Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-01
THE HAYES CABINET.


| Formatioa-Ges. Johnston the Prssidsuts
Choice for Secretary of War.
Gen. Boyn.on IN c;neiunati Gazette.
7 The statement in this correspondence that
( President Hayes when selecting his cabinet
| contemplated offering the position of Seere-
tary of War to Gen. Jos. E. Johnston having
been called in question the authority upon
which it was made becomes pertinent, and the
details of some Of the attending circumstances
will, perhaps, be found interesting.
There were four journalists, all close friends
Of Mr.. Hayes three of whom were Of estab-
ished prominence in the country, who, to-
gether, had deeply interested themselves in an
attempt to induce the President-elect to select
Senator d. NJ. Key as the cabinet representa-
tive OF the new southern policy, which, rs they
were aware. Mr.. Hayes had decided upon.
Three OF these gentlemen were in Washing
| ton when the President arrived q few hours
after the electoral count had been completed,
and the formal announcement of his election
had been made before the Joint conventions Of
the two houses OF Congress. One OF these had
already been informed of the cabinet situation,
and the other two were sent for by the Presi-
dent at an early hour on Friday forenoon, the
"a OF March. that they might be informed OF
the then existing condition of affairs. The in
innate knowledge which these gentlemen had
OF the various problems which had arisen in
connection with making up the cabinet will be
understood from the fact that there had passed
through the hands of one of them, and with the
| full knowledge of the others, q considerable
| portion of the kilograms which were sent be-
| tween Columbus and Washington upon the sub
| ject of the formation OF a cabinet.
When these gentlemen reached Senator
| Sherman's residence, where the President was
stopping and had been shown into his private
room, Mr.. Hayes at once proceeded to inform
them of the situation. He said that Mr.. Evarts
had been offered the position OF Secretary OF
State and had accepted, that Senator Sherman
had accepted the offer of the Treasury Depart
ment and Gen. Schurz the Interior Depart
ment. The Navy Department had boon
offered to Senator Hale, but hc had not ac-
cepted, and the indications were that he would
decline. This part Of the situation was the
further complicated by, the impression among
Mr.. Blaines immediate friends that this offer
OF the navy to Maine was compliment to HIM,
| and that he should therefore be allowed to
select another Maine man for the place. The
Presidents position in regard to this was that
the place had been offered to Mr.. Hale as to q
man fitted for it and one whom the President
liked personally SO well to desire to have
to Maine or to Mr.. Blaine. II Mr.. Hale should
decline the place would therefore be disposed
OF in another direction.
As to Attorney General the President ex-
planned that Gen. John NJ. Harlan had been
very favorably considered, but some complica-
whether he would be selected. One of these
reasons was that Gen. Schurz, who had ac-
cepted a place.. would he a representative of
the border states, and it Was tho President s
desire to go beyond these states to the south
for representative of his new southern policy
This brought up the subject for the con-
sideration of which these gentlemen had been
requested to call.
The President proceeded to say that there
were three names of southern democrats before
l. - 4 L
would cordially cooperate with his administra-
ton in all things and who would be good repre-
sentative men OF the class in the south which it
was hoped could be brought into accord with q
national administration. These three, as he
explained, we're Gen. Johnston, Hon. John
Hancock OF Texas, and Senator Key of Ten
nessee.
OF these three he had proceeded so far in the
case OF Gen. Johnston as to have dispatched a
confidential messenger to Virginia TO ascertain
whether the general would accep; the position
OF Secretary OF War if it should be offered to
him. The desire of the President in this mat
ter was, as lie expressed it. TO make pro-
found impression with the new southern policy.
He thought this selection would accomplish
that. He further said that Gen. Lcgan's
friends, with much Grand Army backing. were
urging him for Secretary Of War. The
President then solicited free expression of
opinion upon this particular feature Of the
situation.
In response. the opinion was emphatically
expressed that unquestionabiy the selection of
ueu. johnston, the eX-commander OF a con-
leuerate army, Tor Secretary OF War would
create profounc impression everywhere. and
wa. ~ lhis wound be more profound IN view of
we TACT tha' ueh. Logan, the brilliant ana pop
uhr eH-coinmander OF u Union army, was also
s'funsif supported Ior the place.
me ircsiueht aunhtted the force OF the OBJ
!iIhs mus con'e!eo ana proceeded to say
sla' ne Ii'.u as tet mao little opportunity to
eHnsuu an! OF ms ciose republican friends
80. sno .iia..er. zen. SHERMAN ne knew to
81 s'.onsiy IN la'or OF Gen. Johnston,
Whiie senator sherman, FOR various reasons
o'a nov iooA upon the proposition with favor.
"A; W nr; nahcock. Tie PRESIDENT conveyed
.ne ihP,essiot, .hdt the suggestion OF selecting
hin ior uie capihet haa not been received with
anuch iaNor. zen. Garneid was pressing it.
ihere then remained senator hey, OF whose
packing, the PRESIDENT remarked, his visitors
were ihlormea. he had made all needed in
qulries ABOUT MIN, and had no doubt he would
pe an admirable man as the southern member
Oh tne cabinet. ana, II finally decided upon, he
woud ne onered the position OF Postmaster
Teherai: On saturday evening this result for
Judge hey had been reached, and he entered
the CABINET as the representative OF that new
sou'heTh poncy wnich haa originated among
small number OF Mr.. Hayes friends, none of
whom were ever In Puoiic LIE, anu been &C
eepted by nm.
And here 1t is pertinent to say that this
polcy, as aIterMard carried out in practice. was
quite uIHerent from lts original FORM While
IL contemplated the recognition OF all in the
r.rf 70 a.