Evening journal., 1892-06-30
.FOSTERCETS THE PLACE
He Succeeds Blaine as Secre-
tary of State.
ANOTHER FORTUNATE ND1AN1AN.

AAOL44IAN LOnL ONA4A lNOlAA1ANf
The appointment Of Ex-Ninister Foster
Gives General Satisfaction at che Capitol.
Transformed from n Private Citizen TO
Secretary in Less Than Three Hours.
WASHINGTON, June 30.-It took two hours
and thirty-five minutes only to transform
private citizen into secretary of state Of the
United States Wednesday. At lao the
president sent to the senate the nomination
Of Hon. John W. FosteA Of Indiana. AT
2:03 the senate confirmed the nomination.
At 2i35 his commission was sent to the
president and he signed it; at 2:45 it was
countersigned by Mr. Wharton, as acting
secretary Of state, and at 4:l5 Mr.. Foster
took the oath of Office Of secretary Of state
before Mr. Lewelon Brown, chief clerk and
notary public of the state department. It
was the quickest work ever known at the
state department.
1t Gives General Satisfaction.
There was general satisfaction at the Cap
itol over the appointment. Senator Allison
and. Representative Henderson, of Iowa,
united in saying that the appointee was
well equipped for the position. "He has
been Of very great service about the state
department" said Representative Hender-
son, ''and a better qualified man could not
have been chosen" Representative Blount,
chairman of the house foreign affairs COM
mittee, expressed surprise at the appoint
ment, because it gave Indiana another cab
/ met appointment. He said, however, that
he regarded the appointment as a good one,
as Mr.. Foster was usually we'll equipped in
/ knowledge of matters pertaining to the
state department. Senator Dolph said that
TO him the nomination was a very satisfac-
tory one. Senator Blackburn expressed
similar views.
A Short Tenure of Ofice.
It is said that Mr.. Fosters tenure Of Office
will terminate on March next, when Presi-
dent Harrison expects to again be inaugu-
rated and announce his new cabinet. The
appointment Of Mr. Foster is, therefore,
only a temporary one. The appointment is
especially desirable, not only because Of the
personal character and diplomatic accom-
plishments Of the appointee, but also be-
cause Of his peculiarly intimate acquaint-
ance with the business Of the state depart
ment in general, and especially with details
Of the most important question now be-
fore that department, the settlement of the
Behring sea controversy with England by
arbitration.
Sketch OF Secretary Foster.
John W. Foster has been for some years
past practicing law in Washington. His
chief work is in the domain of international
law, in which he is conceded to be an ex-
pert. He has been three times appointed
envoy extraordinary and minister pleni-
potentiary for the United States in foreign
countries, being once accredited to Mexico,
again to Russia, and a third time to Spain.
He was born in Pike county, Ind, March 2,
1896, was educated in the public schools Of
the state and afterward went through the
state university Of Indiana, where he gradu-
ated in 1855. He then studied law at Har-
ward university, and began the practice Of
his profession at Evansville He had al
ready made his mark among the young
lawyers of Indiana when the civil wal
broke out. He at once volunteered for ser.
vice and was appointed major Of the Twen-
ty-iifth Indiana infantry volunteers After
seeing some hard fighting he rose to the
full rank Of colonel
In General Burnsideis expedition TO East
Tennessee Colonel Foster headed a brigad,
ofcavalry, and was the first to occupy Knox
vile in 1863 At the end of the war he WA
brigadier general by brevet.
Alleged Trouble with Blaine.
After General Foster settled down to civi
life again he edited the Evansville DAILY
journal. In 1869 he was made postmaster
Of that city. His first prominent poltica
Office was the Craftsmanship Of the Repub
lican state committee of Indiana in 1872
In 1878 General Foster was appointed b,
President Grant to be minister to Mexico
At the expiration Of General Grants tern
Of Office Mr. Hayes reappointed him. HI
went to Russia as minister in 1850, aud hel,
that Office until late in the year 1881, whei
he resigned.
In 1883 General Foster was appointe,
minister for the third time, on this occasion
being sent to Spain. This nomination wa
made by President Arthur at the desire o
Secretary Frelinghuysen. Since his return
from Spain General Foster has resumed hi
; practice in Washington.
One story anent the appointment is tina
3 at a recent meeting between the canadian
, delegates who wished to negotiate reci
: procity treaty and several officers of tn
state department Mr.. Blaine gave expires
= sion to his views, and General Foster, VIII
; was present, said bluntly;
b 'Those are not the views Of the pres
dent"
The meeting abruptly terminated, an
Mr.. Blaine's resignation promptly followe
upon the presidents unwillingness to di.
9 avow General Fosters statement.
= Indians at the Fair.
ALBANY. June 3O.-An interesting and in