Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-07
GEN. HARRISON'S PLAN.
He Extracts Information from All His
Visitors, But Gives Up None.

RECENT VISITOR TO THE PERSONAL---VERY. GIVES
HIS IMPRESSIONS OF TIE NrKRv1Kw-wHAr
SENATOR HIscoCK WANTED AND DIDN'T GET
THE BLAINE-sHERMAN SITUATION DISCUSSED.
whenever any one tells you that Gen. Har-
rison has promised this man or that man cab
met position" said prominent republican
who has recently made pilgrimage to Indian
apolis, ''you can set il down a. fact that the
one making the assertion is either telling de-
iberate falsehood or he does not know. I
probably had as long talk with Gen. Harrison
as any one who has visited him, and we talked
very freely. He asked me my opinion in re-
gard to perhaps twenty different men who had
either applied for cabinet positions themselves
or who had been recommended by their friends.
In regard to each told him what thought
freely and frankly. He listened carefully;
sometimes acquiesced in my judgment of the
capaoihties OF the men, but gave no intima-
ton OF what action he intended to take. That
is his practice with regard to every one whom
he summons for advice, and every one comes
away with the idea that he has impressed the gen.
eral with his particular views But when the
visitor comes to think the matter over, he is
forced to the conclusion that he cannot re-
member a single expression made by Gen. Har-
rison which would give him any encourage
ment whatever"
do you think he entrusted any commission
in regard to Mr.: Blaine to Senator Hiscock?"
Il certainly do not 1 know that Senator
Hiscock was invited to indianapolis by Gen.
Harrison and that he was particularly ques-
toned in regard to the party differences in
New York. Hiscock, / am satisfied, pleaded the
cause OF Mr.: Plat, but more than that he urged
upon the President-elect the necessity Of
recognizing Mr.. Blaine by making him secre-
tary OF State. He probably said that Mr.. Blaine
was the foremost representative of the party;
that he had declined the presidential nomina-
ton when he could have had it if he had al
lowed his name to be used by his friends, and
that now he should at least have the opportu-
nifty of declining the highest position in Gen.
Harrison's gift. Gen. Harrison probably
tacitly agreed to all that Mr.. Hiscock SAID, but
did not promise anything. He might have re-
ferred to the newspaper paragraphs represent
ing that Mr.. Blaine wished to be only a private
citizen, and would not accept any Office, no
matter how high, if offered him, and intimated
that if Senator Hiscock could ascertain def
nitely If that was Mr.. Blaine's position, it would
be desirable. But tell you Mr.. Hiscock came
away from Indianapolis without knowing any
more OF Gen. Harrison's intentions than he did
before he left Washington"
'.Do you think Senator Hiscock was disap-
pointed in his visit?"
"At first, no. He had freed his own mind;
be had said all he wished to, both in behalf
VI MI Diaine ana MI. flatt, ana zen. Har-
rison had listened attentively and, seemingly,
had agreed with his views. But when HiscOck
got back here and his fellow-Senators gathered
about him and wanted to know what promises
or pledges he had obtained, he was obliged to
confess that the talking at the interview with
the President-elect had been all on one side"
do you yourself think Mr.. Blaine will be in
the cabinet?''
II don't know any more than you do, and
yet l think he may be made Secretary of State.
II Senator Sherman would allow his friends to
be as active in his behalf as are those of Mr..
Blaine am satisfied the Ohio man would head
the next cabinet, for then it would be a de-
cision between two men equally strongly urged,
and the weight of influence would be in favor
OF Sherman. But Mr.. Sherman is holding his
friends back and wants to be forced into the
position of Secretary of State. I think good
solution Of the difficulty would be to make
Blaine Secretary of State and Sherman Secre-
tary OF the Treasury. One would then be a
check on the other. No one knows anything
about it yet, however, and 1 don't believe any
one will until the formal announcement that
the cabinet is made