New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-23
GEN. HARRISON'S LETTERS.
PRIVATE SECRETARY HALFoRD AT WORK.
GREAT RELIEF FOR THE PREsIDENrhLEcT-
AMONG THE VISITORS WERE CoNGREsshEN
CANNON OF ILLINOIS, AND HoUk' oF
TENNEssEE-SOUTH AND NORTH
WEST IN THE CABINET.
rnr TELEGRAPH To ris TRIBUNE.

WEST IN THE CABINET
-nr TELEGRAM To TIE rrrBusE.I
Indianapolis. Nov. 22.-In determining 10 place
E. W. Hafod at in charge Of his CORES pondence
as his private secretary, the Presidenteect has re-
lIcved himself OF burden that has weighed heavily
upon him. The reading and dctaiion OF great
number Of letters daily has been Irksome and dis
tracing work and he realized that while he continued
1t he could not give due consideration TO matters OF
greater Importance connected with his Administration
With visitors coming every day TO confer with him
relative to affairs of State the President elect already
had enough to think about TO occupy all OF his think
Ing time, and II is expected that hereafter lh'ro WI"
DO even greater demands upon him. In Mr. Halford
no will have valuable assistant, who VIII De not
only secretary, but also adviser. and he VIII stand
between the President elect and all who seek his at
tention both personally and by letter III Is the
opinion OF those who know Mr. Halford that no
where In the country could thorou ghly capable
person have been found and certainly none more con-
genial 10 the Pres,dent-ccct He entered upon his
duties to-day. formidable accumulation of letter;
awaited his attention comprising altogether nearly
1900. lie Is quick worker, and with the aid Of
stcnographers and ypcwriters had disposed OF about
all the letters that deemed worthy OF answer
when the days labor was ended While continuing his
work secretary, Mr.. Halfcrd will temporarily re-
main in charge of the editorial department of " Tho
Journal" but expects to be relieved Of his newspaper
duties In about a week.
Congressman Cannon, Of Illinois, who camo TO
indianapolis yesterday to call upon the President
elect, found It worth his while TO remain until
this evening. Hc missed his train three times before
he finally succeeded in getting away. His call upon
General Harrison. no insists entirely social but
he admits that he is not In indianapolis without a
purpose He wants the three Republican members Of
Congress from his State TO vote for him for Speaker,
and he IS taking the trouble personally 10 make
known his wishes. II is with some pride that Mr..
Cannon points TO the fact that the delegates from his
district voted for General Harrison in the Chicago
Convention, leading the way to his nomination.
Mr. Cannon remarked.
"Whom do you regard your most formidable
opponents in the contest for the Speakershpf'
Mr.. Reed. Of Maine" he replied, " and Mr.. Nc
Kiney of Ohio, VIII probably be about equally strong,
but / believe that further West than Ohio will
be elected
Mr.. Cannon himself is the only candidate further
West than Ohio.
Another Congressman who has been here to-day Is
l. c. IIouk, of Tennessee, who has repre-
scnted the Knoxville district in the House for
len years. and as reelected on the 9th inst, with
a majority Of more than 10000 He was I'm con-
suation with John c. New this p. TO- two
hours, but he claims that his vIsls 20 the Hoo>Ier
Capital has no connection with politics. It Is the
expectation Of many Tennessee Republicans, Mr.
ouk says that the south will be Represented in the
Cabinet and speaking for himself he believes that
It ought be- In his city there Is much talk about
the probability of W. N. Baxter being Attorney
General. but he does not think that there IS much
reason for expecting the appointment. Mr.. Baxtc-
IS brilliant Young lawyer, ami is son OF Judge
J. ]. BAXTER who being taken into Gar
fields Cabinet as Attorney General should Iega
1t as mpcrttncn; 10 make any suggestion t General
Harrison regarding the selection of members Of
his Cabinet" said Mr.. Houh, "but
should really like to see the South
represented by some such man W. O. Bradley, Of
Kentucky, General Malone, other good
Republican.
Mr. Houk has views on the Southern question. He
teoIes thai the next Congress should refuse TO ac
cept the credentials of any Southern Congressman who
is known have boon elected by fraud, and II there
is Evidence :" warrant it, TO give the scat to the
didate VIII was cheated nut OF the election. nv ad
herring strictly to this rule, and making the people of
the South plainly TO understand that man not fairly
elected could get into Congress, he believes that In
me in Federal elections at least, there might be
free ballot and fair count.
at is also Important said Mr.. Houk that the
right kind OF marshals should be appointed Men
who will enforce the law are needed. After making
the contests there ought to be jury at once TO try
the prisoners and to do that the present system OF
packing jurcs should be broken up. This thing OF
pggng politics into the court-ro by requiring that
jurcs shall be selected from equal number OF per-
sons belonging to the two parties Is wrong The
marshal should be allowed to select the jury. We
got along that way well enough for eighty years, and
there is no good reason why should not return
10 IT, believe It would also be good idea to enact
law requiring that Federal and State elections should
lie held separately. do not bow 1t Is possible 10
prevent frauds at municipal or local elections bui
Will be easy enough TO bring about reform In the Fed
cIal elections"
One Of General IIarrisOn's callers to-day, whose
presence here IS regarded significant, was L. e.
spooncr, of Milwaukee. brother Of the Wisconsin sen
atOr. II IS believed that he as the representa-
tive of the Senator who IS of the dozen prominent
Republicans that figure possible Cabinet Ministers.
Friends of tho Senator claim with some enthusiasm
that he would make brilliant Secretary of the In
terror and there is II + said for bcllcv
ing that the Intention OF the Presdenecct IS TO chose
Northwestern for the position. He Is intimately
acquainted with Senator SpOOner. The latter spent
great deal OF time in the State speaking and several
times he was invited 10 dinner at the home OF General
Harrison. His brother, it is believed, came here In
his Interest and had All interview that seemed to have
been satisfactory.
Ex- Lieutenant Governor Cumback. who, II is
thought. Will DO given distinguished recognition under
the Administration, was also welcome caller at the
home of the Piesdentelect to-day.
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