The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-11

most deplorable and sorrowful conspirscy,
not political.
President Hayes in the selection of his
abine broke another precedent. and did
it in an astonishing manner. He nomi-
mated for postmaster-gener David M.
Key. who was a conspicuous member of the
party opposed to that which voted for Mr..
Hayes. That had never been done before.
The senate hesitated somewhat before con-
hrminR Mr.. Key. Mr.. Hayes reason for
making the appointment was said to be
that he desired to reveal to the section from
which Mr.. Key came. he being a Citizen Of
Tennessee, that the new administration de-
sired to bury all sectional luminosity.
Probably Gen. Garfield had as much
trouble making up his cabinet as any prssi-
dent. Politicians in the state of New York
were almost lmperious in their demand that
Levi p. Morton should become his secretary
of the treasury. The keystone of Garfeld's
cabinet was the secretary of state, which he
had determined to offer to Mr.. Blaine. But
he complained bitterly that he could not
complete the arch. He left his home in
Ohio for Washington a few days before the
inauguration, and was then utterly at sea
about his cabinet. He desired Senator AL
lison to take the treasury department.. and
1t was scarcely twenty-four hours before
Garfield was to be inaugurated when MIR.
Allison declined. and that made IA re-cast
necessary. Senator Window, reading
IN the papers and discussing with
his friends in the senate cloakroom
the stories about Garield's cab
met, never dreault that he would be used 80
| solve the difficulty. He was sent for, en-
tered Garfetd's parlor as u senator of the
United States and. somewhat bewildered.
departed FROM it. having left with Garfield
his promise to become secretary OF tho
treasury. Thomas L.. James received a
telegram from Whitelaw Reid which
caused him to pack his gripssok in a hurry
and hasten to Washington from New York.
Then he anet Garfield, who said 80 him.
mir. James, | am going to nominnte
you for postmaster-generai." General
James WAS so astonished that he does
not know to this day exactly what he said
to GARFIELD in reply. A hasty letter was
sent to Wayne MacVeagh in which Mr..
Garfield simply said that no should nomin-
ate him for attorney general, but the
greatest surprise was that which befell that
man who became secretary of the interior.
On the morning of the day that Gariield's
nominations were sent to the senate, ono of
the younger senators went to Governor
kirkwood, then senator from Iowa, and
said to him, Governor, l would like to
have your seat in the senate" He meant
by that that he would like to occupy Kirk
woods chair, 1T being n more desirable one
than the seat he then had.
want my chair2 Why, Pve got four
years yet to serve, and | don't expect to die.
What is the matter with your own seatf"
why, l hear that you a,e going into the
cabinet to-day"
"Nonsense. the idea is absurd,' was
kirkwood's reply. And yot within an hour
the nominations for the cabinet came III.
aud there among them was tho name of
Samuel j. kirkwood for secretary OF tho
interior. Tho look of amazsment which
came over Kirkwood's cuuntelance was
something wonderful to see.
On the death of GARFIELD all of his oabi.
net rendered their resiGnations TO his sue
cessor, p esident Atthur.tt Ho refused to
accept any of them at the time, hut when
Arthur retired from the, presidency the
| only otirlnal member of Garield'a cnbine
who went out with him was Secretary LIN
coin.
After Cleveland was elected he resigned
the governorshlp of New York, hired u
small house in Albany. and. utterly mex
perienced. set about making his cabinet.
Tho keystone with him was tho treasury
| department., which he had determined to