Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-29
MR.. BLAINE's SUCCESSOR.

ME-. John w. Foster Nominated to BE Secre-
tary of state.
The President sent to the Senate today the
following nominations:
John W. Foster of Indiana to be Secretary Of
State.
James Lotan of Oregon to be collector Of Gus
toms for the district of Willamette, oreg.
Capt. A. L. Smith, fourth cavalry, to be cap
tain and commissary Of subsistence
A. G. Dodge of Kansas to be Q professor Of
mathematics in the Navy.
7. J. Sherwood Of California to be receiver of
public moneys at Marysville, Cal
F. ". Boggs of Nebraska to be register of the
land Office at Neigh, Neb.
SECRETARY POSTER CONFIRMED.
The Senate has confirmed the nomination Of
John W. Foster az Secretary Of State.
The action of the Senate in confirming Mr.
Foster almost Immediately upon its reception
and without reference to the foreign relations
committee is almost without precedence. as
heretofore il has been customary to reserve
this honor for Senators in active service who
are nominated for Office.
The following confrmations were also made:
Aonzo q. Dodge of ksnsas, professor of mathe-
matics in the navy. James Lotan, collector Of
customs at Willamette, Ore. A. +. Show. sur
veyor general of Washington. E. II. Smith.
receiver public moneys, and r. ID. Mobley, reg.
lister land Office at Montrose, Col.
Gen. Foster left the State Department before
his nomination was sent in and spent the af ter
noon at his home on / street.
Sketch Of the New Secretary.
John Watson Foster, the new Secretary of
State, was born in Pike county. Indiana, March
2, 1886. He graduated at the Indiana State
University 1856. and, after oue year at Harvard
law school, was admitted 10 the bar and began
practice in Evansville. He entered the National
service in 1851 as major of the twenty-fifth In
diana infantry. After the capture of Fort
Donaldson he was promoted 10 lieutenant
colonel and subsequently was made a
colonel OF the siKty1ffth Indiana mounted
colonel of the 136th Indiana regiment
During his entire service he was connected with
the western armies Of Grant and Sherman. He
was commander of the advance brig
ade Of cavalry in Burnside's expedi-
ton to east Tennessee and was the
first to occupy Knoxville in 1863 After the war
he became editor of the Evansville Daily
Journal, and in 1869 was appointed postmaster
of that city. He was sent as United States
minister to Mexico by President Grant
in 1873 and reappointed by President
Hayes in 1850. In March Of that
year he was transferred to Russia
and held that mission until November, 1881,
when he resigned to attend TO private business.
On his return to this country Col Foster
established himself in practice in inter-
national cases in this city, acting
as counsel for foreign relations before
courts of commissions Of srbitrations. &C.
President Arthur appointed him minister "a
Spain and he served from February, 1888 till
March. 1885, when he resigned and returned tc
the United States, having negotiated an i'm
portant commercial treaty with the Spanish
government. This treaty ELECTED general dis
cussion and was strongly opposed in the Senate
That body failed to confirm il and il was af-
terward withdrawn by President Cleve.
land for reconsideration. Some weeks
after Gen. Foster was instructed to re-
turn to Spain to reopen negotiations for mod.
ified treaty. This mission, however, was un-
successful and Col Foster remained abroad bu,
few months. He was called by Presiden,
Harrison and Secretary Blaine to take charge
of q number of important diplomatic negotia-
tions and has been intimately associated with
the State Department for the past two years.
Mr.. Foster has been engaged under the
present administrationin negotiating reciprocity
treaties, and has been regarded as the special
representative of the President. In this con-
nection a story gained circulation in connection
with Mr.. Blaines resignation.
1t was stated that at the interview held with
the Canadian representatives Mr.. Blaine made
some statement, and Mr.. Foster, who WAS pres
ent, asserted that the statement Mr.. Blaine had
made did not correctly represent the position OF
the President in the matter. Mr.. Blaine il was
ssid, was mortified, and going to his home wrote
his resignation. One of the Canadian represen-
tatives in an interview published in Canada
however, denied that any such thing had oc-
CURED in their presence.