Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-17


SUPPORT HIN n THE CABINET.
The President today sent to the Senate the
nomination Of Stephen B. Elkius Of West vir-
GINA to be Secretary OF War, vice Red6eid
Proctor, resigned
Then Blaine will not be . candidater'
dozen politicians, republicans and demo-
Gratis, gave ut'erance to tina: remark when first
Informed that the President had nominated
Stephen B. Elkins- There we're no ex.
pressions of surprise called forth by
the announcement conveyed to the
Senate today by Maj Pruden More than
week ago THE STAR stated positively that the
nomination had been agreed upon and the
statement had been generally accepted as &C.
curate. The friends Of ex-Gov. Cheney did
not relax their efforts in behalf Of the
New England candidate, but they labored as
men withcu. hope. Pacific coast republicans
retired from the contest some time ago because
the only man upon whom they would agree
NJ. N. Estee-was personally unpopular with
the President
SUPPOSED PRESIDENTIAL COMPLICATIONS.
From the time when Mr.. Elkins' name was
first mentioned in connection with cabinet
position his candidacy has been con-
tinually complicated with the presidential
possibilities supposed to be within the
grasp Of Secretary Blaine. II was
known that the Secretary Of State was very
anxious to have Mr.. Eikins in the cabinet be-
cause Mr.. Elkins was his intimate friend and
because his intimate friend was admirably
adapted to high official position. The
STAR printed an item some days
ago coupling the nomination Of Elkins
with the withdrawal of Mr.. Blaine by forma!
letter from the presidential race. Everyone is
now looking for the letter Of withdrawal, which
it was predicted by The Stars informauts
would follow the nomination.
PLEASED OVER THE NoMrSArIoN.
West Virginia is very much pleased over the
nomination. Senator Faulkner said to q STAR
reporter this afternoon: 1.-The nomination must
be extremely gratifying 20 the republicans of
West Virginia. Mr.. Elkins has taken very
active part in political campaigns in the
state, and he has surrounded himself
with a large body Of active and influential
friends. The appointment OF Nathan Golf as
judgesand the nomination of Elkins Secre-
tary Of War, coming just prior to the opening
OF the Presidential year, indicates the i'm
portance of the position West Virginia has in
the opin ion of the republican leaders. They
realize the necessity which presses and are
doing everything that looks as though 1t would
bring them victory in 1892; at the same time
they are giving West Virginia more prominence
than even the great material resources of the
state have recently done
SENATOR KENNA's VIEWS.
Senator Kenna also looked at the nomination
through political glasses. He even went SO far
as to put in the field an unlocked for presi-
Dental combination. THEY'RE pooling the
issues" was his remark. This nomination
may possibly place Elkins on the ticket with
Harrison in 80 "
SENATOR PROCTOR PLEASED.
Senator Proctor seemed to be very we'll
pleased with his successor in the War Depart
ment THE appointment said he lis I'M
doubleday good one Mr.. Elkins Is a man of
great executive ability and will be an
able ahd popular Secretary. His man.
ner is such that every one who
has been a personal favor to Mr.. Elkins. The
new secretary has wide acquaintance among
army officers in the west and will conse-
quently. bring to the department large share
OF practical and valuable information"
NEW HAMPSHIRE DISAPPOINTED.
"New Hampshire is very much disappointed"
said Senator Chandler when STAR reporter
called upon him for an opinion. Every much
disappointed, indeed he continued. I'VE
were earnest in our support of Gov. Cheney
and we believe his would have been the best APP
pointment We are still of that opinion. Mr.
Elkins will make good Secretary of War; his
executive ability is undoubted. While the ap-
pointment surprised us a little we have no COM
plants to make. we were not deceived in any
way President Harrison does not lie; he does
not make promises nor does he hold out false
hopes. We thought Gov. Cheneys chances
were all right simply because the President did
not say he would not be the man. Mr.. Elkins
is q good appointee, but New Hampshire is
nevertheless very much disappointed
Senator Hiscock thinks the nomination of
Mr.. Elkins was good thing. He will make
an admirable Secretary" said the big New
Yorker.
Won't Affect Blaine's Future.
Two or three of the politicians, who are
credited with knowing about all that is worth
knowing. say this afternoon that Mr.. EIkins
nomination will not in any way affect the
action OF Secretary Blaine on the presiden-
tial nomination question, but these men
are in a decided minority. Mr. Elkins himself
is quoted as saying that his going into the cab
either Harrison or Blaine II Blaine was nom
mated it would be by a spontaneous and un-
comfortable uprising of the people and that
neither he (Elkins) nor Mr.. Harrison could
eisEer help or hinder.
There seems to be no question about the
confirmation of Mr.. Elkins by the Senate. The
nomination will probably be approved tomor-
row.
SKETCH OF THE NOMINEE.
Mr.. Elkins is another shining example of a
man who has risen to prominence in public
life in this country and who began his upward
career amid rather uupromising surroundings.
He was born in Perry county, Ohio,
September &c, 1871, but moved to
Missouri when still very youn-
! and was educated there. graduating at the
| Missouri University at the age of nineteen He
| thereupon took up the study of law, and after
| serving in 1S62-6S is a captain in the seventy
| seventh Missouri regiment he went to New
Mexico, and year later was admitted to the
| bar. While in the territory he engaged in
stock raising and mining and amused
a considerable fortune. He was amember
of the territorial legislature for two years later
| attorney general of the territory and was
| United States district attorney in 1570-72 He
| was a delegate in Congress as q republican and
served two terms from 1873 to 1877. In 1875
| he became interested in the West Virginia rys-
| tenn of railroads and has practically severed
his connection with the west.
| Mr.. Elkins was member of the national
| republican committee from 1872 to 1884 He
| took an active part in the Chicago convention
of 1884 that nominated James G. Blaine for the
presidency and earnestly supported him in the