The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-28
un.r nrp nK. EIArxE DO.
His Eeputed Deciin.fisa of ses.-
coo salary - EAissr Of an
Illustrated Paper.
8 Loais kepas5e


Ssw Yoxx. Dee .1s.-The recently
uaA.iishsd story that Mr.. Biaine had
beer invited 70 become connected with
a literary enterprise IN View YORK city
hzsB foundation IN solid fact, although
r.oyse u the statements Gs TO the En-
tayurise ff<eif have been correct IL
can he positively slated that when he
wa ia New York ten days azo M
Blains received one Of the most NUM-
Eeenf Offers eser made % any writer
for literary work The offer was made
To him in his home, in Augusta last
e-t,fe r1i,er. at the end Of the Maine
/ eleetiou canvass. Oh behzii Of a syntiI-
cate Of wealthy Republicans. Il xGs
held under consideration until M
! Ylaiuesz visit 10 this ctr on the oec2-
sjof. Of the death Of Mrs Cen 1ber-
man. when Mr.. Blaine declined the
proposition. The refusal 20 accept the
offer is believed by the statesEnan's
| friends here TO be a certain indication
that he viii go into Gen Harrison
cabinet n secretary Of state.
The project vas the publication OF
a high-class illustrated Journal, similar
! in type 20 the London illustrated News.
The definite objects OF the journal
acre to be political Il vas 70 be de-
voted TO American interests, whose
advocacy and advancement were 20 be
given preference over everything else.
/ The gentlemen Of the syndicate we're
70 have furnished $500 90 for the
project. with Mr.. Blaine as editor-in-
chief and Mr. Carson Lake general
manager Col. Lake was interviewed
tonight about the project. He said:
After the Chicago convention
talked the matter over with several
I friends, all prominent men in the Re
publican party. There was a unani-
nous verdict that If Mr.. Blaine was
willing TO retire. or ready 70 retire.
+. from active politics IN the sense OF adj
ministratiEe or legislative statesman
ship. his pen and name would make
such an enterprise and success from
the outset. The matter was finally
! brought to his attention as business
proposition, and the assurances given
that ample capital was ready il It were
satisfactory To him.
Was a stock company to have
been formed ?"
Yes; with 81 .000. 600 capital stock.
What was the offer made TO Mr..
Blaine2''
ole vas offered SO, 600 a year, with
a iiye-years' guarantee. Ii was also
agreed that he was 10 be given $3.50 coo
OF worcestershire stock Another
fourth OF the stock was to have been
left in the treasury and the balance
was 10 be subscribed for at par; that Is
500 CO... which was - have been the
working capital. Mr. Blaine, under
this Arrangement, would have re-
ceived one-third OF the profits in addi-
ton to his salary. and | do not hest
tate to assert that the profits accruing
t. him would have feen double the
salary. Walker Blaine was to have
been engaged a. assistant editor, which
NAV account for the hints you have
seen that he might give up law for
literature. He has a liking for literary
work.
MFR. Blaine took the matter under
consideration. / spent three days in
Augusta, much Of the time with MIN.
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
before left for New York he sent me a
note at the Augusta house, which
probably reflects his mind quite ac
curately." The note was as follows:
DEAR Mr.. LAKE.: You almost took
my breath away with the statistics
YOU give in the matter of your pro-
jected pictorial and political journal.
am deeply impressed with all you
have said 10 me; and while quite I'M
able to give a positive answer, do not
wish TO reply in the negative at this
time. | am thinking Just now of the
election OF Harrison and Morton 30
Accordingly, and especially OF the
Maine election to-day, that | de not
take in facts and figures with perfect
clearness. | will be out of the fog in
clear daylight in a short time. Very
sincerely, JAMES q. BLAINE.
Col. Lake said further: Il have no
question that Gen. Harrison will offer
Mr. Blaine the portfolio OF the state
department and none that he will ac-
cept it, Mr.. Blaine has been known
TO say that be preferred the place of
secretary of state to that OF presi-
dent"