The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-18
GOSSIP OF THE CABINET.
Whitney to Be Urged to Take the
Portfolio Of the StatevDe-
partment
But He May Rather Prefer the
Mission at London or at
Paris.
Il. j. Phelps, of Vermont Talked OF for the
state Department--Polit News
and Gossip.

New YoRK, Nov 17.-There has been
great deal of gossip about the formation
of Nj. C!eveland's cabinet and tho distri-
button of the biggest federal plums that
will be at the new Presidents disposal after
the 4th of March. In making np his cabi-
net President Cleveland will not have rs
easy task as he had eight years ago. The
democratic party hns extended its territory
since then, and consequently there are
more statesmen seeking and deserving rec
oRnition at the hands of the chief execu-
tive. The department of agriculture has
been added to the list Of cabinet portfolios
since MIR. Clevsland's former occupancy of
the White house; henos he will have one
more place to bestow than he had four
years ago. But the amount of available
cabinet timber has increased very mate
rally in the democratic ranks during the
last few years.
1t is generally conceded that Mr. Whitney
could be secretary of state should he wish
to be. His services to the party in the judg-
ment of the democratic statesmen fully en-
title him to that honor. But close friends
of Mr.. Whitney say that he has no desire to
go into the cabinet. and that he will not en-
tertain the matter. Friends of M. Cleve-
land say the president may insist upon Mr..
Whitney taking the portfolio of state.
Next to Mr.. Whitney the man most prom
inently mentioned for secretary of state is
Edward j. Phelps, of Vermont. Mr.. Phelps
was minister to England under Mr.. Cleve-
land, and he has occupied chair in the
faculty at Yale university for the last three
/ M L.
accredited to the state of Connecticut, which
would be better. if he is to go into the cabi-
net, in the opinion of many democrats. OBJ
lection might be raised to Mr. Cleveland's q
taking his premier from hopelessly repub-
| lican state like Vermont.
The cabinet makers assume that Presi-
dent Cleveland will pay some attention to
geographical lines in the formation OF his
cabinet 1t is not believed that New York
will now get two cabinet plums, as she did
eight years ago. In his first cabinet Mr.
Cleveland gave three portfolios to the south,
Bayard, Lamar and Garland; two to New
York, Manning and Whitney; one to the
west, William Il. Villas, and one to New
| England, William G. Endicott. When Mr.
Lamar, Was elevated to the supreme bencf
the west secured another rep, esentative in
the cabinet in the person of Don III. Dlekin
| son, of Michigan.
The people who are arranging Mr.. Cieve
! lands cabinet for him this year think 1t i
likely to be apportioned off as follows
| Three to the western or middle states, IL
recognition of their growing tendency to-
wards democracy; two to the south, one tt
New York, one to New England and one tt
Pennsylvania or New Jersey, The Pacific
coast is not likely to have representative
New York's member of the cabinet ls q
matter of considerable speculation. SN
common consent New York seems to have
been assigned the treasury portfolio. Ex
Secretary Faitchild has been mentioned II
connection with the place. but it is alst
said that no member of MIR. Cleveland
former cabinet will be .eappointed. 1t Il
conceded that both Mr.. Whitney and Mr.
Dickinson could go back to the cabinet
they desired, but the fact that each ha
allowed it to be known that he did not ex
pect to be in the cabinet is taken to lndl
cate that the cabinet will be made up o
entirely new material.
Mr.. Whitney, 1t is said may go as minis
ter to tho court of st. James, and MI
Dickinson is also believed to be slated 70
an important foreign appointment.
Hoe are some of the gentlemen who al
believed to be in danger of being hit b
cabinet lightning: Smith M. Weed, Ne
York; Senator John II. McPhe son, NeN
Jersey; Henry Willard, New York: William
f. Harrity. Pennsylvania: James e. Camp
bell, Ohio; William Il. Russell, Massachu
setts; BENZ. II. Gable, Illinois; Isaac 2. Gray
Indiana; James ID. Porter, Tennessee; II
A. Herbert, Alabama David II. Francis
, Missouri and Edward j. Phelps, Vermont