The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-14
HARRISON ANDBLAINE
Mr.. EIkins Theory Of Their
Relations
IN HARMONIOUS ACCORD.
BIaIae Has Not Asked she HaTrisen
Administration 60 DisrhsrEe Any
Of His Political Obligations.
Globe Democrat


have uuxxiea many people From the 4th
Of March until to-day Ho one has been able
20 discover that the secretary ever ehaied
in The harness. That he has repeatedly
made recon- mendatious 70 the president
which have heen set aside Is Of common
rofortefy. Indeed. Mr. Blaine has told Il
not once bat often. Candidates for places
I'm the diplomatic and consular service
hare seen their commissions made ont and
only requiring the executive signature
Ttsy have been told when these commits
xsons we're sent 10 the White house. They
have waited in vain for the appointments
70 follow. and when finally they have
called upon the secretary fer explanation
shev have been fold that the president
sision 81 the offices.
This turning down, as il is called, Of
Mr.. Blaine excited bis friends not title
as first but % their surprise the secretary
himself did not seem 10 mind IL. Dir.
Blaine was sympashizing sometimes witn
the disappointed candidate. bat tn bis Own
mind ne was entirely resigned. he was
always placid.
some close friends OF Mr.. Blaine that is
20 say, some men who are considered close
friends talking about this one day.
They were wondering how the secretary
could continue nnrutiied as he saw the
president taking into his own hands, IN
large measure, The distribution OF the
state department patronage. Mr.. stephen
H. Elkins was In the group. He said that
he thought he appreciated the situation.
He advanced bis explanation as theory
rather than n a statement OF facts known
60 him. Ills belief was that at the begin
ming Of this administration Mr. Blaine bad
gone 20 the president and that the
result OF frank conversation had
been the establishment of per-
feet understanding. which stiil existed,
and whieh accounted for the nnbroken Ac-
cord lsetweanth president and the secFe-
tary. Afr. Blaine. as Mr.. Elkins supposed
The ease. said 10 the president that be had
hecn through one presiae,s.iai campaign
aud through several campaigns foz the
presidential nomination. In those cam
paigns he bad incurred obligations and
had ulade promises. Now that he was at
the head OF the state department he would
he ealIed.iipon % redeem those pledges and
obligations lie would feel that he must
90 something Tor those who had been SO
stanehiy his friends. And yet he recGg-
nixed that these friends OF his IN former
campaigns had no stronger clair upon
the Harrison administration snan many
others. and perhaps not so strong claims.
Therefore, while as secretsfy OF state he
would make no recommendations which he
did not honestly believe were good ones,
and which were not in good faith, vet he
wanted the president 20 feel that whenever
it seemed best TO set aside his recommends
tons there should be no hesitation
about IT, Mr.. Blaine said that, so Far from
such action being interpreted as q Stub or
an Afffont, he would consider il entirely
proper under the circumstances and would
expect IL. His position in the cabinet was
different from that of other secretaries
he had been many years in public life, and
had been placed under obligations 10 poiit-
zeal friends. These obligations bore no re-
lation to the Harrison administration. and
yet he could not ignore theri he argued
that his political circumstances to degree.
disqualified him from dealing out the pat
ronage OF his department. The president
ought to tie governed less by him in the
matter Of appointments than by any Of the
other secretaries Mr. Blaine meant all
this The president took him at his word.
Recommendation after recommendation
was set aside. Mr.. Blaine's serenity was
undiSiurhed.
As ne concluded bis explanation Mr.
Elkins was careful 10 say again that this
was theory of the situation. lie did not
want bis hearers II get the impression sha.
Mr.. Blaine had used just such language to
the president. Bat with = confident smile.
ne asked them Il they dlant thlRk that
such an understanding as be had supposed
10 exist between tbs president and Mr.
Rlatne. would fully account for the contin
nanpe q pleasant relations between them
for the freedom The president bal shown ii
dealing With Mr. Hlaine's proposed minis.
ters aud consRis. and Cor the secretary I
matt n OF course aeTsieseeRce
III Mr.. Eskinss theory he we'll founded
and there seemed 10 lee 40 reason 20 sup
pose il is not, Mr. Rlaine has certainly beer
consistent lie exen refused ta make "a
exception in the cass Is ssr. sherman. nov
consul general 20 Liverpool Mr.. sherman
was For raAnv years Mr. Rlaiue's private
secretary. he desired thls Liverpool AZ,
potnunen,. and Sir Blaine recommended
him. hut this recommendation vas like
Tie others NJ Rls&ue dill not ask the
president teF Mr. shermaH's appointment
as . personal favor, nor did he insist upou
lt. Mr.. SheFWsa found that be was ahuai
60 BE set aside as others haf keen He Az
realea 30 Mr.. Elsias. Mr.. kegens, ana och
srs Wh0 knew haw close his relations has
beea go Mr., hlaias. he toid them that an
less Gbey vent to the president fog him h
would not he appointed They laushea
~ hsn. sn8 repssed Mr. Blan
essssd certainly sacure him "a
his desired position. lie told
them shat Ehgy dfanE understand the sta
alton. ana thAs he vas gene ueless they
saseroeAsea TOT h,a Mr. KerenS aad Oh
srs weas to the pses3 ieat aud inade
spec.al plea fog AR Sacrman. They ex
rla1nea what MF. Sherman had bean q
Mr. Rlatna. ard the asssse of al Mr.
hls4uef friends thai she young mar
should have this l.versool corsal eener
slship The president expressed sagas
surprise apau hrssiwg the taets lie has
learned nothing q ths merits os tie eass
lrom M. Blaine ME, ehermaa.s csesusss
sAa was s4Et1ed laaheliAte1y. II NJ
hlAias afs5 made an exeep tEoa in lAxos q
sayassty. that exeepsiaa Woala hasv k,esr
Gn&sse for Mr.. SaNrmsu hRt even - shzi
case BE stack - BIS fTankly =ieslsrea PASS
sEoa tnaG the HagEfsaa s8mimsxsgatsas
sh5sIa ans ke asked - dischaers sny q.
the ro5gtezl tes9ss 81 James q. HARE.