The morning news., 1888-12-21
WHAT DID Mr.. BLAINE DO?
HIS Reputed Declination OF a S26, 900
Editorship OF an Illustrated Paper.
From the 81 Louis Rep,lblic.

From the 81. Louis Republic,
NEW YORK, Dec. 13.-Tne recently pub
lished story that Mr.. Blaine had been in
vlted to become connected with literary
enterprise in New York city has founda-
ticn in solid fact, although none of the
statements as to the enterprise itself have
been correct. 1t can be positively stated
| that when he was in New York ten days ago
| Mr. Blame received one OF the most munif-
| cent offers ever made to any writer for
llterarf work. The offer was made to him
Ia MS nome IN Augusta, last September, at
the end OF the Maine election canvass, on
| oehalf of a syndicate Of wealthy republi-
| cans. 1t was held under consideration until
NJ. Blaine'S visit 70 this city on the occa-
slon OF the death of Mrs. Gen. Sherman,
when Mr.. Blaine declined the proposition
Ihe refusal To accept the offer is believed
| by the statesman's friends here to be GER
tain indication that ne win go into Gen.
harrlson's cabinet as Secretary of State.
The project was the publication of a high
| class illustrated journal, similar in type TO
the London Illustrated Netes. The definite
objects OF the journal were to be political.
1t was TO be devoted to American interests.
whose advocacy and advancement were to
De gwen preference over everything else.
The gentlemen of the syndicate were to
have furnished S500,000 for the project,
with Mr. Blaine as editor-in-chief and Car
son Lake general manager. Col. Lake was
interviewed tonight about the project. he
said:
After the Chicago convention l talked
the matter over with several friends, all
prominent men in the republican party.
mere was unanimous verdict that il Mr..
Blaine was willing to retire, or ready to re-
tire from active politics in the sense of ad-
mlnlstraIive or legislative craftsmanship,
ms pen and name would make such an en-
terprise a success from the outset. The
matter was finally brought to his attention
as business proposition, and the assur-
ances given that ample capital was ready
were satisfactory to him"
Was a stock company to have been
formedF'
Yes; with sl,OOO,OOO capital stock"
What was the offer made to Mr..
Blaine e.
He was offered s25, 900 year, with
five years guarantee. 1t was a SO agreed
that he YVES to be given S250,000 of nom
assessable stock. Another fourth of the
stock, was 10 have been left in the treasury
and the balance was TO be subscribed for at
par, that is S500,000, which was to have
been the working capital. Mr.. Blaine,
under thIs arrang ment, would have re-
ceived one-third of the profits in addition to
his salary, and | do not hesitate to assert
Cudt u1o pTOuJS dcCTulUg 10 MIN WOul1 nave
been double the salary. Walker Blaine
vas to have been engaged as assistant
editor, which may account for the hints
YOU have seen that he might give up law
for literature. He has liking for literary
work
''Mr Blaine took the matter under con-
sideration. l spent three days in Augusta,
much of the time with him. rne matter
vas discussed in its various phases quite
fully. He was so full of the election that
he was unable to get mis- mind down to any
thing else. just before left Tor New York
be sent me note at the Augusta house.
which probably reflects his mind quite ac-
curately." The note was as follows:
DEAR Mr.. LAKE: You almost took nv breath
away with the statistics you give in the matter
of your projected pictorial and political Jour
nal. / am deeply impressed with all you nave
said to me, and while quite unable to give a
positive answer, | do not wish to reply in the
Hegative at this time / am thinking Just now
| of the election of Harrison and Morton so ab-
sorbingly, and especially of the Maine election
to-day, that do not take in facts and figures
| with perfect clearness. will be out of the fog
| in clear daylight in a short time. Very sin
cerely, JAMES G. BLAINE
Col. Lake said further: IL have no uues-
| ton that Gen. Harrison will offer Mr..
| Blaine the portfolio of state and none
| That he will accept 1t. Mr.. Blaine has been
| known to say that he preferred the place of
| Secretary of State to that Of President"