Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-23
Twas a False Alarm.
A Roorback About a Quarrel
in the Cabinet.
BLAINE STARTS THE ALLEGED ROW,

Backed Up by Proctor and Windom-The
War Secretary Has a Good Alibi and the
Others Declare the Report Pure Fabri-
cation-some Interesting Facts About q
Remarkable Observation-Disclosures Notes
from the National Capital.
WASHINGTON CITY, May 23-The follow
ing special was printed in The Brooklyn
Eagle yesterday from its correspondent in
this city: at is learned on undeniable au-
thority that there was a grand row in Tues
lays cabinet meeting. and that three of the
cabinet officers rendered to the president
their designations, to take effect at once If
certain changes were not made
BIaine's Alleged Ultimatum.
Secretary Blaine started the fight by de-
iivering point blank at the president an ulti-
matum to the effect that if he could not be
permitted to have some latitude in the con-
duct of the state department he must posi-
lively decline to remain in his present equiv
ocal position any longer.
Others Take a Hand.
Secretary Proctor Immediately indorsed
all Mr.. Blaine had said, and declared that his
resignation would follow Mr. Blaines Sec
retary Window did not go quite so
far, but assisted the other members
IN their efforts to convince the
president that cabinet officers must be heads
If their departments in deed, as well as in
iame. He said he could not afford to remain
in mere clerical position.
Cause of the Outbreak"
"The cause of the outbreak was the indis-
position of the president to make certain ap-
pointments desired by Secretaries Blaine,
Window and Proctor. They have spent
much time trying to have several recon-
mendations approved, and Tuesday the pres
ident went so far as to completely turn down
several of the proposals, and announced that
he was going to do the exact opposite Not
the least doubt has existed here for several
days that Blaine's days in the cabinet are
numbered, and it is now certain that the
figure is small"
Halford Laughs It to Scorn.
When Private Secretary Halford was shown
the above story he laughed very heartily,
and remarked: "The president has always
taken the ground that he cannot undertake
to deny newspaper publications, and l am
quite sure that he will not deviate from that
rule" During the course of further CONVEX
sation Mr.. Halford made statements which
left the reported trouble without the slightest
foundation, and finally pronounced it an "un-
mitigated falsehood" from beginning to end.
Proctor Has a Crushing Alibi.
While Halford was being interviewed Of
forts were being made to obtain statements
from the secretaries mentioned in the article,
namely: Proctor, Blaine, and Window At
the Arlington hotel it was learned that Sec
rotary Proctor left here on Saturday last to
go to his home in Vermont He has not been
n the city since that day, and was not at the
cabinet meeting Tuesday.
Nonsense" as to Blaine.
Sc cretary Blaine was not at home last
evening when representative of the United
Press called to see him Walker Blaine gave
a very short, sharp answer to a query con-
corning the rumored resignation of the sec
rotary. The question was sent into him on
a card and he returne the card with the
word Nonsense" printed across its face in
bold black letters.
A Lie Out of Whole Cloth.
Secretary Window was seen at his home
on Connecticut avenue. He pronounced the
story ridiculous There is not a bit of truth
in it." he said
HAS there been any difference of opinion
between You and the president in relation to
appointments, or any complaint of delays in
filling places in your Department.
Not in the slightest" said the secretary
"There has been most perfect harmony in
the cabinet There is no truth in this story.
/ don't know how to make my denial of it
strong enough. There is not enough founda-
ton for the imagination of liar to build
uunp -