repub
licans of West Virginia might be heard
when it came to selecting representa-
tive from that state for cabinet posi-
ton. When they got through with
statement Of their grievances the presi
dent-elect nodded them a cold farewell
and asked Secretary HALFoRD to show
the gentlemen the door. That was all
the comfort they got, and madden set
of men never left indianapolis.
1t is well to remember, in this cOnnec-
ton, that Gen. HARRISON is partner
with DAVIS and ELKINS in some coal
mining operations in Maryland and
West Virginia. His son, RUSSELL, is
paLtner with ELKINs and DORSEY iii
some land and mining speculations in
New Mexico. 1t will also be remem-
bered that ELKINs was the gO-between
of the BLAINE and HARRISON factions
at Chicago. Taking all these things
iiAs consideration, it is reasonable to
suppose that STEVE is going to have
the HARRISON ear at his disposal,
whether he goes into the cabinetor not.
BLAINE and ELKINs are going to sit as
partners at the HARRISON administra-
ton table, and the hands they will hold
will be fTightful to see.