Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-31
WHEELING W. VA, TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 81
ALMOST A RING FIGHT.
Uncle Jerry Rusk Peels on His Coat aud
Challenges Noble.

WASHINGTON, March 3O.-There was
a very lively time at the White House
the other day between John W. Noble
and Jeremiah NJ. Rusk, respectively
Secretaries OF the Interior and Of
Agriculture in Harrison's cabinet. 1t
was after the regular cabinet meeting
had adjourned, some had left, others
were putting on their overcoats and
others picking up notes and preparing
to take their departure. Jerry Rusk
had put his arm on the Presidents shOul-
der and was giving him a game OF talk.
Jerry talks loudly and plainly. His
voice is of the parties and his manner
of the West. He was urging the Presi-
dent TO appoint ex-Gov. Stone, of Iowa,
Commissioner of the General Land
Office. Stone is at present the assist
ant commissioner Of the Land Office and
came here in the early DAYS OF the Har-
riSOn administration with the expecta-
tion of being made Land Commits
Sioner.
Rusk, in urging Harrison to appoint
Stone Commissioner, talked loudly with
him, said that he had known Stone for
great many years that he was as good
a man as there was in the country; that
he was thoroughly competent, and
those who were opposing him did not
know what they were talking about.
1t so happened that Noble, who was put
ting on his overcoat at the time. hap
pened TO hear plainly what Rusk said.
He is one Of the serongeSt opponents Of
the appointment of Stone, aud he
turned loose upon RuSk, informing him
that he ought TO attend TO the business
of his own department, and not TO
interfere with others. IL should
be remembered while RuSk is the
Secretary Of Agriculture, that he has
nothing to do with the commissioner
ship OF the Land Office, which is sub
ordinate TO the Secretary OF the In
terror. Noble went at Uncle Jerry in
his own peculiar way, informing him
that he was offensive; that he was in
soent; that he was interfering with
business he knew nothing about; that
he was guilty ofdiScourteSy; that il was
an outrage and an insult that member
of the Cabinet should try to override
the wishes and desires OF another mem
Dtl Vi Aut NdUluth mus eAAN WI ~
and subordinateS OF the latter.
Uncle Jerry stood Mobiles TRADE for |
a little while and then got mad. He
"sassed" back, and Noble became still
more insolent and aggressive. Uncle
Jerry, in his simple, child-like way,
that some OF Mobiles language
meant fight and he peeled off his coat as
quick as wink and squared off before
the Secretary of the Interior. Harrison
and Wanamaker, who were the only |
other persons then present, rushed in
between them and Jerry was showed
from the Cabinet room into the Presi-
dents private Office. Wanamaker picked
up the coat which Jerry had dropped
on the floor and carried it to him,
while Noble, under a positive order
from the President, left the Cabinet
room by another door. 1t was a very
warm scene while it lasted, and extra
ordinary efforts were made TO keep it
from the public. Uncle Jerry, how
ever, could not be bull-dozed, and all
day has been denouncing that -
"Missouri dude" in a manner entirely
to himself and those who
heard him.