The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-18
ELKINS In THE CABINET.
BE IS NOMINATED FOR SECRETARY
OF WAR

The Nomination Referred to the Com
mittee By the senate-The Tongues
Of the Political Gossips Wagging at a
Lively Rate-Many Think it Means
Blaine's Withdrawal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE House COM
mittees, the Senate committees and every
other political topic was set aside for the
tune being to-day for the nomination Of
Mr. Elkins. Besides the qualification of
Mr.. Elkins' ''long cherished desire for a
cabinet PORTFOLIO" besides the variegated
Elkins record" Of money made in politics
and with association with men like Brady
and Dorsey, besides the tardy courage Of
President Harrison in at last taking Mr..
Etkins out of his kitchen cabinet into his
official cabinet, the senator's and represent
atiVes were discussing the possible signifi-
canoe OF the appointment with respect to
Blaine and Harrison and the republican
nomination. 1t was generally agreed that
MIR. Elkins' record would not prevent or
even delay his confirmation, so conversa-
tion was not wasted on the subject.
THE HIDDEN MEANING.
As to the hidden meaning of the appoint
ment two theories prevail. The one enter
talned by the Harrison men was TO the
effect that this appointment means Blaine's
withdrawal from the race. This turned on
the superstition that Mr.. Elkius was more
Secretary Blaine's friend than President
harrlson's, and that he would not put him
self under obligation to President Harrison
as member Of his official family if Secre>
tary Blaine was to be candidate. Another
and more improbable form was that Presi-
dent Harrison appointed Mr.. Elkins at SEQ
retary Blaine's request aud with an under
standing that implied, il notimpressed. that
the appointment would be followed by Sec
retary Blaine's announcement of his with
drawaL Improbable as this seems it is the
explanation put forth by those supposed to
reflect most directly the views Of President
Harrison.
THE OTHER THEORY.
The other theory was that Mr.. Elkins
was appointed by President Harrison be-
cause ne has come to be more President
Harrisons friend than Secretary Blaine's,
and because President Harrison simply
wanted his aid as a skillful and astute poll.
tician in getting the nomination. The
President would not of course, talk for
publication, but all the newspaper men and
public men who come within the CIRCLE of
SAN HO0So bo)lIdbAOu dIS
tonight that the Elkins appointment means
the withdrawal of Secretary Blaine. Sec
retary Blaine will not talk for publication,
but the men who come within the circle Of
the red house inspiration are all announcing
that 1t means nothing of the Sort
ELKINs' EXPLANATION.
Mr.. Elkins himself contributes an inter
esting bit OF explanation via a friend who
talked with him to-day, to whom he said
that he had been holding this portfolio under
bis arm since his last talk with the Presi-
dent at Cape May Point last summer, but
that he would not let the appointment be
made until ex-Gov. Goff;s ambition had
been gratifed. aud that during the interval
and recently he had talked with Secretary
Blaine about it, who offered no objections
to his taking it, but on the contrary con-
graduated him, and then apparently
in response to some expression of
fear from Mr.. Elkins that Secre-
tary Blaine might regard this as
prejudicial to his presidential ambition an-
nounced In royal style that if he was to be
nominated ID would be done in response to
the spontaneous demand of the party, prob
ably by reclamation, and that no indi-
vidual could either help or hinder, SO that
he did not care whether Mr.. Elkins was
Secretary Of War or not.
All that Mr.. Elkins says is not necessa-
rily historically correct, but this sounds like
Secretary Blaine, and undoubtedly repre-
sents his view that it is for him and him
alone TO say whether he or President Harri-
son shall be the nominee.