Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-20
BLAINE NOT AN EDITOR.

He Refuses a Fat Take" Prefers to Manage
Harrison's administration.
New YORK, Dec. 14.-The recently pub
hshed story that Mr.. Blaine had been In
yited to become connected with literary
enterprise in New York City had foun-
dation in solid fact, although the state
ments as to the enterprise IN itself have
not been correct. 1t can be positively
stated than when he was In New York ten
DAYS ago Mr.. Blaine received one of the
most fattering offers ever made to any
writer for literary work. The offer was
made to him in his home IN Augusta IN
September at the end of the Maine cleo
tion canvass, on behalf of syndicate
of wealthy republicans. 1t was held
under consideration until Mr.. Blalnes
visit to this city on the occasion
of the death of Mrs. General Sherman,
when Mr.. Blaine declined the PROPOSE
ton. The refusal to accept the offer Is
believed by the statesman's friends here
to be a certain Indication that ne will go
into General Harrison's cabinet as secre-
tary of state. The project was the pub
LEGATION of a high class illustrated journ-
al, similar in type to the Illustrated Lon
don News. The definite objects OF the
journal were 70 be political. 1t was to be
devoted TO American interests, whose
advocacy and advancement were to be
given the preference over everything
else. The gentlemen of the syndicate
were to have furnished $5OO,O0O
for the project. During the cam
paign of 1884 weekly Illus
trated paper was started to Offset the de-
lection of Harper's Weekly from the re-
publican cause. It was known as Mum
sey's Weekly. and was suspended after
Rlaine's defeat. The national republican
cam paigu committee lost money In that
venture-some say $4,000, others $780,
Co., Anyhow, Mr.. Munsey did not com
plain any when his paper suspended.
Carson Lake was assistant secretary of
the national republican committee at the
time and knew something of the dirtrlbu-
ton of funds. Colonel Lake thought it
would be a great scheme this last cam
paign TO start big illustrated paper
with Mr.. Blaine as editor in-chief and
Mar. Lake as managing editor and general
director.
Col. Lake was interviewed tonight
about the project. Said he: After the
Chicago convention l talked the matter
over with several friends, all prominent
a unanimous verdict that if Mr.. Blaine
was willing or ready TO retire from active
politics, in the sense of administrative
or legislative statesmanehip, his pen and
name would make such an enterprise a
success from the outset. The matter was
finally brought to his attention as bust
ness proposition, and the assurances
given that ample capital was ready were
satisfactory TO him."
''Was stock company to have been
formedf"
Eyes, with 100000 of the capital
stock"
"What was the offer made to Mr..
BlaIne?"
'He was offered $4,000 year, with a
five years guarantee. IL was also agreed
that he was TO be given $250,000 of non
assessable stock. Another fourth of the
stock was to have been left in the treas
ury, and the balance was Subscribed for
at par, that is, 100000, which was to
have been the working capital. Mr.. Blaine
under this arrangement. would have re
ceived onethird of the profits In addition
to bis salary, and do not hesitate to as
sert that the profits accruing TO MIN
would have been double the salary.
Walker Blame was TO have been engaged
as assistant editor, which may account
for the hints you have seen in the news
papers that he might give up law for
literature. He has a liking for literary
work. If Mr.. Blaine had accepted the
proposition prom pity, arrangements were
made for bringing the paper out about
Dec. 1. Mr.. Blaine took the matter I'M
der confederation. | spent three days at
Augusta, much of the time with him.
The matter was discussed in its various
phases quite fully. He was so full of the
election that he was unable TO get his
mind down to anything else. Just be-
fore left for New York he sent ne a
note at the Augusta house, which proba-
bly, reflects his mind quite accurately.
The note was as follows:
DEAR Mr.. LAKE-You almost take my
breath away with the statistics you give
in the matter of your projected pictorial
and political journal. I am deeply i'm
pressed with all you said to me, and
while quite unable to give positive an
swer, l do not wish to reply in the mega
i've at this time. I am thinking Just nov
of the election of Harrison and Morton
so absorbingly, and especially of the
Maine election today, that do not take
in facts and figures with perfect clear
ness. | Will be out of the fog into clear
daylight in a short time.
JAMES 6. BLAINE"
81 have no question that General Hsr
rison will Offer Mr.. Blaine the portfolio
of state, end none that he will accept ii
He has been known to say that he pre-
ferred the portfolio of secretary of stat,
TO that of president.