The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-30
NEW SECRETARY or STATE.
John ". Foster. OF Indiana, Appointed 20
Succeed Mr.. Blaine.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. June 29.--Ths Presi.
dent sent 10 the Senate to-day tho nomina-
ton of John w. Foster. of Indiana. to DO
Secretary of State The nomination was
Immediately confirmed.
John Watson Foster. the new Secretary OF
State. was born In Pike county. Indiana,
March z, 1886. fie graduated at the Indiana
State University IN 1855. aud. after one year
at Harvard law school, was admitted
20 the bar and began practice in Evans
vile. He entered the national service in
1861 as major of the Twenty y-tifth In
diana infantry. After the capture of Fort
Donaldson he was promoted to lieutenant
colonel and subsequently was male a colonel
IF the Sixty-ffth Indiana mounted infantry.
Later he was appointed colonel Of the lG6th
Indiana regiment. During his entire service
of Grant and Sherman. Ito was commandet
of the advance brigade OF the csvai.y
IN Burnside's expedition 10 East
Tennessee and was the first ID
occupy Knoxville in 1863. After the war
he became editor of the Evansville Daily
Journal and in 1869 was appointed postmas-
ter of that city He was sent as United States
Minister to Mexico by Presiden Grant in 1873
and reapuonted by President Hayes in 1880.
In March of that year he WAS transferred
10 Russia and held that mission until
November, 1881, when be resigned 10
attend 10 private business On his re-
turn to this country Colonel Foster e.
tablished himself in practice in interns.
tlonal cases in this city, acting as counsel for
foreign relations before courts of commissions
OF arbitration, &o. President Arthur ap-
pointed him Minister 10 Spain aud he
served from February. 1883. till March, 1885,
when be resigned and returned 10 the United
States, having negotiated an important
commercial treaty with the Spanish Gov
eminent The treaty elected general discus
sion and was strongly opposed in the S~nfte.
That body failed To confirm II and 1t was az.
terward withdrawn by President Cleveland
for reconsideration. some weeks after Col.
Foster was instructed to return 10 Spain
TO reopen negotiations for o modified treaty.
This mission. however was unsuccessful and
Colonel Foster remained abroad but few
months. He WAS called by President Harri-
son aud Secretary Blaine 10 take charge OF o
numberi Of. important diplomatic negotia-
tlons aud has been intimately associated
with the State Department for the past two
years.
MIR. Foster has been engaged under the
present administration IN negotiating rscipro-
city treaties. and has been regarded ~ the
special representative OF the President. In
this connection story gained circulation In
connection with Mr. Blzine's resignation.
II was stated that at the interview held
with the Canadian representatives, Mr..
Blaine made some statement. and Mr.. Foster,
who was presrnt. asserted that the statement
Dir. Blaine had made did not correctly repre-.
sent the position Of tho President in the
matter. Mr.. Blaine IL was said. was morti-
fed and going TO his home wrote his resigna-
ton. One of the Canadian representatives IN
an interview published in Canada. however.
denied that any such thing had occurred In
their presence.