Omaha daily bee., 1892-02-12
Gossip IHOUT THE CiBiyEr.
Rumors out of which IA Mugwump Paper
Mcayes "A story.

kumorS Out of Which "a Mugwump Paper
Wcaves story.
New NuRN, Feb IL. Tho Times prints tho
following IN its leading news column this
morning:
In matters of such widespread interest and
Importance as the prospective or rumored
change in the presidents caonet the public
is entitled to hear both sides of the story, and
therefore the following, which is contributed
from local sources, is given:
The statement is made on what should be
accepted us competent authority tnat about
two weeks ago Stephen B. Elkins came to
New York, charged bv President Harrison
with mission of peace to General James s.
Clarkson and TO offer him portfolio in his
cabinet either as postmaster general or sec
retary of the interior. Clarksou was at tho
time, nomiually at least, a supporter of the
candidacy of james G.. Blaine aud had not
softenel any in his attitude OF hostility
toward Harrison. and Is reported to have re-
iected emphatically the ovcrtures made by
the president through Secretary Eltns. de-
Clarlng that, if he had wanted place i'll Har-
riSou's cabinet, no could have had 1t at the
first. When ne went to the president to ask
the appointment as postmaster general of
John Wanamaker, the president said to him
that he could have that office for himself il
he desired II, but he (Clarkson) replied that
he was not seeking anything for himself
ID 10 lnO Ilulp ElklnS Dalu nltH UUlS NlSll
Clarkson is said to have believed that Blame
would be candidate for the presidency and
would be nominated. Even then, it was eX-
planned, that Secretary Noble was to be APP
pointed to the vacancy in the supreme court
bench just made vacant by the death of JUS
tice Joseph u. Bradley, and thar Wanamaker
was to 60 to Paris to succeed Minister White
law Reid whose resignation was declared TO
be in the hands of President Harrison. Sec
retary Eiklns is SAID to have assured Clark
thai MIR Rlninp wDlG not he "A candidate
for the presidency, but this Clarkson would
not admit unless 1t was so stated by the sec
retnrv of state himself.
E.lkins returned to Washington and re-
ported to his chief. The president conferred
with the secretary of state and then 1t was
that Mr.. Blame determined to declare pub
licly that he would not DO q candidate He
wrote the letter that has since been published
and placed it in the hands of Postmaster Geu-
| oral Wanamaker, who undertook to reopen
negotiations with Clarkson on behalf of the
president on the strength Of Blaine's letter,
which was addressed to Clarkson
With II knowledge of the contents of this
letter, Mr.. Wanamaker came TO New York
last Saturday and visited General Clarkson
at the Plaza hotel. The conference began on
Saturday, was continued on Sunday, and
when he returned to Washington MIR. Wana-
maker i9 said to have brought back General
| Clarkson's acceptance of the postmaster gen
eralship. MIR. Wanamaker is said to have
| told General Clarkson that he had tired of
the nrduouS duties OF the PostOtfce depart
mept and wanted rest. The president had
| offered him the French mission, which Min
| lster Whitelaw Reid was going to surrender,
| and he was inclined to accept the proposition.
General Clarkson was filled with an ambl-
| tion TO be his party's candidate for the presi-
dencv, but is said TO have concluded that the
| time was not propitious for his entry into the
race this year. He had concluded, after
| careful survey of the situation, to coach
| Blaine for the race this year, become an ac-
! tive factor in his administration. if elected,
| and prepare in the meantin to take the nom
| ination for hlmself when it should next come
around Mr.. Bane's declination has
| upset all these plans and has left
| Cl arkson the alternative of transferring his
! allegiance to Harrison, with the prospect of
| having to take his chance in a free.for-all
contest for the nomination in 1896, or of
making the fight against Harrison this year
under circumstances the reverse OF favorable
| Tor their success. 1t is confidently declared
that he has accepted the former. He is said
by his friends to be IA very sick man just
uow ana to be under orders from his Ehys-
clan to go south for treatment for inilamma-
tory rheumatism as soon as he is able to
travel. This may require the postponement
of some of the changes in the cabinet as de-
scrlbed, but that Mr.. Wanamaker has been
offered the French mission seems to be Ger
tain,