The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-06
POLITICS ON The BENCH
Possibility That Harrison May Have
a Chance to Appoint Three
Republicans.
BIatchford May Retire, Field and
Lamar are Much Broken
in Haalth
PersIstency with Which Uncle Jerry
Kusk Jterates His Fealty to the
Cause Of Harrison.

huSk JtecAteS e11s GeaILy 10 ING
Cause Of Harrison.
WARRINGTON, Jan. 5.--tSpecial. when
President Cleveland had the opportunity to
appoint a chief justice and an associate jus-
tice Of the supreme court. the general COM
ment WAS that it WAS piece Of his usual
good luck. At the time that Chief Justice
Fuller was appointed, the fear vas expressed
in many quarters that the political charac-
ter Of the bench wonid be very soon re-
versed. Already. however, in the first kalf
of his term, President Harrison has had
two appointments to make 10 the supreme
bench and it is generally expected that be-
fore the 4th of March, 1892, he will be called
upon to appoint SUCCESSOR to Justice
Blatcbford, who WAS 10 years old the 9th of
last March. and is therefore entitled to re-
tire ON full salary. None Of these appoint
ments, however, make any change in the
political character Of the bench. 1t has
been more than once said. however, that
Judge Field feels himself broken down un-
der the pressure Of work and is disposed to
retire as he might have done several years
ago. The friends of Justice Lamar speak
of his physical condition with decided APP
prehension that he will not be able to con-
tinue on the bench much longer. From
the stout, robust, healthy man he
was when secretary of the interior,
he has changed so that his best friends
hardly know him when they meet him. He
is very thin, his cheeks are sunken, his eyes
shine with a sickly Instre and the more
than ordinarily listIess and aimless appear
ance of the noted Nississippian shows that
he is rapidly breaking down. He says he
has never become accustomed to his duties
on the bench; he does not feel at home in
that position and he cannot keep up with
his work. 1t is only question of few
years. perhaps months. before he will be
obliged to resign his official duties on ac-
count of his illness.
The Santa Claus secretary of agriculture
is good deal distressed by the many nim-
BILE rumors about his sub-rosa candidacy
for the white house. It will be remembered
that in 1888. at Chicago, the republicans OF
Wisconsin voted solidiy for Uncle Jerry for
president. This was done as a matter of
political compliment to one of the shrewd.
est politicians the state has ever known
ard one who had for seven years been it's
chief executive officer. This compliment
probably put him in the cabinet, or at least
suggested his name. In the agricultural
department his personal knowledge of
farming and his sympathy with the toiling
agricultural classes has worked out great
results. The department has sprung up
from bureau of little worth to an
organized department, charged with many
a inn Mt Bfti nd mr.
ing in magnitude and efficiency. The first
thing Uncle Jerry did was to set the print
ing presses running. 80 as to publish to the
millions of farmers from DAY to day the
actual work of the department along the
lines Of inquiry profitable to them. He
has made ali the many questions of inter
est to the farmers matters of politics.
Taking up the matter of international re-
taliation, he has instituted II thorough in
spection of all animals imported into the
country with view toIprohitibing importa-
| tions from countries that will not receive
| our meat products. He has pushed the
beet sugar question to its farthest limit OF
experiment with splendid results. All the
appropriations for experimental stations
and agricultural colleges have been under
| his executive charge amply increased
| and made more available for good work.
| Naturally when the Farmers alliance APP
peared. Secretary Rusk, with his wide ac-
quaintance among the farmers of the
country and his knowledge of political
movements. took it into account as one OF
the formidable factors in the presidential
problem for 1892. With the grange move
ment, which WAS prominent fifteen years
ago in Wisconsin, he WIS thoroughly famil-
lar and with its leaders ne has always
maintained good relations. Naturally the
farmers. feeling grateful to Uncle Jerry for
what he has done for them, look upon him
| as possible candidate for the presidency.
All this is necessarily embarrassing to the
secretary, He cannot be candidate for
the presidency while u member of President
Harrison's cabinet. and 10 authoritative an
nouncement has been made that Mr.. Harri-
son is not n candidate to succeed himself.
Gen. Rusk's only alternative has been to
deny rs industriousiy as possible that he
has even thought of the presidency. When-
ever newspaper men call upon him he iugs
this subject i'll by the heels and proceeds to
dole out very vigorous protests against the
use of his name for any such rumors. II
tell YOU" he says, 'it will be Harrison.
| We are all for Harrison and he is going to
be renominated and reelected. Now. un-
| less il is going to do him some good, do not
| allow any OF my friends to mention my
| name
VIII Resume business.