Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-11-30
WASHINGTON.

Washington, Nov. %, 1889. Sec
retaries Noble and Tracy have locked
horns again for fight, and many
think the result will be the retire.
ment of one or the other of them
from the cabinet, perhaps both. TO
the student of politics contest be-
tween two such men cannot fail to be
very interesting, representingas they
do the extremes of the republican
party. Mr.. Noble was selected
personally by President Harrison for
his present position, and has always
belonged to the conservative or silk
stocking wing of the republican
party while Mr.. Tracy came into
the cabinet as the personal represen-
tative of the craftiest politician in
the country-Ex-Senator T. c. Plat,
Of New York-and belongs to the
working wing of the republican
party. President Harrison's personal
inclinations are all undoubtedly with
Mr.. Noble, but owing to his suscepti-
bility to the influence of the power
full members Of his party it is doubt
full which Secretary he will in the
end sustain. The trouble between
the two gentlemen comes from the
Pension Office, which continues to be
a veritable thorn in the side of the
administration. SecretaryNobl has
asked for the resignation Of five of
the prominent officials whose PEN
sions were re-rated during Tanners
regime. One of them happens to be
a special friend of Secretary Tracy's,
and that gentleman advises him to
refuse to resign and promises his help
to aid him in keeping his position.
The result is that not only Mr..
Tracy's friend but the other four
officials whose designations were
asked, have refused to resign, and
they, together with all the other re-
rated officials have formed a combi-
nation and propose to fight for their
places, and as all of them have
friends-some of them big ones-Mr
Noble will find that he has under.
taken large contract. Mr.. Noble
in asking for the resignation of these
officials was undoubtedly endeavor
ing to do the administration a service
by trying to stave off a Congressional
Investigation into the Pension Office
and its methods, but it is likely t
result in bringing about that very in
vestigation.
There is little outward change il
the Speakership campaign. Mr.
Reed left hurriedly for New Yorl
last Thursday evening and the res
of the candidates have been puzzlin,
their brains ever since to find GU
what he went for. They are al
afraid of Reed, though they will as
sure you that they have got hin
. beaten. Mr.. Blaine, who has nc
been personally friendly towards Nh
: Reed for some years, promised tina
gentleman's friends last summer tina
t he would do nothing to prevent hi
being elected Speaker. He has keI
that promise up to this time, thong
great pressure has been brought
bear on him in behalf of one of tn
6 other candidates. The caucus wi
p be held next Saturday and unles
. Mr.. Blaine shall break his promis
! my next letter will chronicle IL
8 nomination of Reed for Speaker.
. Gen. Crook, the Secretary of Wa
s and Capt. Pratt, superintendent
8 the Carlisle Indian school, expect
~ visit Mt. Vernon barracks, Ala, du
"A ing the latter part of December for Il
20 purpose of deciding whether GerOn
mo and the other Apache Indian
confined there shall be removed.
: Verify the Democratic cup of joy
full almost to overlooking. Mahol
and Foraker have been put on Il
p shelf, and now comes news to Il
republican Senators that Ingalls, wi
= probably be defeated for re-electiC
to the Senate. TOO good to be tru,
J., is the general democratic comment {
the last item.
n The local republicans are We
'' much worked up over the rumor tn
- Bruce, the negro ex-senator, is to
appointed Recorder of Deeds for tn
-" city. If protesting to the Preside
lie will prevent, the appointment will n
be made.
&c Honors are now easy between Sc
ator Quay and Mr.. Wanamaker,
the President has followed the Qui
slate in making the rest of the Phil
- delphia Federal appointments.
ii 1t begins to look as though Pre-