New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-25
PILGRIMS TO INDIANA.
EX-SENATOR II. G. DAVIS AND SENATOR SAW
YER CALL ON HARRISON.
MITCH SPECULATION OVER THE VISIT OF THE
WEST NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sAwYENs TAIN
WITH THE Observation-Disclosures
GENERALS CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
ruY rKLEsRAPI 70 HE TRIBUNE.

GENERALS CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
rny rKLEsRAra TO HE rRIDuSEi
indianapolis, Dec 24.-The chance OF qu'e'
holiday week at General Harrson's is remote oN0
il every day Of the seven or more Ieio oii"e' Wv"
such important political visitors as TINS one ue-
oral Harrison's wish to be undisturoed as posi-
hle for the rest of December had probably mol
cot abroad in time 10 stop the two distinguished
callers today. but even if it had, the President
elect would undoubtedly have been glad to oreaK
his rule for these two men, ex-senator Hehry VI
Davis Of West Virginia. and Senator fhlIeVuS
SAWYER. of Wisconsin. The fact that ex-senator
Davis is Democrat, and that his coming was
somewhat mysterious, puzzles fe" specuia'oi'
here who do not know of his close personai REID
tions with General Harrison and OF his present
attitude in West Virginia politics. The ex-oeha-
TORS visit was brief and it given out generally
that his call was largely social and personal one
He was guest at General Harrisons house during
his stay in town. Senator Sawyer stopped OH here
on his way home TO Wisconsin Tor the |nris'in"S
recess of Congress. He spent several hours "iVn
General Harrison, taking a long walk with him
in the delightful sunshine of an almost per1ec'
Indian summer afternoon Uncle Phlietuss
call was personal and social too, but 1t is under
stood that the stout and genial Wisconsin Sena-
tors mind is running strongly just now on pohticS
Ex-senator Davis got here on the mdnght
train last night, getting on at Cumberland, Nd,
where he ran across q number OF acquaintance,
chiefly Democratic Congressman from INDIANA
coming home for Christmas. Ex-senator joseph
f. Mcdonald was also on board the tram, ana
through the West Virginia politicians TAX 10
them leaked out some things about his VISIT mere
which are the gossip about town tonight. one
niece of interesting that he told the Indiana
Democrats was that the West Virginia Legs
hture would beyond doubt elect a Republican TO
succeed Senator Kenna The Democrats, he said,
claimed q majority of one on Joint ballot, but IN
the Democratic ranks were two Labor-tuslon
men, one OF whom would vote for the Repuehcan
candidate, who would in all probability be Cen
cral Golf The Republicans, Mr.. Davis continued
had elected General Golf Governor on the face
of the RETURNS and had also elected three of the
four West Virginia Congressman II had been
almost clean Republican sweep, the Democratic
electoral ticket alone pulling through with
fair majority
Talking about the Cabinet General Harrison
might choose. Nj Davis said that the West
Virginia Republicans thought Mr. Blaine the
right man fer the head of the Department OF
State To him. Mr.. Davis said, more than TO
any other Republican, perhaps was due the
great victory in November He had
met and answered President Cleveland's
message the day after it was issued
by his Paris interview, and on the lines
he laid down then, the Protectonists had won
their fight Mr.. Davis is himself Protecuonist
Democrat, and though Mr. Mcdonald knew that
fact he was not little surprised he said after
ward, TO hear his old former colleague in the
Senate talk so enthusiastically Of a man who
had done so much to turn the Cleveland Admin
istration out OF power. From other things the
ex-senator said on the train his Democratic TEL
low-travelers to-day constructed a theory that
though a Democrat, Mr. Davis had come 10 dis
cuss the propriety of making General Colt a
Cabinet officer Secretary of War or Secretary of
the Navy. This would leave the field open for
another Republican TO succeed Senator kenna'
they argued and that other Republican, they
darlxly hfntrd was Nh Davis's son-in-law.
Stephen Il. EIdns The certainty, at last, that
the Legislature will elect Republican, they
vcntured to guess, had sent the ex-senator on
his pilgrimage to indianapolis.
Such gossip, of course could he taken only
for what il was worth The relations between
the Davis and Harrison families are close enough
in any event to justify Christmas call OF
congratulations from the West Virginia eX- Sena
tor When General Harrison in the Senate
he became intimate friend of Mr.. Daviss, and
Mrs. Harrison and her daughter met the DavlscS
constantly in society and also became warm per
sonal friends. General Harrison, year or more
ago. visited the Davises and last summer Mrs
Mckee spent two three weeks at Deer Park
with Senator and Mrs. Davis and Mr. and Mrs
s. B. Elins Senator Davis's other daughter
Mrs. Brown was guest at General Ilarrison'
house here for a long time this fall, and went
home only about TWO weeks ago Mrs Harrison
and Mrs. Mckee, too, when they go to New
York next month are to spend at least day Oh
two at the house of Mr. and Mrs S. B. Elllins
What Mr.. Davis said TO General Harrison is
of course, not known here. Speculative potl
clans are disposed to overlook lightly the social
ties which may hold men of opposite parties TO
gether and they think that long journey OF
the day before Christmas must mean somethin:
Republican gossip here would make il out tha
Mr. Davis said something in friendly way Il
help General Golf to a Cabinet portfolio ant
also reported the strong desire of the Republi
cans of his State to have Mr.. Blaine for Sec
rotary of State. Disgruntled Democrats foun'
significance enough in the eX-Senators visit L
insist that if a strong anti-Democratic and pro
lection movement were started in the New SOutl
Mr.. Davis would soon be found among the leader
in it, Mr. Davis went home on the afternoon
train He had been scarcely more than half
day in Indianapolis.
Senator Sawyer stayed 70 tea at General Hal
:ison's house, and Gid not come down TO hi
hotel until late in the evening. / told tn
General" he said 10 Tribune correspondent
that Wisconsin had two good men for Cabine
portfolios If he had the portfolio TO give us,
would be all right If be didn't. il would be a
right, too. The men we have TO offer are Coy
eInor Rusk and Henry c. Payne. Governor Rus
is in feeble health and he can take nothing but tf
War Department II Wisconsin has TO take
harder Department like the Interior or the neN
Department of Agriculture, will put in Nj
Payne
81 think" he continued, and | told tn
Gnne.al thnt NJ Rl.inn oht 10 have Ia