The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-29
,,a,q.eh to he Mscaigenesr.

W.plSCroy, D. c., Aug. 2S'-4he
.,,io, retirement from the cabinet OF
srcre.ary.oi.War Proctor to accept a
,,,t in the Senate, which Governor
p,,, oi Vermont, has at length openly
,a9Isrcl ,S, him, Of course rcvives all the
s.o,nlotiops as to his successor which
;aIlorcI upon Secretary WINDOWS
Js,,b, 1t is not probable thatsecretary
p,or,or will resign much before the
a,.t Of November, the date upon which
c,oyenor Page will appoint him q sena-
Nj, This will give plenty OF time in
which to thoroughly canvass the field
"a, Me successor, and in that time no
,,mo will be more frequently heard
,ssn ,i",,r that OF the Hon. S. B. Elkins, OF
Wn., ,ir., Virginia. 1t will not be the first
,'mr by several that his availability for
cabinet position hn5 been seriously
ii,rn..ci on all sides. On Secretary
WinJom's death it was suggested that
VI Proctor might be promoted from
iIc war portfolio to that OF the treas,
uy. and thus u vacancy be created
ytjch Mr.. Elkins could afford to accept
in nstirc 10 his other responsibilities,
For Mr. Elkins himself made no secret
aitbS tact that lie could not tako upon
him the weight OF duties and cares
which the treasury would impose and
s,ilI do Justice to his large and varied
ner.oual interests. A conscientious sec
ia,ary Of the treasury has no time for
ANYTHING outside OF his department;
bni with the secretary OF war it is diff
ie,ca,, The latter's duties are not
rcarly so engrossing, and Mr.. Elklns
could fill that place and at the same
time attend to his private business.
Whether he would accept 1t or not is.
Of course, another matter. He is not
likely to take the public into his conf
lleace upon so delicate n question, but
plrhaps the public might be permitted
10 guess that the President and Mr..
Proctor and Mr.. Elkins have not been
together Just at present at Saratoga for
nothing
MR. ELKINs' FITNESS.
OiMr. Elkins' conspicuous fitness for
place in the cabinet there is no need
10 speak. That has been many times
demonstrated. Politically speaking, the
President could not make better selec-
lion. 1t is .! at all probable that
Secretary PrSclor's successor will be
taken IRON Vermont. Vermont Repub-
licans could not possibly ask for more
encouragement than they have already
lad under this administration. The
President will select his new adviser
with special reference to strengthening
his party and himself. West Virginia
certainly fills the bill in this respect.
With the States political fortunes way
Cring in the balance nothing could be
more Opportune for the Republicans
than the taking OF u cabinet officer from
it, nothing could be more strategic than
such recognition OF II man who stands
in his ownpersonality for all thatm0kes
ior the interest OF his State and people.
The President will want a strong tariff
man. Mr.. Etkins IS such notoriously,
and there is no State in the Union
which has more to gain from protective
tariff than has West Virginia. The
President will want q man sound on tho
money question. He will have no one
who is tainted in the slightest degree
with Tree silver or unlimited paper
ianaticism. In this respect, too, Mr..
E'Nlns is entirely acceptable; and while
lie stands with the East and the Middle
States in their demand for honest
money, vet his interests and acquaint-
ance in the West make him acceptable
10 That section OF the country as we'll.
WOULD CORRECT A WRONG IMPRESSION.
But above and beyond even these inn
portant questions the selection OF Mr..
Elkins fora Cabinet Office would tend to
give the lie direct to all reports of any
lack OF harmony between the President
and MI. Blaine, which the opposition
lias tried SO pcrsistently to keep in cir
Salation. Throughout the length and
bNalth oithe land Mr.. Elkins is known
q a staunch friend and admirer OF the
Secretary OF State, That tho President
Should see fit to not only retain within
Ihe circle Of his closest advisers Mr..
Blaine himself, but should also in the
very face OF the rumors now so com.
mon, select for another place in that
circle man known to DO in warmest
s!apalhy with Mr.. Blaine could have
oat one significance, and TINT the true
one, namely, that when the proper
Ilmc comes Mr.. Blaine and his friends,
Wherever they may be, will be found
q On Ihe side Of President Harrison and
his friends.