The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-03-31
WILL EDMUNDS RESIGN

Two or three weeks ago the Minneapolis |
Tribune, paper presided over by ex-Sen-
ator PIERCE, published with certain air
OF authority, rumor that Senator Ed
MUNDs, of Vermont, would soon resign his
seat and retire to private life. The story |
was generally discredited, because people |
knew how proud the old man was of his |
position, and what a firm hold he has upon
his state. He has been in the Senate a
quarter of century, and most of that time |
has been recognized as the leader of his |
party in the upper house Of Congress. He |
can be returned just as often as he desires |
re election, assuming that Vermont will
continue Republican in politics as long as
EDMUNDs shall sojourn IN this vale OF tears
However, the Washington correspondent
of the New York Recorder revives the
rumor and presents facts which give
plausibility to the story of the early
retirement OF old ST. JEROME. 1t is
well known that in 1884 EDMUNDs wanted |
the nomination to the Presidency, and fail
| ing to get it he has ever since been disap-
pointed man. Following that reverse came
the failure of his fight on the CLEVELAND
administration to compel the President to
lay before the Senate in writing the reason
for the removals of internal revenue col
lectors and other officials who had no fixed
term of office. He coerced the Republican
majority by the force of his character and
| the prestige Of his past leadership into this
fight, and he was keeniy Inundated by the
backdown which the Senate eventually made
on the question. Then came sad domestic
| iofc nd ba E ha ha
so well. His interest in his public career
yisibly slackened, and his own health began
to give way. Other men of different mold
rose up in the Senate and practically
wrested from him the long undisputed
leadership of his party. He found his
political career mainly behind him, and lost
ambition for further political service. Dur
ing the Congress just closed it was forced
upon his mind in manner which he could |
not misunderstood that he was no longer |
the leader on his side of the chamber The
new members did not stand in awe of him,
and were frequently found with the courage
to stand out boldly in opposition to him.
While his great ability is recognized, there |
are half dozen Senators who are quite as
&! influential as he and there are many others
who do not think it necessary to obey him
! in order to prove their loyalty to
party. Naturally this loss of power,
and the noting of a disposition
to shelve him are irritating to man of his
disposition. 1t is thought that he will get
out while there will be some credit in GO
ing and before he has lost all of his in
huence
Another thing which suggests his early
retirement is the fact that he has recently
leased to Senator WAsHBURN for four
years, his Washington mansion, magnifi-
cent house which he erected several years
ago largely after plans of his own devils
| ing. When be built the house, he said he
expected to occupy it for the remainder of
his life, hence the care which he bestowed
upon its arrangement and the details. The
correspondents think that a man of his
! astidious tastes and habits will not return
to Washington to live in public hotel,
especially as the Senator is wealthy and
can keep up his private establishment with
out embarrassment.
In this connection there is another
rumor, which has been mentioned in the
dispatches, which would seem TO lend
plausibility to the suggested retirement of
EDMUNDs. 1t is that Secretary PRoCroR is
about to leave the cabinet, where his duties
are not to his liking, and that he has his
eye on Senatorship. If EDMUNDs were
out of the way it would be an easy matter
for PROCTOR to step into his shoes.
Putting this and that together" it is
not difficult to believe there is something
more than idle rumor in the story of Ed
MUNDs' intended resignation. There was
time when good many Democrats and not
few Republicans would have been de-
lighted by his retirement, but to-day Demo-
Gratis care nothing for him and Republicans
wish him out Of the way only because they
want the place for somebody who is not a
crank.