Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-01-07
ELKiNS' APPOINTMENT.
Rarrison's Little Scheme to Head Or the
Man from Maine.

Rarrison's Little Scheme to Head Of the
Man from Maine.
Stephen B. Ellxins, whom the presi-
dent has named for the war portfolio,
is a shrewd, active and inscriptions
politician, who was once district at
torney Of New Mexico, where he did
not acquire an enviable name. In 1854
he was one Of the chief factors in pro-
curing the nomination of James G.
Blaine, with whom he has business re-
lations in West Virginia in coal lands
and railroads. With good reason he
has been accounted a political as well
as a personal friend of Blaine. His
record and associations are not such as
would recommend him to a president
sincerely DESTROYS of making a credita-
BILE administration. If this were Har-
rison's second term he would not prob
ably thus fill vacany in one of the ex-
ecutive Offices. But a nominating con-
vention is to be held within six
months to which Harrison's claims will
be submitted. and he is making ap-
pointments solely with reference to
that interesting occasion.
Two views may be taken of this Pc
euliar appointment. One suggests that
Harrison is doing what he can to alien
ate the friends of Blaine. The other
and the most plausible view is that a
perfect understanding exists between
the president and the secretary of state
that the latter is controlling opposition
to denomination of the former in order
at the effective moment to give Harri-
son the support which will procure his
denomination. There was a time in
Mr.. Blaine's political career when he
was audacious. It is possible that with
the defeat of 's4. the advance of
years, aud the ravage of disease
he has lost this quality. He would
be q bold and confident man If he
would again essay the verdict of
twelve million American electors If
he retains his old-time courage and is
indeed candidate for presidential
nomination which is easily within his
grasp it would be due to himself and to
the president that he retire from the
cabinet The HISTORY of American pol
itics, the ordinary comfy obtaining
between gentlemen suggest that if Mr..
Blaine is really a candidate for the
presidency he retire from the leading
place in the cabinet of a chief magis-
trate who is also a candidate for re-
nomination. Mr.. Blaine chooses to
stay. The inference is strong that he
ing with the president. and the ap-
pointment Of Elkins lends color to this
view. Elkins is strangely altered if he
is not primarily a friend of Blaine. If
that is not his relation to the secretary
of state, then his appointment as sec
rotary of war is practical notice to Mr..
Blaine that the president desires his
resignation as . person holding his COM
mission who is endeavoring to thwart
an ambition which custom in American
politics fairly warrants
The probabilities are that Mr.. Blaine,
who remains in Mr.. Harrison's binet.
does not mean to accept q nomination
ut Minneapolis, but is working by
methods OF his own to prevent the de-
feat of his chief. That Mr. Blaine and
Mr.. Elkins are both members of Mr.
Harr4son's cabinet lends color to this
view. As friends they can both labor
for Harrison's renomination- A. enc