The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-22
BLAINE LOOKING BADLY.
SENATOR PLUMB'S DEATH A
SHOOK TO THE SECRETARY.

Harrison Very Anxious That he
Should Appear Feeble AS He En-
tered the senate Leaning on His
Arm-The Relations OF the Two Ap-
parently Not Particularly Cordial.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 21.-The chief polit-
ical topic on the floor and in the galleries Of
the Senate chamber this afternoon was not
Speaker Crisp and his committees and his
policies, although he was conspicuous sit
ting at the side Of the Vice
President, and Messrs. McMillin and
Springer, his two leaders, were conspicuous
on the floor, but the relations between Sec
retary Blaine and President Harrison and
incidentally the personal appearance of
Secretary Blaine. When the President and
his cabinet, or rather three of the secreta-
ries and assistant secretaries representing
the rest, appeared at the entrance and
everybody arose it was observed that Secre-
tary Blaine's left hand just rested in the
Presidents right arm, and that the Presi-
dent seemed to be much more anxious
to support the secretary than
the secretary seemed anxious to
be supported. As they moved
slowly down the main aisle toward the big
red stuffed chairs reserved for them on the
right of the presiding officer in front of the
desks, Secretary Blaine seemed to every
body to look older, thinner and grayer than
at any time since his return TO Washington.
DIDN'T APPEAR CORDIAL.
After they were all seated President Har-
rison half turned his back to Secretary
Blaine, who sat next to him on mis- left, and
neither spoke to the other during the pause
before the proceedings began. Neither
seemed to be In talking mood, although
Secretary Blaine responded to some Qnes-
tions which Postmaster General Wana-
maker who eat next to him, addressed to
him.
During the half hour that they were Sit
ting there Secretary Blaine's face was
carefully studied by everybody in
the chamber who could see him.
Il was as impassive as il always Is when be
does not want it to be otherwise, but there
can be no doubt that he looked worse than
he has been looking recently. 1t was com
regretfully and by the friends of President
Harrison with something that was net
regret
DEATH ALWAYS A SHOCK.
The fact Is that Secretary Blaine, who is
always startled when any prominent pubic
man dies, because it brings home the fact
of death 30 strongly to himself, was par
ticularly shocked and shaken by the sud-
denness with which Senator Plumb de-
parted. He knew Senator Plumb very well
and saw him quite frequently, and although
he had probably heard him speak
about the change in his physical con
dition he still regarded Senator Plumb
as one OF the most vigorous
men In public life, and as likely to outlive
him many years. Every one who knows
how sensitive Secretary Blaine is about
death will realize how the shock of Senator
Plumb's sudden taking OFF would affect his
health.
HOPES OF THE HARRISoNTANs.
The hopes of the Harrisonians as to the
formal withdrawal by Secretary Blaine
from the presidential race were raised
again in spite of the fact that up to this af-
ternoon President Harrison had not had one
syllable Of intimation from Secretary Blaine
which would warrant such hope. Presi-
dent Harrison's idea, 1t is said, is that he
will have to wait for Secretary Blaine's
declaration of his intentions until Secretary
Blaine makes his speech at the Merchants
Association dinner in Boston next month.
de still expects that Secretary Blaine ill
withdraw, either on account of his health
or because he thinks he cannot be elected.