Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-04
If Blaine Retires from the Cabi.
net 1t Means Something.
HAS PROMISED HIS FRIENDS.
The Presidents Jealousy Has Retarded the
Secretary's Ascendsncy.
The Behring Sea Question VIII be Sub
mitted to Arbitration-A Closed sea-
son-A New Surgeon-General of
Marine-Indian Recruits.
Talk of Blaine's Retirement.

| Special 10 the Gazette.
| WASHINGTON, May 29-Rumors of the in
| tention on the part of Blaine TO retire from
| the cabinet are again being actively circu
| lated. Some say ne will be forced to retire
! on account OF i'll health. while others assert
! with wink, that his recent attack of sick
| ness will merely furnish an excuse which
| he has been seeking TO shake loose from
| the administration. Blaine mas brought
Harrison to terulS before by having the re-
port started that he was going out of the
cabinet There Is no doubt his position
was made uncomfortable by Harrison's
constant suspicion on him and disposition
to hold him constantly in restraint. Some
of Blaine'S most confidential friends told
the correspondent thai ne had exercised
deal of Self-control to get along with the
president at all. that HarriSon'S jealousy al
ways stood in the way Of his most ambitious
plans. Tney have added. however, that he
would not allow himself to De crowded from
the cabinet if he could help it, as upon his
retiring from his place depended his ability
to accomplish anything al all of his designs.
Only, they have said, when it becomes APP
parent that his reputation as a statesman
might suffer by his remaining and taking
responsibility for policy but halt carried
out would he retire. Just 1T present he
is in
AN AWKWARD POSITION
in the Behring sea controversy. There
may be question of veracity between him
and Harrison, and at all events the outcome
is not likely to be satisfactory 10 Blaine.
There is hardly enough III that, however, 10
lead 10 his hasty retirement, unless it is
Just as clear that his other negotiations are
going to suffer executive blight" As 4
candidate for the presidential nomination it
is to his interest to delay the final rupture
until nearer the time for the meeting of the
convention. There is 10 doubt about his
candidacy, unless his health actually makes
it impossible for him to run. He positively
promised some of his friends and lifelong
supporters that he would not interfere with
what they might do to secure his nomina-
ton. Thus far he has not Withdrawn that
promise, and the action of the men who are
secretly or openly opposing Harrison is
based on their faith in ii. They refuse to
believe Blaine'S health, which has been the
subject of discussion since 1916, is so bad us
to interfere with their plans TO nominate
him. If he should retire from the cabinet,
giving bad health as an excuse. it will be
regarded rs a move relative to his deter
mination to seek higher office. and with
his recovery of robustness his candidacy
will become open.
IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED
in Washington by those watching the course
of events that the Behring sea case has
been put into satisfactory shape by the
president himself agreeing to submit the
whole controversy 10 arbitration. III the
absence of Blaine there was some confusion
in this matter On the presidents return,
which has, however finally been straight
ened out by joint agreement on the part of
Great Britain aud this country
In the meantime poaching is to be pre-
vented if possible, ana it is believed closed
season may be ordered pending decision.
Blaine's uncertain health made it obligatory
on the administration to proceed in his abb
sence.
All that can be learned from cabinet cir
cles is that it was found necessary to take
up the fishery question in Blaine's absence
and that arbitration viii probably settle all
disputed points.