The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-05-07
Blair Laboring Under the Opin-
ion That He is Left.
Mr.. GlAINE'S ANNOUNCEMENT
Refusing TO Be Candidate for the Nomination
Expected in the Shape of Letter,
The Friends of the Merit system. Look on
Mills With Fear-MiliS' Enemies at
Work on the Appointment of
Mr. Chiiton-i suicide.
The Merit system.

| Nibctiii 10 inc 'iiEt'ttt-
WASHINGTON. April 20.-Civil service re
form may not play Il very important part IN
the contest for speaker of the house of rep
resentativeS of the Fifty-secoud congress.
but the friends of the merit system VIII
watch the fight with good deal Of interest
There vii. be good many men among the
majority of the next house who have had
no opportunity TO acquire amy personal
knowledge of what the merit system really
Is. and who may be very luEewarm III lis
support. \ hostile speaker can do Il great
deal of indirect damage TO the cause IN his
makeup of committees, and IN hindering
the needed legislation. and lis friends will
be glad to see an advocate Of the merit syS-
TEN obtain the office.
MILLS FOR SPEAKER.
II seems to be taken 10" granted by few
politicians now in Washington that the
future of Governor HOcg 10 appoint Mills
as Senator Reagan successor ana the evil
dent disposition of some of the Texas Demo
Gratis TO try and prevent his election 10 the
senate by the next state legislature has
hurt his chances for getting the Spediiership
next December 1t puts him in the light of
being less popular in Texas and it Will he
used for what it is worth against MIN in the
speakership fight. Mills has not much of Il
record one way or the other on the question
of civil service reform. but adherentS of
reform have never regarded him as one of
their number. They do not assign him to
the ranks of their active opponents: but
they would uc agrccably surprised if. rs
speaker he should be found taking amy
active interest in keeping M or extending
the merit system. They are. therefore. not
at al disturbed by the suggestion tAas'
Mills IS losing ground.
THE POSITIVE ANNOCNCEMEN|
that Secretary Blaine will not ali3H HIM
self TO he considered as Il cdndidat& before
the Republican national conventi&A>usxiss
year vas the general topic of conversation
here to-day. Nothing was heard to throw
any light upon Blaine positive withdrawal
and it is expected ny many that he will segS8
soon cone out in Il letter.
The frierds of the president are in much
more satisfied mood than they were few
days ago. when they feared that tho sec
rotary OF state would be seduced TO enter
into the fight again. They have had aSSur-
ances. such as Russell g. Harrison prints in
his paper for some time; but that satisfies
them hat Blaine Is sincere-in fact. that
his confidential friends have heard some
language from his lips and that they are
quoting il with the evident knowledge that
it will not displeaSe him.
The fact that Quay and GARRISON have
bowed TO the inevitable Is also taken as
conclusive
THAT No FIGHT
is to he made against the president.
Neither OF these gentlemen love Harrison
over much and each have been looking
about for candidate more 10 his taste; but
they are shrewd politicians and have been
quick TO catch the popular drift in the !
party. ~
1t will DE Harrison by aSclamatllE'
was what another warm friend 0fSB4dines
said. discussing the situation. Blaine
could have the nomination if be wanted il,
but he will rot allow his name to be pre-
scented to the national convention. He can
not be candidate while lie is i'll the cabi-
net, and he will be loyal to his chief"
This is probably one of the secrets of
Blaine's early decision. If he meant to !
take the nomination in spite of Harrison ha(,
would be obliged 10 leave the cabinet. UfH
he cannot afford to do in the midst ~OFhs
reciprocity negotiations and he Nkes his
place too well 10 give it up if he can keep
it Ii Harrison should be elected next year
Blaine would be retained IN the cabinet an
other four years, and his enthusiastic
friends say he would devise new measures
for extending our trade and adding 10 our
prestige, which would be as novel and sue
ft1I. no 1.e,i Motley a