The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-11
BENJAMIN AND JAMES c.
Are the President and HIS Ere
mier Rivals for the Nomi-
nation in 81?
Harrison Has Certainly Sue
cumbed to the Passion for
a Second Term.
p,,;,o.. literary Bureau shows Signs of
Renewed Life, With r. y. Sra"
ford in Charge.

The relations of the president and the
secretary of state are naturaily enough eA-
citing a good deal of speculation. All 'he
surface indications are that the president
hes succumbed to that passion for Sec
opd term which has overcome greater men
than he is. and men who supposed they
had steeled themselves against IL, writes
Fred Perry Power in America. second
term is a bad thing for the country. NO
presidept with that alluring possibility daz-
zl;np his ewes can see straight: he csnnot
refrain from using his appointing power
and his Influence with congress in what he
relieves to be the interest of his reno MI.
nation. But a denomination and re-
election are very different things. con-
gpicuous republican politician, VINO held an
Office controlling an immense amount OF
patronage under President arthur. SAID 10
me one day that any president could secure
his own denomination if he chose TO use
the means at his command. but, asKeo'
..can he re- elect himself?' mo; that's an
other thing replied my friend, the practl-
cal politician THAT patronage Whlcn Will
enable him to pack convention with ms
friends and secure his own re-nomnation
will of itself make him enemies VINO VIII
strike at him at the polls. patronage IS
help in the convention, but IL is an ops'a-
cla in the election Ny informant went
~, 70 aav that he could not understand at
the time why President Arthur was SO lax
and apathetlc about using these means OF
securing his denomination. ne was ex,
ceediuply anxious to be re nominated, ana
was deferred from the use OF the powers at
his command by no fastidious scruples, but
still he appeared neryeless., unable TO oe-
eide and act. When the presidents death
revealed the fact that he had been suffering
for some time from disease, my friend felt
that his failure to capture Inc holhlna1ioh
in 1884 was explained.
With our present political methods con-
sisting so largely of removals and appoint
ments, it is almost impossible Tor piesl-
dent to DO reelected. Whether q man be
good president or bad president he must
make enemies enough i'll his own party 10
beat him for second term, unless the CIR
cumstances IRE very peculiar. Military
hero worship is still about the profoundest
emotion that stirs the great body of the
people, bu. the reelection of n jackson or
a Grant didn't save Cleveland from the
knives of those of his own household, and
will not save Harrison. who IS no stronger
with the politicians than Cleveland was,
and not nearly SO strong with the millions
who do little in politics beyond casting
their ballots.
Well, it is reasonable to believe that the
pre sident wants to be renominated. But
since the election there has been a demand
for Blaine from the republicans of the
county that have no doubt, has penetra-
ted the walls of the state department.
There are various indications that the secre-
tary is planning for 1899, and the latest and
most direct of these is that Mr.. +. G. Craw-
ford. one of the most accomplished and
distinguished Washington correspondents
Of n few years ago. and IN 1854 Mr.. Bialne's
newspaper secretary, has commenced the
contribution of a daily Blaine letter to the
two & eat republican newspapers OF the
east aud west.
4 few days ago it was announced, with
rone show of authority. in the Star, of this
CITY, that there was perfect understanding
between the president and the secretary of
state, and that they would work for COM
mon object and whichever of them could
get the nomination would have the cordial
rs histance of the other. If both of them
kept their hands off for another year this
sort of an understanding might be practical
bic, but if each of them is going year and
II half III advance to pull the wires and lay
tho pipes for the convention of 1892, do
not see how they can keep on perfectly good
terms with each other.
Why doesn't Secretary Blaine resign? If
he is the presidents competitor for the
it seems as if his place were
outside the cabinet. But if he should resign
it would probably make break in the party
that would put an end to the prospects of
both the esident and the secretary OF
stat.
have often wondered why men staid in
he cabinet. Judge Folger ought to have
eft President Arthur's cabinet when he ac-
.eltel the nomination of governor, and,
ailing in that. he ought to have resigned
Is matter of his own personal comfort
after his defeat. According
o Mr.. Richard Crowley's revelations the
Judge began to grow unhappy in the Arthur
,abinet very early: sometime before the
for governor. In fact, Mr..
Crowley says, that President Arthur pro-
,ured Secretary Folser's nomination IN
order to get rid of him, and failing in that
lid not conceal his dissatisfaction.
During the Cleveland regime 1t was
cause of wonder that Attorney
General Garland and Secretary Endicot
did not resign, and at ono time IT seemed
singular that Secretary Lamar did not re
sign. In the present cabinet Mr.. Blalne,
position has been something of a disap
pointment to him from the beginning. nn'
since he picked up the reciprocity proJec
his relations with the president must hav
been little queer.
I he timidity of the president in dismiss
ing cabinet officers is as singular as tn
timidity with which cabinet officers han
onto their portfolios long after their relt
tions to their chief have ceased to be col
dial. and when their power in their ow
departments has been narrowly curtailet
An ex-cabinet officer is not often a DANCE
ous person. and more than one president
recent years might have completely mae
over his cabinet, not only with entire SAT
~ to himself, but with great advantage
his political fortunes.
IN MISSnIIT