The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-22
FOSTER TO BE SECRETARY
THE PRESIDENT SENDS BIS NOMI-
NATION TO THE SENATE.

The ONCE Not Sought by the Ex-
Governor-An Estimate That It's
Acceptance Will Cost Him $500, 900
of His Fortune of $2,5ooooo-whY
the President Chose Him.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21-The Presidents
determination to appoint Charles Foster of
Ohio Secretary of the Treasury was not
changed, and so his nomination went in to-
day. The President would have preferred
not to send in the nomination on Gen.
Sherman's funeral day, especially as it was
that Of an Ohio man, but he was mindful of
the fact that the thirty day limit will be
reached week after next, and that the Sem
ate ought to have time to consider the nom-
ination, and that Gov. Foster ought to have
time to arrange his affairs. Gov. Foster
told the President in New York that he
would accept, although he has not sought
the Office, as it seems as though he had
been doing. It was not Gov. Foster, but
the other Ohio politicians, who kept him
before the President.
WORKED ON HIS JEALOUSY.
Representative Mckinley having de-
termined to run for governor of Ohio, 1t
seemed important to the rest of the Chic
men that Mr.. Mckinley should not be al
lowed to get all the credit for the success,
should he win. As they pointed out to the
President, Mr.. Mckinley would be a much
more formidable candidate for the presi-
dencY If be carried Ohio unaided than If he
had the assistance of the President. To ap-
point Gov. Foster would, they explained,
strengthen the party in Ohio, and if Mr..
Mckinley was elected would entitle the
President to divide the credit with him, to
say nothing Of the general political work
which so skillful and shrewd politician as
Gov. Foster could do for him.
OTHER REASONS WHICH INFLUENCED HIM.
The counsel of jealousy impressed the
President, especially as he wanted a western
man with eastern ideas on the money ques-
tion. preferred an Ohio man and had a per-
sonal liking for Gov. Foster, and confidence
| in his courage and loyalty. Gradually all
the others mentioned, some of whom,
| like Senator Aldrich of Rhode Isisnd
| and Mr.. Proctor of Vermont, the President
would have chosen had he teen perfectly
| free, were set aside for the available and in
evitable Ohio man. Then came the fierce
| Foraker attack on Gov. Fosters character,
| conduct and connections. The President
| Gov. Foster, and satisfied himself that there
was nothing in any of them. Nobody else
| was suggested who was more available than
| Gov. Foster, and so Gov. Foster was ap-
| pointed.
AN EXPENSIVE HONOR.
Gov. Fosters friends say that the two
years OF cabinet honor may cost Gov. Foster
$500, 900, Or fifth Of his fortune, which
they estimate at 81, 100000. They say that
600 which he will spend here in ea-
tertaining, but will simply be the
result OF his enforced withdrawal from the
active management of his business.
His most important enterprises are
the Northwestern Ohio Oil and Gas Com
pany, in which some Standard OIL men are
stockholders, and of which he Is president,
and his factories of various sorts In the gas
regions. Besides these, he has an interest
in and is a director of local Ohio railway,
| and owns real estate and farm lands. He
| is not in the Standard Oil Company, they
say, and is not in Calvin Brice's railway
schemes. All his enterprises have needed
his constant personal supervision.
HIS FAMILY,
| He has wife and two daughters, who will
do their part in official society. Gov. Fos-
ters financial record is variegated. He
| fought greenback initiation, but he voted
| for Bland's original silver bill While this,
as the President toresaw, makes his appoint
ment more palatable to the silver men, it
does not affect his present position, which is
| substantially that Of the President. He will
| oppose free coinage but approves the pres
ent law. Gov. Foster is a Blaine rather
| than Harrison man on tho tariff question,
but as Secretary of the Treasury he will
have very little to do with it.
| HIS CIVIL SERVICE REFORM RECORD.
He was on the committee on civil service
reform when ne was in the House, but did
1 nn iyn nnpdo ditx1 yfS.ar
| former. Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio, whom the
| civil servics commissioners consider a
| spokesman" although he protests that he
| is a practical reforIner, said to-day that he
thought Gov. Fosters views of civil
service reform agreed with his own.
Gov. Foster is to spend tomorrow here, aud
then returning to Ohio is to arrange his
affairs 30 as to be back here to take Office
before the end of next week, his confirma-
tion being taken for granted. Gov. Foster
is well known and popular here, having a
good deal OF the easy and genial manner of
| President Garfield, who seemed to be his
| model when they were both in the same
House.
| oHIoANs PLEASED.
Most of the Ohio republicans in congress
express themselves as highly pleased with
the nomination.
1t is said at the white house that the
President and Gov. Foster are in perfect
accord on the financial situation, and that
there is no probability of any change in the
financial policy OF the treasury department.
| A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Charles Foster was born near Tiffin, O, 4,
| April IL, 1923. In his 5th year his father
moved with his family to what is now
Fostoria. 1t was then wilderness Young
Foster received his education at the
academy at Newark, O., and became a suc>
cessful merchant. Although he took an
active part In politics early in life he held
no office until 1870, when he was elected to
congress as a republican, and was three
times reelected In congress he was a MEM
| ter of the committee on ways and means,
and was particularly active in bringing to
| Light the Sanborn contract frauds He was
chairman Of an Investigating committee
which visited New Orleans in 1874, and in
his report he criticised both parties in
| louisiana. In 1879 he was elected governor
| of Ohio, aud was reelected in 1881. The
| chief feature of his administration
was the effort to control the sale of intoxi-
eating liquors. The effort was marked by
much excitement, especially in the canvass
Of 1888, in which women took an active
part. Since his retirement from the gov
ernorship, Mr.. Foster has not been taking
a leading part in either state or national
| politics. He Is regarded as a man of good
ability. He has managed his own financial
affairs successfully, and that is one reason
| for thinking that be will make a successful
| Secratary of the Treasury.