Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-24
A SCHEME TO GRAB CUBA.
That's What the Appointment of
Elkins Is Said to Mean.

He is just tho Man TO Get Cuba Away
From spain--His appointment Will BE
Confirmed.
WASHINGTON, Dec. lS.-When the editor
of the Washington Post discovered, some
time ago, that "Dickn Kerens and Steve
Elkins were here in company. and very
sagely guessed that Elkins was to be
pushed into the war department by Blaine,
the Post published a paragraph intimating
that II Elkins was to be put in charge of
public affairs, people would do well to lock
their doors.
Such an utterance as that. coming from
a paper published in Washington, where
sharp jobbers in government affairs are
common and do not excite the curiosity or
the suspicion that they would in some
other cities, was an indication that the
writer thought Elkins was entitled to be
regarded as prince of political sharpers
notwithstanding that fact, it seems to be
regarded as probable that Elkins will be
confirmed Monday, and that his coniirma-
ton will be moved and supported by the
senators from West Virginia, both of
whom it may be borne in mind, are DEM
ocrats.
The iost this morning prints picture of
Elkins in soldiers uniform and wearing
u chapeau with plume. II was intended
for use at the time Kercns and Elkins were
here and when Kerens begged Editor Hat.
ton not to print any more paragraphs of
the sort he had already issued, because
they might do the old man harm.n
Whatever may have been the reason for
presenting Elkins in uniform, it is certain
That the uniform now provokes question
as to whether he ever really wore the uni
form of the United States. There was a
story while ago that at the beginning of
the war Elkins, like Boss Quay, was in
ellned 20 try service with the Confetleracy,
hut that. unlike Quay. he did try it,chang-
ing his ilag when he had come 10 the con
clusion that the Confederacy would not
win.
But if Elkins served in the army during
the war he has kept his record hidden.
Nome of the booka containing the lists Of
officers carries his name. The Seventy
seventh Regiment of Missouri is not down
in the books. 1t is possible that it was a
state command, and that Elkins' record
can be found somewhere in Missouri. II
is not to be found in Washington.
The Democratic opinion about Elkins is
that if the Harrison administration can
carry him, in addition to Wanamakcr,
Democrats should not object, however
much decent Republicans may groan about
the scandalousness of the appointment.
10 those old Grant men who saw Elklns at
Chicago in 1880, with his bosom friend,
Tom Donaldson, working with brass bands
to prevent the nomination of Grant. the
elevation of this thrifty friend of Blaine
will not bring any particular Joy
Spectators who have found Elkins a
man ayerse to going into anything that
did not have money in it, are disposed to
believe that Blaine had some big job in
sight when he insisted that Elkins should
have employment IN the cabinet. These
men SO so far. as to assert that Blaine has
in contemplation the acquisition of Cuba,
and that il is to be made possible through
q row with Spain, to be picked in the usual
diplomatic way. BY drawing Spain into
riimpus that will look like a studied aifront
on the part of that nation toward the
United States, a demand for indemnity so
high that it would be refused might give
the chance to pick up Cuba at "our own
price The man who helped EllSins to
enforce the Jewett claim of S50, 900
against Brazil for loss of S27 600 would not
stop at trickery like that. And there would
be some fat contracts in it too.
The senators who will lead in putting
through the appointment Of Mr.. ElRins as
member of the Cabinet are about the
same men who led in defeating the an
pointment Of Murat Halstead for Minister
to Germany. One man was u critic of
public men, and had at one time denounced
even the iniquities of Blaine and the men
like Elkins with whom lie had been ASSOC
ciated in infamous and corrupt schemes.
Now those same senators will advise the
President that the appointment of the man
whom Mr.. Halstead denounced Is perfectly
proper. The funny thing to remember,
however, is that if Mr.. Haistead were here.
he would probably take the view Of MIR.
Blaine and fall in with the sentiment OF
the Senate.