Telegram-herald., 1891-12-19
ELKINS IS 4 SURPRISE
His Nominatio~ Puasiss the Politt-
claus-
BLAINE AID ELKIyS ARE NOT FRIENDS
And is Is Claimed That Their Relate
Are . Trrfis strainsd-Ss spsca-
tation ~ IN What His EiesA-
tion May Mean

- secretary of war, especially in lis ef-
feet upon Inc relations OF tue President
| and Secretary Blame, 10 . subject
which is puzzling the politicians of
| both parties. There - doubt as 10
what the present status of tho relations
between Mr.. Elkins and Mr.. Blame is.
IL is OF course known that for = great
many years Mr.. stephen b. EIkins was
one of the chief advocates Of Mr..
Blaine. and that IN all his campaigns
| for the presidency from 1876 until 1880
Mr.. EIklps was one of SIR. B.aine's
most confidential managers. But 1t Is
also known that at the Chicago conyen-
ton IN 1854 Mr.. Elkins was not found
in the Blaine ranks in the latter part
of the contest. He assumed that the
Florence letter had put Mr.. Blaine out
OF the field, and he WAS committed to
President Harrison. in whose intere g..
he did very efficient service. Mr.. El-
kins, IN fact, TO those who understood
the history of the Chicago convention
of 1854, Is known to have been one of
the men to whom President Harrison
was under great obligations for hls
nomination. Mr.. Elkns was originally
ali Iodiana man and has always mad
relations more or less with Indiana pol
iticlans. But il is especially at the
summer home of Mr. EIkins at Deer
Park, w. Va, where the family of the
president and the family or the new
secretary of war have been on the clos
est social terms.
Their strained Relations.
Mr.. Elkins and Mr.. Blaine have not
only had close political affiliations but
they have been associated III more than
one successful business enterprise.
Those are the enterprises with which
Mr.. Elkins for that matter has the
reputation of being alone engaged. At
present Mr.. Elkins, in connection with
his father-in-law, ex-senator Henry G.
Davis of West Virginia. Is engaged IN
developing the coal regions OF West
Virginia by the construction of 3 new
railway, in which Secretary Blaine has
q large ntsrest. One OF the current
runners is that largely because OF tnis
business association the relations be-
tween the secretary of state and MIR.
Elkins for the last year or two have be-
come strained. No one is prepared TO
make any Official statement on this
subject, for neither Mr.. Blame nor his
new associate III the cabinet, Mr..
Elkins, would talk On such subjects.
But it has been remarked as worthy OF
particular notice that Mr.. Elkine,
closely allied Is be has been for many
years politically and socially with Mr..
Blame and his family, did not onte
visit the secretary OF state at Bar N3f-
Dor last year, although there were many
reasons why he should have done SO.
1t Is also believed that on several visits
which Mr.. Elkins has made in Wash
ington since the return of the secretary
of state from Bar Harbor the new sec-
retary Of war has not called at the
house of Mr.. Blaine.
Some of the Complications.
Wicked gossip asserts also that the
sensational SORES which were pub
lished IN New York, in which Secretary
Blaine was made to appear as desper-
ately i'll, had for their sponsor, if not
their originator, Mr.. Stephen b. Ell
klns. Those who circulated these re-
ports say that one of the causes for the
strained relations Is the failure of Mr..
Emmons Blame TO receive the ad-
vancement in connection with the
VCct AR3Apd0, WHiCn tiC ib0
expected when he first associated him.
friends of Mr.. Blaine insist Mr.. Erl-
mons Blaine was promised. Mr.. En-
mons Blame left the west and became
connected with the West Virginia rail-
road upon the assurance, il is said,
from Mr.. Elkins that he (Mr. BIaIne)
should become vice-presidcnt. In q
reconstruction of the directory of this
West Virginia railroad some months
ago, Mr.. Emmons Blaine was not
placed ia the position which IL is re-
ported he had expected. On the con-
irary, Mr.. Stephen b. Elkins kept and
retainsthat pace to this day, For that
reason the gossips say Mr.. Emmons
Blaine left the West Virginia railroad,
and because of this failure of Mr.. FL
kins to make good what is reported as
his pledge, there has ensued an es-
arrangement between the secretary of
state and his former friend, Mr.. Elkins.
If these stories, or any considerable
part of them, are true, the appoint
ment Of Mr.. EIkins to the cabinet is
not triumph for Mr. Blaine. Il may
be interpreted IN quite a contrary man.
ner.
ElWtnS y fotltteat fFteBO.
Those who are not familiar with the
inner history OF politics will undoubt-
ediy assume that the appointment of
Mr.. Elkins as secretary OF war gives TO
the secretary OF state an associate who
will Immediately commence an organ
zatlon to secure delegates for Mr..
Blaine tc, the republican nominating
convention. On the other hand frien is
OF Mr.. Harrison insist that il IL not
probable, IN view of the present situa-
ton, that he would have selected as a
cabinet officer a man who would devote
bis energies 10 securing the nomination
for a rival IN the presidential race. For
no one questions the fact that, whatever
may he the aspirations OF Mr.. Blaine IN
that regard, President Harrison HIM
self ia very positive candidate Tor re-
nomination. lt undoubtedly u fact
that Whatever msy he the actual rels-
tons hetves n the new secretary OF war
and the secretary of state. Mr.. blkins
received NE appointment On The sup
position on the part OF President Harri-
sou that the new secretary OF war
would be an advocate af TIE nornsaa-
ton for the presidency of Benjamin
Harnson and not Of James q. Blame.
Not Net win ws'es~e.
II 10 possible that the appointment
may he that particular act 81 the sd.
nssr gssrstion lrsn when efesoh he
tween tho seefes 81 Nste ana TIE
president MAJ b dated tnefs ssve
hesn runoss Tor soaae s~eks thst TIE
nnse . fsss sppfessialns rhsn tae pre-
srwt ~osliA compel Ne. Bssre ~ "a
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