, 1892-06-13
IT WAS MRS. BLAINE.
The Cause of the Secretary Of
States Resignation.


A Startling story From a well
known Correspondent at the Ma
tiOnaI Ca apitaI.
Special to The Tribune
CHICAGO, June 13.-"Whitelaw Rel saw
Blaine ten days before the conventio4 .
says New York paper. "Blaine told Reid
he would likely be the next republican
candidate for the vice presidency. What's
this talk about you?' said Reid. Blaine
said: Il have no wish to be candidate,
and left the impression that his withdrawal
was final. Reid was asked to explain the
meaning of Blaine's withdrawal from the
cabinet, and said in his opinion the secre-
tary's resignation had nothing to do with
the possible nomination"
T. G. Crawford, the well known Wash
ington correspondent, has the following in
the Chicago Inter-0cean:
MRS. BLAIEE's INFLUENCE.
Mr.. Blaines peculiar attitude today is
owing wholly to the positive influence of
Mrs. Blaine Mrs. Blaine has become with
in the last few weeks very bitter and Wig
orous opponent of the president. She is a
possesses an iron will. She does not often
mingle in politics, but today her imperious
will, backed by intense dislike of the presi-
dent, is one of the most potent factors in
the political situation. The calmest and
most conservative of the republican advis-
ers at Washington, and these are gentle
men wholly outside of the administration
circle, believe that if Mr.. Blaine's nomin J.
tion was forced under the peculiar Cir
cumstances which surrounded the sudden
development of the Blaine movement he
could not be elected.
Mrs. Blaine has never liked the president
from the day that he declined to appoint
her son, Walker Blaine, to the Office of
first assistant secretary of state. When
this was first proposed to the president he
said to Mr.. Blaine that he did not think it
would be good policy for any official hold
ing high place to have his son act as dep
uty. He then added that he would be
pleased to give to Mr.. Walker Blaine any
other place that Mr.. Blaine himself might
select. Mr.. Blaine suggested the position
of solicitor of the state department There
was no intimatiOn on his part at that time
that he was at all dissatisfied with the
presidents act. Neither did Mrs. Blaine at
any time before her sons death express
anything more than an ordinary disap-
pointment of the change in the plan.
soN-IN-LAw coPPINeER.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Blaine's son-in-
law, Lieutenant Colonel Coppinger was
promoted to the position of colonel.
Shortly after that there was a vacancy in
the army in the list of brigadier generals.
Mr.. Blaine asked to have his sOn-in-law
promoted to this place. To this the presi-
dent replied that he was at the foot of the
list of colonies, that there were thirty-fve
honorable officers who stood between him
and the post, and that to jump Colonel
Coppinger over the whole list for no reason
but that of pure favor was a proposition
which could not for moment be con-
sidered. The refusal was kindly made and
the attitude of the president indorsed by
Mr. Elkins, the Secretary of War. Mr..
Blaine presented the case politely, and ao-
cepted the presidents view of The situa-
ton with perfect good nature. Indeed,
it may be said that during the
whole term of the presidents admin
istratiOn there has never been at any meet
ing between the president and his secretary
of state any evidence of ill-feeing upon the
part of one or the other. Mr.. Blaine has
invariably shown courtesy and marked re-
spect to the president, and the president
has shown equal courtesy and respect to
his secretary of state. The presidents re-
fusal to make this appointment was not &C
cepted by Mrs. Blaine. The subject came
up again and again. Mr.. Harrison said at
last that under no circumstances could the
appointment be made, and that if he were
presented with four years term Of con
tinuance in the White House as cOnsid-
Grafton of making such an appointment
he should still decline.
A STORMY INTERVIEW.
Upon the surface, up to this particular
period, there was no friction. The day fol
lowing the presidents final determination
Mrs. Blaine called at the white house and
asked to see the president. The interview
which took place was a stormy one. Mrs
Blaine has spoken of this meeting herself
and the president has limited to some O1
cabinet associates that the conversation
was remarkable in many WAYS. The view
often expressed by Mrs. Blaine was un
doubtedly repeated in this conversation
She accuses the president of having moi
treated the Blaine family fairly and tha
he has taken particular pleasure in refus
/ ing their modest requests. This Mrs. Blaint
| believes sincerely. Her appeal for a chang
in the presidents decision in the Cop
| ringer case was the last time sht
| has seen the president. OF course Mr.. Har
rison could not change his mind anC
commit what he thought was great piec
of injustice, even to oblige so distinguished
and worthy a lady as Mrs. Blaine. At tn
| close of this remarkable interview Mrs
Blaine announced to the president in clea
and concise English that his decision
would cost him a denomination, and tha
she should now force Mr.. Blaine to tax
the field against him. This declaration 0
war upon the part of Mrs. Blaine, mad
in person to the presidents face, wa
further intensified by her declaring to on
of the most influential men in the admin
istration that she really held the presiden
responsible for her son Walkers death
If the president had not put upon him tn
modification of refusing him the Dlac
which he wanted Mrs. Blaine believe
that her son would be alive to-day. Thi
morbid frame of mind is as intense as it
sincere. In Justice to Mr.. Blaine it shoul
be said that he was in no way respons
BILE for this personal attack upon th
president and later called upon him, an
in that call expressed the opinion that th
president, of course, was right and that b
could not have acted differently. Mr.
Blaine is not good enough politician
conceal her feelings. She is always homes
and outspOken in expressing her likes an
dishkes She thoroughly dislikes th
president, believes that he has done gres
injustice to her family in the two case
above mentioned, and has expressed tn
opinion very freely.
washington knights TemPIar.
Following are the officers of the Gran
Commandery of the Knights Templai
Just adjourned at Spokane: Grand con
mander, Edward r. Hare, Tacoma deput
= grand commander, Eugene 7. Wilson
Ellensburg; grand generalissimo, GeOrl
NJ. Alexander, Seattle; grand captain gel
eral, Horace W. Tyler, Spokane; gran
prelate, Harrison W. Eagan, WalIa Walli
grand senior warden, George D. E. Dickil
son, Ellensburg; grand junior warde
Jacob Weatherwax, Aberdeen; gran
treasurer, Thomas M. Reed, Olympii
grand recorder. YancY 9. Blalock.